NRL Round 19 Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview

It's the final game of the NRL's Rivalry Round and there is no greater rivalry in Rugby League than the Roosters v Rabbitohs. Monday Night Football will be the stage for this great clash to be played out on. MNF was also the stage where the two teams met in Round 1 and it certainly was a memorable game as the Roosters won the game on the bell after trailing by 8 points with only a few minutes left on the clock. But that was the South Sydney team that was not playing for the entire 80 minutes. In recent weeks as they have gone on a great winning streak, they have slowly learnt to play for the whole game. They haven't yet found a complete solution to this problem, but they are finding a way of now winning games that they would normally lose. It is an unusual position that the two clubs find themselves in as the Roosters have had a year where they have struggled and the Rabbitohs are vying for a Top 4 place. But the Roosters have deserved of their place on the table. They have played some average football this season and all does not seem well within their team. They have a roster with a lot of potential and have the added advantage of having youth on their side. But for some reason they just haven't clicked. They did salvage a draw last Monday against the Sharks but it was a game that was there to win, and in the dying stages, it was almost in the bag. But a few wayward attempts at field goal cost them the victory. So fans of both teams are lucky that this game is played at Allianz Stadium because there should be a bumper crowd on hand. This clash is always a fiery game that gets the competitive juices flowing on both sides. Sometimes, a little too much and players give away costly penalties. But if you're lucky enough to view this game live, either at the stadium or on Pay-TV, strap yourself in for what will be a fantastic game. 

Sydney Roosters

As mentioned above, the Roosters were level with the Sharks at the end of golden point in MNF. So it is no surprise to see that they have named the exact same team that they had in that clash, but it must be noted, Braith Anasta was ruled out late and didn't play. That was also before a date at the judicary for a few players. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was suspended for one week on Wednesday night for a high shot on Ben Ross and is out of this clash. Lama Tasi is promoted to the starting team and they still have to officially release the player who will come onto the bench, but as soon as it comes to hand, I'll release it on my twitter feed. The Roosters will have to lift to another level in this game. While the draw against the Sharks was positive for them, they perhaps should've won the game considering all the players that were missing for the Sharks. A lot of questions are now being asked about the quality of football that Mitchell Pearce is offering, and rightly so. He should have played a much better role in Golden Point but for some reason he didn't dominate when he was needed most. Perhaps the inclusion of Anasta at 5/8 will have a positive effect on his play.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

The Rabbitohs continue into uncharted territory since they won the minor premiership in 1989. Their fans are daring to believe that they can possibly feature heavily in the finals and dare I mention the Grand Final. But first, they must aim towards playing rugby league for the entire 80 minutes. It has been tough at times to watch a team with so much potential switch off at crucial points and allow the opposition back into the game. The Rabbitohs have gone with the same team that got the job done against Newcastle last week. They have named an extended bench of 6, so two players will have to drop off before kickoff. There is no clear indication of who that will be, as coach McGuire has shown a reluctance to leave Isaac Luke out on the field for the entire duration of a game. I can only imagine that this is a ploy to keep Luke as fresh as possible coming into the finals. The good thing is that the Rabbitohs still have a few players to come back from injury and as they do, the depth of their squad grows considerably. 

Recent History

Overall = Roosters 93 - Draw 5 - Rabbitohs 106

Last 5 games = Roosters 4 - Rabbitohs 1

At Allianz Stadium = Roosters 21 - Rabbitohs 10

Odds

TAB Sportsbet = Roosters $3.75 Rabbitohs $1.28

Centrebet= Roosters $3.65 Rabbitohs $1.30

Sportsbet = Roosters $3.85 Rabbitohs $1.28

Betfair = Roosters $3.90 Rabbitohs $1.33

Verdict

There is no bigger game in the regular season other than the two times that these teams meet. On form, the Rabbitohs should get revenge for their heartbreaking Round 1 loss. But there has been a few surprises this season. If you peel back the layers in this clash, a win to Souths not only makes them level with their cross town rivals for the season, but will also catapult them into the Top 4 (one point ahead of the Sharks). It is very appealing to the Rabbitohs players as it is momentum that they can use to drive them further into the finals. If they lose, it isn't exactly pannick stations. They will just have to let their fans suffer through the jibes from Roosters fans (even if they win the title). If Souths want to be recognised as a genuine threat. They must make the rest of the competition take notice with a dominating performance in this game.

Suggested Bet

Rabbitohs @ $1.30 (with Betfair)


Close game? = Rabbitohs 1-12 @ $3.10 - This is a traditional rivalry. They should always be a close game. But if Souths want to make a statement they should win by more than 13+! But because it is rivalry, I am going to shorter margin of the two.


Close range try = Isaac Luke First Try @ $15 - Firstly, I am surprised that he is that short of a price. But compared to a few other players listed, it provides value. He is always around looking for a try and there have been two hookers that have scored first already this weekend...why can't it continue?


Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips