Match Preview: Round 14 vs. Rabbitohs

After a close Round 13 defeat, Wests Tigers will look to bounce back with a win when they take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday, June 12 at ANZ Stadium.

Trailing 19-2 mid-way through the second half against the Gold Coast Titans, Jason Taylor’s men staged an almighty comeback to take the lead late in the match, before a try against the run of play to Anthony Don ensured a victory for the visitors and a fourth straight defeat for Wests Tigers following close losses to the Knights and Cowboys.

The form line could not be more different for the visitors on Friday night, who are fresh off a 30-point drubbing of the New Zealand Warriors in Perth. Still minus halfback Adam Reynolds, the Rabbitohs’ highlighted their attacking class and potency against a sluggish Warriors outfit and will be keen to deliver a similar performance this Friday night.

Both sides, however, will be without their Origin stars, with the absence of Greg Inglis, Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods making for a number of team changes across the board.

South Sydney will also be without Kiwi international Isaac Luke due to a knee injury, with the battle of young hookers Cameron McInness and Manaia Cherrington off the bench certainly making for an interesting battle and storyline to follow.

Who will walk away from Friday’s clash with the two competition points? Read on for a full preview including all the key details, team news, key statistics and much more!

Be there at ANY four home games at ANY stadium for just $80! Select your four today!

Match Details

Date — Friday, June 12, 2015

Time — 7:45pm AEST

Venue — ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Match Officials

On-Field Referees — Matt Cecchin and Grant Atkins

Touch Judges — Jeff Younis and Rick Macfarlane

Video Referees — Steve Chiddy and Steve Folkes

TV, Live Stream and Radio Information

TV — Channel 9 (NSW and QLD)

Live Stream — NRL Digital Pass (subscription required)

Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 2GB 873, FM 104.9 Triple M

Confirmed Squads

For Wests Tigers, star young duo David Nofoaluma and Tim Simona return into the centres at the expense of Nathan Milone and Delouise Hoeter. Keith Galloway is back in the starting side to cover for Aaron Woods, while Dene Halatau moves to hooker and will captain the side in the absence of Robbie Farah. Matthew Lodge is back on the bench after playing NSW Cup last week while Manaia Cherrington is also part of a five-man bench after making a strong first-grade debut last week against the Titans.

For South Sydney, Greg Inglis’ Origin call-up means Alex Johnston moves back to fullback and John Olive comes on to the wing for his first-grade debut. Isaac Luke is out with a medial ligament injury, with Cameron McInnes moving to hooker, while Adam Reynolds is still out with a long-term knee injury which sees John Sutton and Luke Keary in the halves.

2015 Recent Results

Wests Tigers

R8 — Wests Tigers 38 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14

R9 — Sydney Roosters 36 def. Wests Tigers 4

R10 — Newcastle Knights 22 def. Wests Tigers 12

R11 — North Queensland Cowboys 8 def. Wests Tigers 0

R13 — Gold Coast Titans 27 def. Wests Tigers 20

South Sydney Rabbitohs

R9 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 def. St. George-Illawarra Dragons 10

R10 — Melbourne Storm 16 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 12

R11 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 14 def. Parramatta Eels 12

R12 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 def. Gold Coast Titans 16

R13 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 36 def. New Zealand Warriors 4

Match History

·       Against the Rabbitohs — Played 25, Won 10, Lost 15

·       At ANZ Stadium — Played 10, Won 4, Lost 6

Numbers to Know

• Despite being eight competition players ahead of Wests Tigers, South Sydney have only conceded 22 more points than Jason Taylor’s side so far in 2015.
• Wests Tigers have won just one of their past eight games against the Rabbitohs.
• James Tedesco leads the NRL in tackle busts this year with 73 (next best 55).