NRL Round 20 against. Rabbitohs Preview
On Saturday afternoon, the Wests Tigers travel to Gosford to play the South Sydney Rabbitohs. They are keen to get back on track after playing poorly against the Sharks the previous weekend.
With back-to-back losses to the Roosters, Storm, and Sharks, the Wests Tigers have had a difficult few weeks, adding 138 points to their “against” column.
As John Bateman and David Klemmer both stated during the week, significant progress against the Bunnies is anticipated.
After a dismal start to the season, South Sydney had won five straight games before to the Dolphins’ close defeat in Redcliffe last weekend.
In team news, Tallyn Da Silva was named in the No. 9 shirt on Tuesday. Api Koroisau’s (calf) fitness will be determined closer to kickoff.
After taking a serious blow last weekend, Alex Seyfarth is rested, and Alex Twal makes his first appearance on the field since suffering a head injury during practice around a month ago.
Luke Laulilii, an 18-year-old winger, returns for the Tigers in the other lineup alteration, taking Alex Lobb’s place (ankle).
Latu Fainu, who returned from a hamstring injury in the NSW Cup two weeks ago, has been selected to wear the No. 14 shirt for his sixth NRL game.
For the first time, the three Fainu brothers from Wests Tigers will be playing together in the NRL.
After a confrontation in Origin III, Cameron Murray faces a two-game suspension, and Jai Arrow will be sidelined for the remainder of the week due to shoulder surgery. In his 19 NRL games, Tallis Duncan might be included in the run-on side for the first time.
This will be these two teams’ first meeting on the Central Coast. The Wests Tigers last triumphed at Gosford in 2011, and their most recent visit there was in 2021.
Stat Attack:
- In their last eight games against the Tigers, the Rabbitohs have won seven of them.
- Since 2011, the Tigers have not triumphed in Gosford.
- In the last five games he has played against the Tigers, Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored nine tries.
- The past three games have seen the Wests Tigers give up 138 points.
- Damien Cook, a hooker for the Rabbitohs, will play in his 200th NRL game for the team.
