NYC Match Preview: Finals, Wk. 1

Wests Tigers NYC side look to make it three from three against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in their elimination final this Friday, September 12 at Allianz Stadium.

Andrew Webster’s side has already posted two wins over the Rabbitohs from their two encounters this season — both 10-point victories — but will know that this week’s must-win clash is the most important of them all. A win would see them move into the next round of finals football; a loss would see their promising season come to a close.

The Rabbitohs certainly won’t be an easy team to beat, though, with a last start victory over the Roosters in Round 26 showing their attacking potency and potential. They’ll no doubt be desperate for the win this weekend, and having won their last three games, will carry some added momentum into this week’s final at Allianz Stadium.

It’s shaping as an intriguing clash to kick off the Holden Cup finals series for 2014, and one that both teams will certainly fancy their chances at winning.

Who will get the two points when they come face-to-face on Friday night?

Read on for a full preview of the match including all the need-to-know details, live stream information, team news, statistical analysis and more.

Match Details

Date — Friday, September 12, 2014

Time — 5:15pm AEST

Venue — Allianz Stadium (Moore Park, Sydney)

TV and Live Stream Details

TV — Fox Sports 1 (check local guides)

Live Stream — Foxtel Go (subscription required)

Twitter — Click here to follow Wests Tigers on Twitter for live scores and commentary

Match Officials

Referees — Chris Sutton and Peter Gough

Touch Judges — Luke Potter and Belinda Sleeman

Video Referees — Adam Devcich and Steve Folkes

Confirmed Squads

South Sydney have named an unchanged lineup from the side that defeated the Sydney Roosters in Round 26, while Wests Tigers are boosted by the inclusion of Matthew Lodge this weekend, who drops back from first-grade. The NYC Prop of the Year from 2013 comes on to the bench in the place of Peter Ta’auso, while Sione Alofi is named on the bench for the first time since suffering a knee injury against the Roosters in Round 9. Captain Manaia Cherrington remains sidelined with injury this week, leaving Jeremy Marshall-King at hooker and Te Maire Martin and Dallas Graham as co-captains.

Last Five Matches

Wests Tigers

R22 — North Queensland Cowboys 30 def. Wests Tigers 16

R23 — Wests Tigers 28 drew Sydney Roosters 28

R24 — Wests Tigers 24 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22

R25 — Canberra Raiders 28 def. Wests Tigers 24

R26 — Wests Tigers 30 def. Cronulla Sharks 10

South Sydney Rabbitohs

R22 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 14

R23 — Brisbane Broncos 36 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 32

R24 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 def. North Queensland Cowboys 4

R25 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 36 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24

R26 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 def. Sydney Roosters 22

When They Met: 2014

Round 3 — Wests Tigers 26 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 16

A back-and-forth match was seemingly heading the way of the visitors when Irae Simone have Souths a 12-6 lead after 21 minutes. However, two quick tries to Marion Seve off the back of some sharp playmaking from Mitchell Moses saw the hosts take a 16-12 lead into the break, which they would extend even further once Moses and Manaia Cherrington crossed in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.

Round 14 — Wests Tigers 28 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 18

Two tries to Moses and one to John Tohi saw Wests Tigers race out to a 16-0 lead over Souths after 23 minutes, and lead 16-6 at half-time, before Souths clawed their way back into the match courtesy of tries from Tom Hughes and Tulsa Saumamao. A second try to Tohi as well as a leaping effort from Watson Heleta restored Wests Tigers’ 16-point lead late in the piece, with a late try to PJ Los’e reducing the margin back to 10 at full-time.