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Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers: Bunnies chase six straight; Bateman good to go

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pan66.com
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The Rabbitohs are the hottest team in the NRL with five wins on the bounce and they will fancy their chances of making it six when they host Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium.

With Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell working their magic and the forwards dominating rivals in the middle, the Bunnies have disposed of the Storm, Broncos, Panthers, Dolphins and Bulldogs during the past month to sit second on the ladder.

The last time the Rabbitohs won five straight was late in the 2021 season as they marched towards the grand final and with their big guns firing on all cylinders their form looks every bit as ominous in 2023.

Standing in their way on Saturday afternoon is a vastly improved Tigers outfit that has won two on the bounce on the back of star recruits Api Koroisau, David Klemmer and Isaiah Papali'i and rising fullback Jahream Bula, who continues to impress.

Since debuting in Round 8 against Manly, Bula has averaged 153 running metres per game, busted 14 tackles and produced a couple of sensational trysavers on Nathan Cleary and Mikaele Ravalawa to ensure the Tigers came away with two morale-boosting wins.

The battle of fullbacks Bula and Mitchell, halfbacks Luke Brooks and Lachlan Ilias and hookers Koroisau and Damien Cook hold the key to a game that has taken on a whole new dimension with the Tigers finding form and confidence in recent weeks.

Team News

Rabbitohs: No late changes on game day for the high-flying Rabbitohs who welcomed back Liam Knight in Round 10, adding more depth to a powerful forward rotation. Knight made 106 metres from 12 runs in 25 minutes of game time against the Storm in his first NRL match since May last year. Blake Taaffe is 18th Man.

Wests Tigers: Tim Sheens' men will line up 1-17 with no late changes. John Bateman returns after being a late withdrawal from Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. The Englishman's return sees Asu Kepaoa go back to the bench and Alex Seyfarth to 18th Man. Shawn Blore is 18th Man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane Milne
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
  • Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Brandon Wakeham
  • Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano  Utoikamanu
  • Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Hame Sele
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Michael Chee Kam
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman
  • Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua Pole

Interchange

  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jai Arrow
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake Simpkin
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jed Cartwright
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Joe  Ofahengaue
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Liam Knight
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Blake Taaffe
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Asu Kepaoa

Reserves

  • Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 19 Richard Kennar
    Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 20 Shawn Blore

Match Officials

  • Referee: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Todd Smith
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker leads the NRL for try assists with 12 while teammate Latrell Mitchell has eight.
  • Wests Tigers have come up with 114 offloads this season. Only Parramatta with 132 have more.
  • The Rabbitohs have won five of their past six games against Wests Tigers, who have not defeated the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium since 2018. 
  • Alex Johnston has scored 82 tries in 84 games at Accor Stadium.
  • Wests Tigers are aiming for three wins in a row for the first time since 2018.
  • Latrell Mitchell has scored six tries in nine games against Wests Tigers.

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

 

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