NRL Finals Preview: Canberra Raiders VS South Sydney Rabbitohs

6 years ago - Sportingbase

CANBERRA RAIDERS VS SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS – FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER, 7.50PM, GIO STADIUM

The Canberra Raiders will host the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night and have the chance to qualify for their first Grand Final since 1994.

They will be well rested following a week off and if their last performance against the Melbourne Storm is anything to go by then they will be very hard to stop.

South Sydney on the other hand were great in patches against Manly last week and will have to be at their very best to hold out the green machine.

The Rabbits and Raiders met only once during the home/away season – a game Souths won narrowly 16-12. Coach Wayne Bennett won’t be reading too much into the previous meeting, but he will be looking to employ a similar defensive strategy after holding Canberra scoreless in the first half.

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Team news:

Raiders: Joey Leilua returns to the starting side after his pre-game fireworks drama forced him to the bench in the qualifying final in Melbourne. Bailey Simonsson goes back to the bench after ably filling in for Leilua at the last minute and scoring the first try. Nick Cotric is named to play despite suffering a gash to the face last week. Josh Papalii has been named to start and Dunamis Lui is on the bench but they may swap again on game day as they did in Melbourne.

Rabbitohs: No changes for Wayne Bennett from the 17 which got the job done against Manly last weekend. Centre James Roberts is carrying a thumb injury and will be closely monitored. If Roberts is out then Bennett will be forced into another backline reshuffle.

Betting Insights:

South Sydney has won each of its last six interstate matches.
Canberra has failed to cover the line in seven of its last eight matches at GIO Stadium Canberra.
Each of Canberra’s last five matches have gone UNDER the total match points line.
Nick Cotric has scored a try in three of Canberra’s last four matches against South Sydney.
Jarrod Croker has scored a try in three of his last four appearances against South Sydney.
Dane Gagai has scored a try in four of South Sydney’s last five away matches.
Cody Walker has been the first try-scorer in each of South Sydney’s last two matches against Canberra.

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