Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 22 match is between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:55 local time with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. The home team South Sydney Rabbitohs are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.
When: 19:55 | Friday 10/08/2018
Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Preview:
Long-time arch rivals and 1 v 3 shapes as the game of the round and will now give us all a good indication of who really is the leading heavy contender for the title in 2018.
Last week’s performance from Souths is as good as I’ve seen.
They dominated with their massive forward game and size and then the likes of Cody Walker and the man I feel can win them the comp, Damien Cook.
They trailed Melbourne by 10 at one stage and ran them down.
Simply outstanding.
The Roosters are still yet to convince me if they have what it takes and this game will give us all a better insight.
KEY BATTLE: Latrell Mitchell v Greg Inglis
There are some great matchups across the park with Latrell Mitchell, Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco v Walker, Cook and if my mail is correct their big and damaging centre GI not to mention Dane Gagai as well.
The Verdict
I think if there is a weakness is the Roosters side, it’s their forwards and feel if Cook was able to tear apart the best wrestling team in the comp, he’ll do the same against the Chooks.
This shapes as a belter though.
The Rabbitohs have a 49-40 (55.1 percent) record playing within its home state in night matches since 2013.
Unibet Odds:
South Sydney Rabbitohs at $1.85
Sydney Roosters at $1.96
Odds:
Tip: South Sydney Rabbitohs at $1.90
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Blake Ferguson at $12.00
More Info:
Teams:
South Sydney Rabbitohs:
1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Hymel Hunt, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Richie Kennar, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess (c)
Interchange: 14 Braidon Burns, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola
Reserves: 18 Billy Brittain, 19 Kyle Turner, 20 Dean Britt, 21 Tyrell Fuimaono.
Sydney Roosters: 
1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Ryan Matterson, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Isaac Liu, 13 Victor Radley
Interchange: 14 Dylan Napa, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Mitchell Aubusson, 17 Sean O’Sullivan
Reserves: 18 Nat Butcher, 19 Kurt Baptiste, 20 Matthew Ikuvalu, 21 Lindsay Collins.
NRL News:
It’s the off-season shake-up that not only transformed Cody Walker’s game but South Sydney as well.
The Rabbitohs five-eighth has this NRL season been charged with being the side’s chief shot caller after being handed the reins by coach Anthony Seibold.
During the pre-season halfback Adam Reynolds was sidelined with a knee injury and Seibold asked Walker to take over calling the plays.
The move has paid dividends for Souths, who sit in top spot heading into Friday’s blockbuster clash with the Sydney Roosters.
An eyes-up playmaker, it seems illogical to ask Walker to steer the side around the park rather than play dividends.
But it’s not only proved a masterstroke for the Rabbitohs but Walker as well.
“At the start of the year Reyno was going through a bit of injury and he wasn’t on the training park as much,” Walker said.
“Seibs just approached me and asked if I wanted to be the shot caller and get the team around the park.
“Me and Reyno have a great partnership and a great connection. It’s not to say Reyno can’t call plays.
“We have a great combination and work off the back of it.
Walker is arguably enjoying the best season of his career – his 19 linebreaks in 20 matches this year is already the equal most of his career.
He has been instrumental on Souths’ lethal left edge which has produced more than half of their tries this year.
Of the side’s 83 four-pointers this season, 42 have been created down the left channel with the likes of Walker, John Sutton, Greg Inglis and Robert Jennings all in stellar form.
“I think that’s in our structure this year, we don’t like to let an opportunity go to waste,” Walker said.
“On that left edge I’ve been very fortunate to have the players that I do.
“John Sutton gives me another dimension, I’ve had Greg Inglis as a centre, who’s a legend of our game, Hymel Hunt has played a lot of footy now.”