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Match Preview

Dragons v Rabbitohs: Lawrie returns; Big four sidelined

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The Dragons face another tough challenge this week when they host a red-hot Rabbitohs who got back on track with an imposing win against the Titans last round.

South Sydney's win came at a cost however, with Origin forwards Jai Arrow and Cameron Murray both unable to finish the game.

Arrow suffered an ankle injury in the 20th minute and left the field before undergoing a fitness test that ruled him out of the match. Murray came from the field after aggravating a groin injury from Wednesday night's Origin opener.

With this being South Sydney's last outing before their first bye of the season, they will be aiming to go into their break on a high.

As has been the case for so many games this season, St George Illawarra come into this game off the back of a close loss, having pushed the Panthers all the way in Round 14, and could consider themselves unlucky with a few try-scoring options denied.  

Captain Ben Hunt backed up from Origin with another strong performance and will again be the key if the Dragons are to spring an upset, while forward Jack de Belin could be in doubt after be stretched off the field after suffering a head knock.

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Team News

Dragons: Prop Blake Lawrie is a late inclusion as he returns from the hand injury that has sidelined him since Round 12. He has joined the bench on game day while Jaiyden Hunt is promoted to start at lock, Ben Murdoch-Masila goes to the second row and Billy Burns drops out. Talatau Amone is also a late inclusion on the bench with Moses Mbye going back to 18th Man. Forward Jack de Belin will miss the match after suffering a head knock in the loss to Penrith. Jack Bird has again been left out after he was rested last week.

Rabbitohs: Michael Chee Kam will start and Shaquai Mitchell goes to the bench in a late switch on game day. Cody Walker was ruled out on Friday after suffering a quad injury at training earlier in the week, with Dean Hawkins called up to replace the star playmaker. The loss of key forwards Jai Arrow (ankle) and Cameron Murray (groin) is offset by the return of Siliva Havili from the ankle injury that has sidelined him all season. Latrell Mitchell remains sidelined with a calf injury.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Richard Kennar
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jayden Sullivan
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 22 Dean Hawkins
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Michael Molo
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Hame Sele
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi 
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host
  • Lock for Dragons is number 15 Jaiyden Hunt
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 15 Michael Chee Kam

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Josh Kerr
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 13 Shaquai Mitchell
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Zane Musgrove
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jed Cartwright
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Talatau Amone
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Siliva Havili
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 22 Blake Lawrie
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Daniel  Suluka-Fifita

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 14 Moses Mbye
    Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Taane Milne

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker leads the NRL for try assists with 19 while Dragon Ben Hunt is equal fifth on the list with 11.
  • Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has now scored 12 tries in 13 matches this season and is just two tries behind Steve Menzies as the third highest tryscorer in premiership history.
  • The Dragons are aiming for consecutive wins against the Rabbitohs for the first time since 2011.
  • The Rabbitohs have won eight of their past nine games against the Dragons.
  • Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has scored five tries in his past six games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
  • Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored seven tries in his past seven game

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

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