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Rabbitohs v Roosters: Taaffe No.1 man; Butcher to start

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This age-old rivalry never needs extra motivation added to it, but it gets it this Friday as the Roosters and Rabbitohs play to keep their season alive.

The two foundation clubs head into Round 27 in a three-way tie with the Cowboys on 30 competition points, but with contrasting points differentials that may prove crucial in the end. 

A win alone should be enough to see the Rabbitohs through to the finals for the sixth year in a row, thanks to a 37-point differential advantage over the Cowboys, but it's more complex for the Tricolours.

A -38 differential means they need to beat the Rabbitohs and then likely rely on the Raiders and Cowboys losing to the Sharks and Panthers respectively.

The Roosters are undefeated in their last four games, their longest winning streak of 2023, while the Rabbitohs' form had been patchy ahead of a bye in Round 26, with their most recent game ending in a 29-10 defeat to the Knights.

There was little in it when they met earlier this year as the Roosters came out 20-18 winners, while the head-to-head record between them in recent times is evenly split with two wins apiece in their last four clashes.

The Rabbitohs have a four-win, four-loss record at Accor Stadium this season, while the Roosters will be playing at the venue for the first time this season and are winless in their past four visits there. 

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Team News

Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs are 1-17 with no late changes. Tevita Tatola will start at prop with Jai Arrow named on the bench. Michael Chee Kam has been recalled to the back row in place of Jacob Host. Jed Cartwright, Peter Mamouzelos and Daniel Suluka-Fifita were cut from the squad on Thursday night. 

Roosters: A late change an hour before kick off sees Egan Butcher named to start at prop and Fletcher Baker shifting to the interchange bench. Daniel Tupou joined Kiwi superstar Joey Manu (hamstring) in dropping out of the squad on Thursday, after suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury at training. That sees Corey Allan come in at centre and Junior Pauga join the squad on the wing. Angus Crichton joins the bench after overcoming a knee injury. James Tedesco (head knock) is good to go after missing last week's game. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
    Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
    Winger for Roosters is number 5 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
    Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
    Centre for Roosters is number 18 Corey Allan
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson
    Winger for Roosters is number 21 Fetalaiga Pauga
  • Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
    Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
  • Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
    Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Forwards

  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
    Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
  • Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Shaquai Mitchell
    Prop for Roosters is number 15 Egan Butcher
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Siua Wong
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Michael Chee Kam
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
  • Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
    Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley

Interchange

  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jai Arrow
    Interchange for Roosters is number 8 Fletcher Baker
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Tallis Duncan
    Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Sandon Smith
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Hame Sele
    Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Terrell May
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Davvy Moale
    Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Angus Crichton

Reserves

  • Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Taane Milne
    Replacement for Roosters is number 20 Drew Hutchison

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Roosters have got through the most defence of any team in 2023, averaging 359 tackles per game.
  • South Sydney have made the most errors of any current top eight side, with their 218 being one more than that ladder-leading Broncos.
  • The Roosters' 150 penalties conceded this year is the most in the NRL. 
  • The Rabbitohs have won five of their past seven games against the Roosters.
  • The Roosters have not defeated the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium since 2018.
  • The Rabbitohs have conceded over 30 points six times since Round 12.
  • Roosters winger Joseph Suaalii has scored 58 points in his past four games.
  • Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored only two tries in seven games at Accor Stadium in 2023.

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

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