Another finals football campaign is tantalisingly close for the One New Zealand Warriors ahead of their penultimate New South Wales Cup regular season outing against South Sydney at Redfern Oval on Saturday (1.30pm kick-off local time; 3.30pm NZT).
After a patchy 18-12 win over last-placed Manly Warringah last Saturday, the defending premiers retained fifth spot with two rounds to play but there’s still work to be done if they’re to make the play-offs starting in just over two weeks.
They’re level on 32 points with Newtown but lying fifth on points for against differential, the Jets boasting a vastly superior plus 116 points difference with the Warriors just plus 19.
Running sixth on 30 points are the Sydney Roosters (plus 55) who will finish on 34 points if they beat the Magpies this week before collecting a guaranteed two points for a bye in the final round.
Put simply, the Warriors will be in if they win each of their last two matches against the Rabbitohs and the Knights.
Match: Rabbitohs v Warriors
Round 25 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Logan DicksonFullback for Warriors is number 1 Geronimo Doyle
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Jordi MazzoneWinger for Warriors is number 2 Luke Laulilii
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah TassCentre for Warriors is number 3 Daeon Amituanai
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Moala Graham-TaufaCentre for Warriors is number 4 Jye Linnane
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 18 Edward KosiWinger for Warriors is number 5 Haizyn Mellars
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Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Latrell SiegwaltFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Jack Thompson
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Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Matthew HumphriesHalfback for Warriors is number 14 Maui Winitana-Patelesio
Forwards
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Salesi AtaataProp for Warriors is number 8 Riley Price
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Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Yehya AyacheHooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 John RadelProp for Warriors is number 10 Morgan Gannon
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Dan Keir2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kayliss Fatialofa
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Thomas Fletcher2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Rabbitohs is number 21 Bronson GarlickLock for Warriors is number 17 Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
Interchange
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 5 Bayleigh Bentley-HapeInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tyson Hansen
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Tim JohannssenInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Cooper Page-Wilson
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Benjamin WilliamsonInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Joseph Ratcliffe
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 19 Alan HoltenInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Amasio Tiatia
Reserves
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Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 15 Lajuan VitoReplacement for Warriors is number 21 Cassius Tia
Last updated:
To stay on track they’ll be aiming to secure their sixth straight win on Saturday after putting together victories over the Magpies, Dragons, Bulldogs, Panthers and Sea Eagles.
They’ll have to do so without the influential Luke Hanson who played his 50th NSW Cup match last week. He has been promoted to make his second NRL appearance this week.
In his absence Jack Thompson comes back into the halves for his sixth NSW Cup game.
The pack named on Tuesday includes four players with NRL experience in Riley Price, Makaia Tafua, Morgan Gannon and Marata Niukore although Gannon and Tafua were also named in the extended NRL squad.
The 25-year-old Price will be out to continue an impressive start since joining the Warriors. In his first five games he has averaged 176 metres and 34 tackles with two try assists, three line breaks, 19 tackles and 10 off loads.
