NRL Finals Preview: Another chapter set to be written in Roosters-Rabbitohs rivalry

Australian rugby league’s oldest rivalry is set to explode again this Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium when the Sydney Roosters take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a win-or-go-home qualifying final just nine days after a fiery Round 25 meeting.

The Roosters and the Rabbitohs have met 228 times in premiership history with the red-and-greens notching 119 wins and the tricolours 104.

They have met three times in the finals over the past decade – 2014, 2018, and 2019 – with the winner of each clash going on the win the title that season.

The two have faced off twice this season – a 28-16 Rabbitohs win in Round 3 followed by a 26-16 Roosters win in Round 25 – setting the stage for a decisive third and final bout.

It was the Cameron Murray and Cody Walker show in Round 3 with South Sydney coming out on top of a Roosters side who not yet unleashed the likes of Joseph Sua’ali’i, Matt Lodge, and Sam Verrills.

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Their clash last weekend opened the newly-renovated Allianz Stadium in front of a full house with James Tedesco, Luke Keary, and Sam Walker leading the Chooks to a fairly comfortable victory. Both sides were, however, missing key men with Daniel Tupou, Joseph Sua’ali’i, and Victor Radley sitting out for the Roosters whilst Damien Cook and Campbell Graham missed the clash for the Bunnies with skipper Cameron Murray lasting only a minute before succumbing to a head knock.

A write-up detailing the history between these sides would be novel-length so expect sparks to fly when the enemies battle it out this Sunday.

In a major blow, the Roosters will be without superstar centre Joseph Manu who picked up a calf issue last weekend, however, Tupou, Sua’ali’i, and Radley have all been named. Paul Momirovski will shift in one to cover Manu’s absence whilst Radley will wear the 13 jumper pushing Siosiua Taukei’aho into the front-row and Matt Lodge onto the bench. Utility Adam Keighran has also been named on the bench for just his third game of the season replacing rookie Terrell May.

The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, will welcome back COVID casualty Damien Cook after a fortnight off along with Campbell Graham. Skipper Cameron Murray has also been named and is expected to play despite suffering a game-ending head knock on Friday night. Peter Mamouzelos and Jaxson Paulo will drop out the side to accommodate the returns of Cook and Graham whilst Siliva Havili has been shifted onto the interchange.

The Roosters come into this win on an eight-game winning streak having claimed the major scalps of the Storm and Rabbitohs over the past two rounds. They have not lost since their Round 16 clash against the Panthers in Penrith.

The Rabbitohs, however, have put together a less convincing run home winning just three from their past six with losses coming against the Sharks, Panthers, and Roosters.

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The Roosters have well and truly hit their stride over the past two months and have firmed as genuine premiership threats despite missing out on a top four finish whilst the Rabbits have proven that, on their day, they can challenge the best of them but have struggled for consistency throughout much of the season.

The Chooks finished the season with the premiership’s third-best attack and fifth-best defence whilst the Bunnies ranked sixth in points scored and seventh in points conceded.

The Rabbits finished fourth this season in yardage with the Roosters just one behind them at fifth so expect a ferocious clash through the middle of the field. Both sides also finished top four in the NRL in errors so there should be a level of creativity on display in attack.

The battle between the playmakers projects as an enticing one with the play of the likes of Latrell Mitchell, James Tedesco, Cody Walker, Luke Keary, Damien Cook and Sam Walker vital for the success of both clubs.

The Roosters enter the match as $1.60 favourites despite winning just one of their past five against the Rabbitohs. Download Our Free NRL App

Kick-off: 4:05pm Sunday at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park

Roosters: 1. Tedesco (c); 2. Tupou; 3. Momirovski; 4. Hutchison; 5. Sua’ali’i; 6. Keary; 7. Walker; 8. Waerea-Hargreaves; 9. Verrills; 10. Taukei’aho; 11. Crichton; 12. N Butcher; 13. Radley; 14. Watson; 15. E Butcher; 16. Keighran; 17. Lodge; 18. Naiqama; 19. May; 20. Gildart; 21. Baker; 22. Wong

Rabbitohs: 1. Mitchell; 2. Johnston; 3. Tass; 4. Graham; 5. Milne; 6. Walker; 7. Ilias; 8. Tatola; 9. Cook; 10. Nicholls; 11. Koloamatangi; 12. Arrow; 13. Murray (c); 14. Nikorima; 15. Sele; 16. Burgess; 17. Havili; 18. Taaffe; 19. Paulo; 20. Moale; 21. Chee Kam; 22. Mansour

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