Saturday’s NRL 2018 Round 19 match is between Wests Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs. The opening kick is set to commence at 17:30 local time with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. The away team South Sydney Rabbitohs are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Wests Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
When: 17:30 | Saturday 21/07/2018
Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Preview:
I mentioned last week that it’s the time of year that when the games you’re supposed to win against the lower-ranked sides prove to be a harder task.
The Tigers proved that, pulling off an upset over the Dragons.
The band was back together again and playing the same tune with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah fantastic in that victory.
Against the Rabbitohs, Farah comes up against his teammates just weeks after leaving.
The Bunnies have handled the middle part of the year really well and are expected to win this one.
There’ll be plenty of points I feel and leading try scorer Robert Jennings will again add to his tally off the back of the best left side attack in the game.
Souths are so hard to stop with players in motion and ask so many questions asked of the defensive line.
KEY BATTLE: Robbie Farah v Damian Cook
The battle of the two hookers will be an epic one.
Cook is the current Aussie hooker up against the old master and former teammate.
Can Robbie pull a rabbit out of the hat for this one or will the competition leaders flex their muscles again?
The Verdict
I like the Bunnies in a point scoring frenzy.
Wests Tigers have a 14-20 (41.2 percent) O/U record at ANZ Stadium since 2014.
Unibet Odds:
Wests Tigers at $3.35
South Sydney Rabbitohs at $1.34
Odds:
Tip: South Sydney Rabbitohs at $1.34
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Campbell Graham at $12.00
More Info:
Teams:
Wests Tigers:
1 Moses Mbye, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Benji Marshall (c), 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Michael Chee Kam, 12 Josh Aloiai, 13 Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 14 Alex Twal, 15 Suaso Sue, 16 Luke Garner, 17 Matt Eisenhuth
Reserves: 18 Jacob Liddle, 19 Robbie Rochow, 20 Tim Grant, 21 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak.
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 
1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Hymel Hunt, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Thomas Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess (c)
Interchange: 14 Adam Doueihi, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola
Reserves: 18 Mark Nicholls, 19 Billy Brittain, 20 Dean Britt, 21 Braidon Burns.
NRL News:
He was the Rabbitoh they let hop away.
Now, a month after being granted a release to return home to the Wests Tigers, Robbie Farah is willing divulge all the state secrets at Redfern in a bid to bring down the current ladder leaders.
And in doing so, he’ll celebrate his 250th game for the Tigers while spoiling John Sutton history-making moment of becoming the first Rabbitohs player to 300 games.
“There’s no doubt that, having been there, I know the way they play and their structures and things like that,” Farah said.
The Wests Tigers veteran believes the key to the Rabbitohs’ success – their nine-game winning streak is the longest in almost 30 years – is simple.
Burgess brothers George, Tom and Sam provide the quick play-the-balls that allow star hooker Damien Cook to tear ruck defences to shreds.
Playmakers Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker and Alex Johnston thrive off everything after that.
“It all starts from the quick play-the-balls that they’re getting and those boys are playing on the front foot, so (our) forward pack has a massive challenge against a big Souths pack,” he said.
“I’ll give a bit of insight into the way they play but again it’s one thing knowing what they’re going to do and it’s another thing trying to stop it.”
Farah’s milestone comes just over three years after he was sensationally dropped to reserve grade by then-coach Jason Taylor, denying him a chance to achieve the feat at Leichhardt Oval.
The 34-year-old will instead reach the mark at ANZ Stadium, having set up all three of the Tigers’ tries in their upset of St George Illawarra on Sunday.
Farah re-iterated his gratitude towards the Rabbitohs for granting him a release.
“They would’ve been well within their rights to keep me there as a bit of insurance. But I think they made the decision with my best interests at heart,” Farah said.
“For that I’m forever grateful.
“But at the same time, we need a win so I’ll be going out there to do my best to get that win.
“It’s Sutto’s 300th. It’ll be my 250th for the Tigers as well. It’s going to be a pretty big day but at the end of the day we need the win and that’s what I’ll be focused on.”
The Tigers remain in 10th spot – four points adrift of eighth-placed Brisbane – however Farah refuses to give up hope of a late finals push.
“If we win seven, we’ll make the finals. You never say never,” he said.
“Our work’s definitely cut out. But we’ll believe, and if we keep grinding away and playing like we did today, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”
