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Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs: Turbo time; Walker good to go

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There's never been a more exciting and anticipated start to the season and the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs will do the honours when they launch the 2024 Telstra Premiership in style in Las Vegas. 

After a massive week of buzz and excitement, it will be strictly business come 1.30 pm (AEDT) on Sunday when the two NRL powerhouses look to kick off their season with a Round 1 win to remember at the iconic Allegiant Stadium. 

With both sides missing the finals in 2023, Manly and South Sydney will be looking to make tracks early in the season after injuries and State of Origin duties got the better of them late in the year.

The Sea Eagles have been busy re-signing and recruiting in the off-season and will be hoping to repeat last year's Round 1 success where they downed the Bulldogs 31-6 to win their first opening match since 2012. 

The return of superstar Tom Trbojevic only adds to the Vegas vibes ahead of Sunday's season opener with the champion fullback named to return for his first game since injuring his pec in Origin II last year. 

Meanwhile, after a tumultuous end to the season last year on and off the field, Jason Demetriou's men will be determined to silence any doubters in Round 1 and prove they're still a certified premiership contender.

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs

Team News

Sea Eagles: No late changes on game day for Anthony Seibold. Five-eighth Luke Brooks is good to go despite training away from the rest of the squad on Wednesday. The Trbojevic brothers start a game together for just the fifth time with Ben slotting into the back row in the absence of Josh Schuster (calf), who remained in Australia to continue working on his injury. Jake Arthur is 18th Man.

Rabbitohs: No game day changes. Star five-eighth Cody Walker has overcome the calf injury which ruled him out of the Indigenous All Stars team and will take the field. Fullback Latrell Mitchell needs two tries to reach a century of tries in his NRL career. This will be the first time since 1995 that the Rabbitohs have played the Sea Eagles in Round 1. Dean Hawkins is 18th Man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Richard Kennar
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jacob Gagai
  • Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
  • Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Forwards

  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
  • Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Sean Keppie
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi 
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow
  • Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Karl Lawton
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Siliva Havili
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jacob Host
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Davvy Moale
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Thomas Burgess

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Jake Arthur
    Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 24 Dean Hawkins

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Stat Attack 

  • Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell requires two tries in Saturday’s clash in Las Vegas to reach a century of tries in his NRL career. Mitchell scored 65 tries for the Sydney Roosters and has crossed 33 times for the Rabbitohs since 2020.
  • Saturday’s game will be the first NRL fixture to be played outside Australia or New Zealand in 117 seasons of premiership rugby league. 
  • The Sea Eagles and the Rabbitohs will meet for the 150th time at premiership level. The ledger favours Manly 77 wins to South Sydney’s 72.
  • South Sydney have won their past seven games against Manly.
  • Manly winger Jason Saab has scored seven tries in his past three NRL games.
  • Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 14 tries in 15 games against the Sea Eagles.
  • The Sea Eagles have won only one of their past 10 Round 1 games.

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

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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.