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Warriors v Rabbitohs: Harris to start from bench, Aitken, Egan ruled out; Rabbitohs lose skipper

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pan66.com
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The Warriors' rollercoaster ride continued on Sunday when they failed to overcome a 12-man Sharks outfit while the Rabbitohs were outgunned for the second time this season by the Broncos.

Both sides are 4-5 after nine rounds and desperately searching for consistency, particularly the Rabbitohs, who have already lost more games than they did in the entire 2021 season when they charged all the way to the grand final.

Life without premiership winning halfback Adam Reynolds was never going to be easy and the adjustment has been made that much tougher by Latrell Mitchell's injury.

The Warriors have had injury dramas of their own and have been forced to shuffle their spine on several occasions as they look for the right mix to carry them back to the finals for the fist time in four years.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Warriors v Rabbitohs

The Rundown

Team news

Warriors: Tohu Harris will make his eagerly awaited return from an ACL injury from the interchange bench, with Eliesa Katoa promoted to start in the second-row when the line-up was finalised 60 minutes before kick-off. Jazz Tevaga shifts to hooker to cover for Wayde Egan, while Euan Aitken (concussion) is also a late withdrawal. Jack Murchie replaces Aitken in the second-row. New recruit Freddy Lussick will make his first appearance for the Warriors on the bench after moving mid-week from the Roosters.

Rabbitohs: Cody Walker will captain the side in the absence of Cameron Murray, who was sent for scans on neck and shoulder injuries on Tuesday. Jacob Host returns from a shoulder injury in the second row and Jai Arrow goes back to lock to cover for Murray. There were no late changes when the final line-up was submitted.

Prop Thomas Burgess returns after he was a late withdrawal from the Broncos game with a back injury so Davvy Moale goes to the bench. Jaxson Paulo has been promoted to the starting side at centre after coming off the bench last week. Isaiah Tass is out.

New recruit Kodi Nikorima comes straight into the 17 on the bench and will line up against the club he parted ways with this week. 

There were no further changes when the squad was cut to 19 on Friday.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
  • Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
  • Centre for Warriors is number 3 Viliami Vailea
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Jaxson Paulo
  • Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
  • Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane Milne
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Daejarn Asi
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 17 Jack Murchie
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 18 Eliesa Katoa
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host
  • Lock for Warriors is number 14 Aaron Pene
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Jai Arrow

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 12 Tohu Harris
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Davvy Moale
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Siliva Havili
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 25 Freddy Lussick
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Liam Knight

Reserves

  • Replacement for Warriors is number 22 Edward Kosi
    Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Peter  Mamouzelos

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Darian Furner
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Key match-up

Jazz Tevaga v Damien Cook: The late withdrawal of Wayde Egan sees the combative Tevaga pitched into the hooking role and he'll add plenty of aggression in defence. Tevaga and Cook are both fierce competitors who are always up for the fight and will leave nothing in the tank. Cook is due for a big one with Origin looming and he'll run riot through the middle if the Warriors allow him any freedom.

Stat attack

The Warriors are ranked 13th in the NRL for line breaks with 29 in nine games while the Rabbitohs rank fifth with 42 line breaks. Alex Johnston leads the way for the Bunnies with eight line breaks to go with 30 tackle breaks and six ttries.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.