As the One New Zealand Warriors shoot for their fourth win on the trot tonight, the Rabbitohs are trying to avoid suffering three-straight losses in a season for the first time in over three years.
The New Zealand-based side made light work of the Dragons in round 17, running in nine tries in a 48-18 victory which lifted it to fifth on the ladder.
Tonight the One New Zealand Warriors will be boosted by a capacity crowd at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, with the chance to win four in a row for the first time since the 2018 season.
Their opponents are reeling after a heavy loss to the Cowboys last Sunday which followed defeat at the hands of the bottom-placed Dragons in round 15.
They've now dropped to eighth and defence has been a major issue, with Jason Demetriou's men having leaked 28 points or more in each of their last five games.
But on a more positive note they possess an excellent recent record against the One New Zealand Warriors, having not lost to them since 2018.
Go back further and the Rabbitohs have won 13 of their last 14 against the One New Zealand Warriors, which includes four wins against them in Auckland.
Match: Warriors v Rabbitohs
Round 18 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Rabbitohs is number 18 Tyrone Munro
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Rabbitohs is number 19 Taane Milne
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Richard Kennar
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke MetcalfFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Rabbitohs is number 14 Siliva Havili
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Rabbitohs is number 17 Thomas Burgess
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Michael Chee Kam
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley SironenInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 10 Hame Sele
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom AleInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Shaquai Mitchell
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Freddy LussickInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Davvy Moale
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Brayden WiliameReplacement for Rabbitohs is number 20 Dean Hawkins
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Team news
One New Zealand Warriors: Mitch Barnett returns from suspension and came into the starting side on Thursday with Josh Curran dropping out. Freddy Lussick has been added to the bench. Marata Niukore will miss the next three games due to suspension.
Rabbitohs: Isaiah Tass dropped out on Thursday, his place in the centres taken by Taane Milne. Youngster Tyrone Munro is 18th man and could be in line for a debut. Back-rower Jacob Host (suspended) has been replaced by Michael Chee Kam in the starting side. Siliva Havili returns on the bench after playing NSW Cup last weekend while Shaquai Mitchell also joins the bench.
Stat attack
- Rabbitohs wing Alex Johnston leads the NRL in line breaks with 23 and equal first in half breaks with seven.
- Cody Walker has 19 try assists in 15 games this year, putting him just ahead of Shaun Johnson who has 16 in 15 games.
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 10 tries in his last five games.
- The One New Zealand Warriors have not defeated the Rabbitohs in Auckland since 2012.
- The Rabbitohs have won 13 of their past 14 games against the One New Zealand Warriors.
- Rabbitohs left winger Alex Johnston has scored 10 tries in nine games against the One New Zealand Warriors.
- One New Zealand Warriors left winger Marcelo Montoya has scored four tries in his past four games against the Rabbitohs.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
