After defeating the Wests Tigers less than one month ago, South Sydney will now head down the M5 on their way to Campbelltown Sports Stadium for the return fixture this Saturday night at 7:35pm.
The men from Maroubra will understandably be confident after the previous result – a 42-28 victory at Industree Group Stadium in round 20. The Tigers simply had no answer for South Sydney’s scintillating attack in this game.
Cody Walker bagged a double, as did Alex Johnston. Jye Gray, Davvy Moale and Peter Mamouzelos all crossed the stripe too, while Taane Milne contributed a massive three try assists.
The Rabbitohs have an overall fantastic record against the Tigers. Including the most recent victory in round 20 this year, they are currently on a four-match winning streak over the Tigers and have won eight of their last nine clashes going back to 2020.
While their current four-match winning streak is undoubtedly impressive, it is only South Sydney’s second biggest winning streak over the joint venture, their biggest being a five-match streak that lasted for three seasons from 2011-2013.
This winning run featured contributions from South Sydney greats such as Greg Inglis, John Sutton and Nathan Merritt, while current player Thomas Burgess even came off the bench in jersey 17 in the final match of the streak – a 32-18 win in August 2013.
It was a truly special time for the Club, with many great victories – including a huge 54-10 drubbing in May 2013. While it’s great to reminisce over the past, the current crop of players will certainly be more focussed on replicating the 2011-13 team’s efforts, which is exactly what they’ll do if they defeat the Tigers this Saturday night.
Coach Ben Hornby has made a number of changes to the team that lost to the Storm last weekend. After playing on the edge or coming off the bench since returning from injury in round 15, captain Cameron Murray has been named to return to the middle of the field in the lock position where he has spent the majority of his career.
While Murray is a fantastic edge player, and has spent plenty of time in that position particularly for New South Wales and Australia, this change will see him get his hands on the ball more, which will hopefully result in his elite ball-playing adding an extra dimension to the South Sydney attack.
Murray’s shift to the middle will see Keaon Koloamatangi push back out to the edge – a position that he too is more familiar with. Meanwhile, Tallis Duncan will elevate into the starting side to replace Michael Chee Kam on the other edge, after Chee Kam sustained a calf injury in last week’s loss to the Storm.
Jacob Host also makes a timely return from an abdominal strain as he comes onto the bench to replace Duncan.
Stat Attack
- Currently on a four-match winning streak against the Tigers, South Sydney have the chance to equal their longest ever winning streak (five matches) with a win in this game.
- South Sydney have won eight of their last nine games against the Tigers going back to 2019.
- The Rabbitohs and the Wests Tigers have never played each other at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
- The Rabbitohs last played at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in 1999, defeating the Western Suburbs Magpies 16-10.
