2020 NRL – Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs taking place? Friday 29th May, 2020 – 10:55 (UK)
Where is Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs taking place? Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
What is the expected weather for Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs? 14c, clear skies
What channel is Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
Where can I get tickets for Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs? No tickets are available as NRL matches are currently taking place behind closed doors
THE TEAM NEWS
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Starting 13: Tedesco, Tupou, J. Morris, Manu, B. Morris, Keary, Flanagan, Waerea-Hargreaves, Friend, Liu, Cordner, Crichton, Radley – Interchanges: Verrills, Tupouniua, Butcher, Collins – Reserves: Hall, Faamausili
Unavailable: Billy Smith (Injured), Mitchell Aubusson (Personal Reasons), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Injured)
- Reigning premiers Sydney Roosters lost both of their matches in the opening two rounds of the NRL campaign and they will be under some pressure to pick up their first victory of the year owing to what will be a shortened season.
- The Roosters put in another error-strewn performance as they were edged in a low-scoring contest by Manly Sea Eagles in Round 2 and falling to 0-3 with defeat against their greatest rivals would be tough to take.
- Josh Morris will make his debut in the centres for the Roosters after his arrival from Cronulla Sharks and that sees his twin Brett revert to the wing while co-captain Boyd Cordner will make his first appearance of the campaign after he was rested for the opening two games but Siosiua Taukeiaho has been unable to prove his fitness and misses out.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Starting 13: Mitchell, Gagai, Graham, Burns, Johnston, Dargan, Reynolds, Tatola, Cook, Burgess, Su’A, Murray, Knight – Interchanges: Nicholls, Lowe, Sironen, Mago – Reserves: Amone, Kolomatangi
Unavailable: Hame Sele (Injured), Cody Walker (Suspended)
- South Sydney come into this all-Sydney affair with their bitter rivals Sydney Roosters with one win and one loss to their name but they have been engulfed in drama during the enforced break in play and will be delighted to get the chance to put it all behind them.
- Latrell Mitchell came under-fire for breaching lockdown rules, James Roberts checked into rehab and Cody Walker was embroiled in a blackmail scandal after he was videoed taking part in a street fight.
- Walker has been handed a two-game ban for that indiscretion so the Rabbitohs will field Troy Dargan at five-eighth while Roberts was only named among the extended bench in the initial team but was trimmed when the 19-man squad was announced so Alex Johnston coming onto the wing and Campbell Graham moving inside to the centres is unlikely to be altered come kick-off.
THE PREDICTION
Sydney Roosters can ill-afford to lose this game as they attempt to get their season on track in order to defend their Premiership crown once again. The back-to-back winners failed to win either of their opening two matches of the campaign and face a tough draw with this game against South Sydney Rabbitohs followed by a trip to Brisbane Broncos in Round 4. The Rabbitohs failed to impress in their first two matches but did manage to pick up a victory, although they know they will need to be at the top of their game here. The Roosters dominated when these teams last met in the 2019 finals and with plenty to prove, they are likely to be fired-up for this contest and should be able to cover -7.5 with their defence likely to keep the Rabbitohs in check.
