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Storm v Rabbitohs: Katoa set to return; Knight back in NRL

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The Rabbitohs are flying high after a last-up win over the ladder-leading Broncos, but this week are tasked with taking on a Storm side they lost to just a month ago. 

Melbourne were the last team to beat South Sydney back in Round 5, and since then Jason Demetriou's side have shown themselves to be arguably the competition's form team with consecutive wins over the Bulldogs, Dolphins, Panthers and Broncos. 

With Campbell Graham scoring tries for fun and Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell firing, the Rabbitohs are a scary prospect with ball in hand, while in defence they have given up more than 18 points to an opponent just once all year. 

The Storm will be well rested after a bye in Round 9, which came after they toughed out a victory over the Warriors on Anzac Day. 

Melbourne have a brilliant record against South Sydney, winning 84 per cent of their meetings to date, while the Rabbitohs have enjoyed playing at Suncorp Stadium in recent times, with three victories in a row at the venue heading into Magic Round. 

Team News

Storm: Grant Anderson has been added to the bench an hour before kick-off with Tariq Sims going back to 18th Man. Eliesa Katoa is back after suffering a head knock on Anzac Day. Craig Bellamy's side is otherwise relatively settled and coming off a bye with Tom Eisenhuth back from a hip injury on the interchange.

Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs are 1-17 with no late changes. Davvy Moale is out of the squad and Liam Knight, who returned from a knee injury via NSW Cup last week, is included on the interchange for his first NRL game of the season. Tevita Tatola and Hame Sele both start the game this week with Jai Arrow going to the bench. Blake Taaffe is 18th Man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
  • Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
  • Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
  • Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
  • Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane Milne
  • Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
  • Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Forwards

  • Prop for Storm is number 8 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
  • Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Hame Sele
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Michael Chee Kam
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host
  • Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Interchange

  • Interchange for Storm is number 14 Bronson Garlick
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jed Cartwright 
  • Interchange for Storm is number 15 Aaron Pene
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jai Arrow
  • Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tom Eisenhuth
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Liam Knight
  • Interchange for Storm is number 19 Grant Anderson
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Thomas Burgess

Reserves

  • Replacement for Storm is number 17 Tariq Sims
    Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 19 Blake Taaffe

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Storm have won eight of their past nine games against the Rabbitohs.
  • Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell has scored 70 points in his past four games.
  • The Storm have lost three of their past four games at Suncorp Stadium.
  • Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston will make his 200th NRL appearance.
  • Storm playmaker Cameron Munster has won 11 games from 13 against the Rabbitohs.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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