Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2023

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THE FACTS
When is Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs on and what time does it start? Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs will take place on Saturday 4th March, 2022 – 08:35 (UK)
Where is Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs taking place? Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs will take place at PointsBet Stadium in Sydney, Australia
Where can I get tickets for Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs? Click here for ticket information on 2023 NRL matches
What channel is Cronulla Sharks 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 Cronulla Sharks 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
THE TEAM NEWS
CRONULLA SHARKS
- Cronulla Sharks were superb during the regular season in 2022 but failed in the finals as they suffered successive defeats to end their campaign earlier than they would have hoped.
- They were knocked out by South Sydney Rabbitohs, the side they face in this season opener and while they will hope to enact some revenge here, it will be a tough ask without key man Nicho Hynes.
Starting 13: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo, Moylan, Trindall, Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane – Interchanges: McInnes, Graham, Kaufusi, Williams – Reserves: Tracey, Hiroti, Hazelton, Berrell, Puru
Unavailable: Royce Hunt (Injured), Kade Dykes (Injured), Matt Ikuvalu (Injured), Nicho Hynes (Injured)
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
- South Sydney Rabbitohs have been tipped in many quarters to be real Premiership contenders once again this year after they fell one game short of the Grand Final last time around.
- Souths’ season was ended by eventual premiers Penrith Panthers but their starting 13 is relatively unchanged this year and they can go close again.
Starting 13: L. Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Thompson, Walker, Ilias, Tatola, Cook, Burgess, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Murray – Interchanges: Taaffe, Chee Kam, Moale, S. Mitchell – Reserves: Cartwright, Kalo Kalo, Lovett, Suluka-Fifita, Karapani
Unavailable: Liam Knight (Injured), Siliva Havili (Injured), Hame Sele (Injured), Taane Milne (Suspended)
THE PREDICTION
This should be one of the games of the opening round of the NRL season as Cronulla Sharks host South Sydney Rabbitohs, although an injury to a key part of the Sharks’ spine could impact their chances of success. Nicho Hynes won the Dally M in 2022 but he has been ruled out of this clash with a calf injury. His absence is so significant that it has shifted favouritism to Souths and while this could still go either way, it is the Bunnies that are fancied to claim a fourth win in five matchups against the Sharks.