NRL 2021: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers, round 6 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 17 Apr 2021, 04:33 PM

The Rabbitohs are riding a four-game winning streak thanks in large part to the NRL's second-hottest attack and next in their sights is a Wests Tigers team that just coughed up 34 points to the previously win-less Cowboys.

The Rabbitohs will be even more potent with gun pivot Cody Walker returning from suspension, allowing Benji Marshall to slip back into his super sub role.

Powering the Rabbitohs' offensive juggernaut is fullback Latrell Mitchell, who has taken his game to another level this season. Of particular note last Thursday against Brisbane was that Mitchell, often critiqued for his work-rate, was demanding the ball right up until the siren.

Wests Tigers, meanwhile, will take a defensive ranking of 13th into the clash - ahead of only the Cowboys, Sea Eagles and Bulldogs - having conceded an average of 35 points in their four losses.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Saturday 17 Apr

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Wests Tigers

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Rabbitohs: Liam Knight (concussion) will make his first appearance of the season and replaces Patrick Mago on the bench, with Hame Sele and Troy Dargan dropping off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.

"I'm pretty sure he’s close to coming back," Jai Arrow told NRL.com of Knight on Wednesday.

"He actually did his first full [contact] session where he was in there. He was definitely enjoying himself, he was taking some carries and he was into the boys."

Cody Walker will return from suspension to reclaim the No.6 jumper, pushing Benji Marshall back to the bench. Playmaker Dean Hawkins, who debuted off the interchange against Brisbane last week, was unavailable due to a cut suffered post-match that required 15 stitches.

Fullback Latrell Mitchell has scored six tries in seven games against the Tigers.

Wests Tigers: The Tigers will line up as named on Tuesday. Jake Simpkin will finally get his chance to start at dummy-half with Jacob Liddle dropping out of the side.

Asu Kepaoa has replaced Joey Leilua after the centre, a late addition to the team for the clash with North Queensland, failed a HIA after lasting just 13 minutes.

Former Eel Stefano Utoikamanu, who has looked better each week, will swap places with prop Zane Musgrove while Tom Amone is the new face in the reserves.

Liddle and Tom Amone dropped out of the initial 21-man squad on Friday. Alexander Seyfarth is the 18th man.

Wests Tigers have conceded 20 points or more in 15 consecutive games.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Saturday 17 Apr

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 James Roberts
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Asu Kepaoa
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Josh Mansour

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Thomas Burgess

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Tevita Tatola

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Stefano Utoikamanu
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jacob Host

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Joe Ofahengaue
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jaydn Su'a

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Benji Marshall

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Moses Mbye
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Mark Nicholls

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Luke Garner
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Jai Arrow

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Thomas Mikaele
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 19 Liam Knight

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Zane Musgrove

Reserves

Reserve for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick Mago

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Alex Seyfarth

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:05 AM

Key match-up

Adam Reynolds v Luke Brooks: The drums are beating loudly about Brooks' future so aiming up against one of the competition's form No.7's would be to the play-maker's benefit. Reynolds is the NRL's third-highest point-scorer in 2021 and has three tries to his credit.

Brooks has yet to cross the stripe and has only forced one line dropout to the Rabbitoh's four but he has been more productive than Reynolds in try assists (7-1), line-break assists (3-0) and offloads (6-1).

Stat attack

Amidst all the misery there is one bright spot for Wests Tigers with the club leading the competition in offloads (65). They sit one ahead of last season's best offloaders, Parramatta, with their high-flying rivals Souths (39) languishing in 13th place, 26 behind their struggling rivals.

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