Wests Tigers will look to bounce back from last week's close loss to the Penrith Panthers when they take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs this Friday at Bankwest Stadium for their Round 9 clash.
The side's first Friday night game in the 2020 season, Wests Tigers will be looking for another strong performance against the Rabbitohs following their stunning match last season that saw Michael Chee Kam produce an incredible match-winning try.
Chee Kam's heroics could well be needed again this weekend with little to split the two sides through the opening eight weeks of the season.
Level on points and separated by just two points in their for-and-against, Friday's game is shaping as a pivotal clash in the race for the top eight as Wests Tigers cling to their narrow advantage over the Rabbitohs in the hunt for finals football.
NRL Team Announcement: Round 9
With Joey Leilua (suspension), Sam McIntyre (concussion) and Tommy Talau (hamstring) all unavailable, Maguire will turn to both youth and experience — rookie Reece Hoffman named to make his debut on the wing while Benji Marshall returns in the squad for his first appearance since Round 4.
Originally named in the centres, Chee Kam will come off the bench — as he did last year against the Rabbitohs — with Chris Lawrence to instead start in the centres.
Luciano Leilua has also been cleared to play and will take his back row spot.
For Souths, former Wests Tigers forward Bayley Sironen returns to the squad after missing out last week and has been named to replace Burns on the bench.
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Friday, July 10
Time — 7:55pm AEST
Venue — Bankwest Stadium
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via Channel 9, FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 873 2GB
Live Stream — 9NOW, Foxtel Go, KAYO, NRL Digital Pass and Watch NRL (int.)
Match: Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers
Round 9 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Dane GagaiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Campbell GrahamCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 James RobertsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris Lawrence
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Alex JohnstonWinger for Wests Tigers is number 19 Reece Hoffman
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Ethan Lowe2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Bayley SironenInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 3 Michael Chee Kam
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick MagoInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Elijah Taylor
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Hame SeleInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Mark NichollsInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Benji Marshall
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Tim Roby
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
LATEST TEAM NEWS
South Sydney — Braidon Burns is out with Bayley Sironen joining the interchange bench as his replacement.
Wests Tigers — Chris Lawrence starts in centre in place of Joey Leilua while Luciano Leilua has been cleared despite going off with a head knock last week. Benji Marshall returns to the squad after replacing Sam McIntyre, while Reece Hoffman comes on to the wing in place of Tommy Talau for his NRL debut.
Match: Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers
Round 9 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Dane GagaiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Campbell GrahamCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 James RobertsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris Lawrence
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Alex JohnstonWinger for Wests Tigers is number 19 Reece Hoffman
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Ethan Lowe2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Bayley SironenInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 3 Michael Chee Kam
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick MagoInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Elijah Taylor
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Hame SeleInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Mark NichollsInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Benji Marshall
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Tim Roby
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
LATEST NEDS ODDS
H2H — South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.55), Wests Tigers ($2.45)
Line — South Sydney Rabbitohs -5.5 ($2.00), Wests Tigers +5.5 ($2.00)
Odds correct as of 10:30am, Tuesday July 7. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly.
HISTORY
Overall — Played 35, South Sydney 18, Wests Tigers 16, Drawn 1
At Bankwest Stadium — Played 1, Wests Tigers 1, South Sydney 0
Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 14 def. South Sydney 9 (Rd. 15, 2019)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee — Ben Cummins
Touch Judges — Tim Alouani-Roby and Jon Stone
Review Officials —Bryan Norrie and Steve Chiddy