It is always a special occasion when the Rabbitohs venture up the highway to take one of their home matches to Industree Group Stadium in Gosford. This one though will be taken up a notch, due to hooker Damien Cook playing his 200th NRL match for South Sydney in this clash against the Wests Tigers.
He will now become just the tenth player in South Sydney’s 116-year history to play 200 first grade games for the Club, joining some truly elite company including current teammates Cody Walker, Alex Johnston and Thomas Burgess. They, along with all their other teammates, will want to do everything in their power to ensure that Cookie gets to join the 200-game club in style with a win this Saturday.
Cook and the Rabbitohs have certainly had a happy time against the Wests Tigers of late. They have won seven of their last eight against the Tigers going back to 2020, the only loss in this period being by a single point in round seven 2022.
While this was a disappointing defeat for the Rabbitohs, they were able to exact their revenge just five weeks later in round twelve, giving the Tigers an absolute shellacking 44-18.
It was a seesawing contest to start with, with South Sydney behind 18-12 at half time. However, a six-try blitz in the second half saw the Rabbitohs get on top of the Tigers, leaving zero doubt in anyone’s mind as to who was the superior side on the night.
Alex Johnston scored a hat-trick, Cody Walker a double, while Campbell Graham, Siliva Havili and Jaxson Paulo all managed to get on the score sheet too. The Rabbitohs will no doubt be hoping that the scoreboard looks similar this Saturday afternoon in Gosford.
Ben Hornby has made just a single change to the starting side that was narrowly defeated 36-28 by the Dolphins in round 19. With Cameron Murray suspended from State of Origin, Tallis Duncan will move into the second row with Liam Le Blanc playing off the bench.
Expect a big outing from fullback Jye Gray, who has looked more and more at home in the top grade with each game that passes. Gray was one of South Sydney’s best last week, scoring his first ever try in the NRL while also setting one up for Jacob Gagai on the right wing.
However, it was not just in attack where the young fullback shone brightly. His cover defence at crucial times was incredible, as he made several massive efforts to prevent near-certain tries for the Dolphins to keep his side in the game.
Stat Attack
- This will be the first time that South Sydney have taken on the Wests Tigers at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford.
- The Rabbitohs have won seven of their last eight against the Tigers.
- The Rabbitohs have not lost to the Tigers at home since 2017.
- Alex Johnston has scored in four of his last five matches against the Tigers. Two of these were hat-tricks.
