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Rabbitohs v Storm: Bunnies' big guns back; Meaney to fullback

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Timestamp

After suffering three-straight defeats for the first time in seven years, the Storm travel to take on an in-form Rabbitohs side now with their eyes set on climbing towards the top four. 

Just two competition points separate them right now, with the Storm falling to fourth after their most recent defeat at the hands of the Raiders and South Sydney holding firm in seventh position after picking up their third win in a row on Sunday against the Bulldogs. 

Melbourne have struggled to put it together in attack over the past fortnight and are now without influential fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) for the rest of the year. 

The Bunnies have had no such trouble with ball in hand and are playing with a newfound confidence, led by star fullback Latrell Mitchell. 

Sportsbet Betting preview: Rabbitohs v Storm

The Rundown

Team news

Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs are 1-17 with no late changes. Captain Cameron Murray returns after missing the Bulldogs game due to a head knock sustained in Origin Three and is joined in the squad by Blues team-mate Damien Cook who was rested last week. Davvy Moale and Siliva Havili go back to the bench and Daniel Suluka-Fifita to 18th Man. Jed Cartwright has been promoted to the starting side in the centres with Taane Milne dropping out.

Storm: In late changes an hour before kick-off Grant Anderson has been promoted to the starting side on his return from an elbow injury with Tyran Wishart going to the bench, and Tom Eisenhuth joins the bench for his first game of 2022 in place of Jordan Grant. 

Nick Meaney shifts from the wing to fullback in place of Ryan Papenhuyzen who suffered a season-ending knee last week. Tyran Wishart is the new winger and Grant Anderson joins the bench having recovered from an elbow injury. There were no late changes for the Storm team 24 hours out from the game.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
    Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
    Winger for Storm is number 2 Dean Ieremia
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Jed Cartwright
    Centre for Storm is number 3 Marion Seve
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Isaiah Tass
    Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
    Winger for Storm is number 14 Grant Anderson
  • Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
    Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
  • Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
    Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
    Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
  • Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Mark Nicholls
    Prop for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona 
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
    2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow
    2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
  • Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
    Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Interchange

  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
    Interchange for Storm is number 5 Tyran Wishart
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Davvy Moale
    Interchange for Storm is number 15 Tui  Kamikamica 
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Siliva Havili
    Interchange for Storm is number 16 Alec MacDonald
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Thomas Burgess
    Interchange for Storm is number 21 Tom Eisenhuth

Reserves

  • Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
    Replacement for Storm is number 20 Young  Tonumaipea 

Match Officials

  • Referee: Todd Smith
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Key match-up

Cameron Munster vs Cody Walker: After shaking off the disappointment of missing the Origin decider due to COVID, Munster seemed to be involved in everything good the Storm did in the loss to the Raiders last Sunday and his role becomes even more important with Papenhuyzen out of action. While he has taken a back seat to Latrell Mitchell in recent weeks, Walker remains the chief orchestrator for the Rabbitohs.

Stat Attack

South Sydney have made more errors than any other team heading into round 19 at an average of 11.6 per game. Five-eighth Walker's 29 errors are second only to Zac Lomax's 30 this season, and he made three errors last Sunday against the Bulldogs. 

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.