NRL 2021: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, round 18 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 18 Jul 2021, 05:19 PM

Buoyed by a courageous showing against top-flight side the Roosters last week, the Bulldogs will fancy their chances of giving the Rabbitohs an equally uncomfortable night.

The Bulldogs completed at 83% and made just seven errors - half that of the Roosters - to take some big steps in lifting standards after their 66-0 loss to the Sea Eagles a week earlier.

The Rabbitohs are in no mood for losing, however, especially with the likes of Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker pulling the strings with or without the club's Origin stars around.

Walker was mesmerising with his passing and game vision in the 46-18 win over the Cowboys - 44 of those points were scored unanswered.

Wayne Bennett's men are after six wins in a row to keep the pressure on the Storm and the Panthers at the pointy end of the NRL ladder.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Sunday 18 Jul

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Bulldogs

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell has failed to back up after State of Origin and will be replaced at fullback by Blake Taaffe in the final 17. Peter Mamouzelos is 18th man.

Mitchell's fellow Origin stars - Cameron Murray, Damien Cook and Dane Gagai - will take the field against the bottom side after strutting their stuff on Wednesday night at Cbus Super Stadium.

Veteran Benji Marshall - who is stranded in Sydney - has been replaced on the bench by outside back Braidon Burns.

Jaxson Paulo and Josh Mansour were omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Winger Taane Milne (high tackle) and prop Liam Knight (dangerous contact) both took early guilty pleas to charges arising from the clash against the Cowboys and are available to play.

Mark Nicholls will make his 100th NRL appearance.

Bulldogs: Jayden Okunbor and Ofahiki Ogden come into the match-day 17 with Okunbor replacing rookie winger Falakiko Manu, who is 18th man, and Ogden taking the bench spot of Joe Stimson, who drops out of the final squad.

Renouf Atoni was omitted on Saturday and his place in the starting side taken by Matt Doorey, who returns from a head knock. Doorey will start in the second row with Josh Jackson reverting to lock.

Kyle Flanagan was the other player to drop out of the extended squad 24 hours from kick-off.

Ava Seumanufagai, returning from a one-game suspension incurred against Manly in round 16, will start on the interchange.

Jeremy Marshall-King still has one more match to serve of the suspension he incurred against the Sea Eagles.

The Bulldogs have lost their past eight games in Queensland.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Sunday 18 Jul

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 20 Blake Taaffe

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Nick Meaney
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Corey Allan
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Will Hopoate
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Aaron Schoupp
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane Milne

Winger for Bulldogs is number 23 Jayden Okunbor
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Lachlan Lewis
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Jake Averillo

Forwards

Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Mark Nicholls

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Jack Hetherington
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione Katoa
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Luke Thompson
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Corey Waddell
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jaydn Su'A

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 21 Matt Doorey
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Lock for Bulldogs is number 12 Josh Jackson

Interchange

Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Liam Knight

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey Biondi-Odo
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick Mago

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Dylan Napa
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Jacob Host

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Ava Seumanufagai
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Braidon Burns

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Ofahiki Ogden

Reserves

Reserve for Rabbitohs is number 21 Peter Mamouzelos

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 5 Falakiko Manu

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Cummins
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:40:56 AM

Key match-up

Josh Jackson v Cameron Murray: Jackson was outstanding against the Roosters last week topping the tackle count (56) in wet and heavy conditions, along with 99 metres off 13 runs. Murray regularly fights Damien Cook for making the most tackles each week. But Jackson and Murray are two locks whose one-on-one defence has saved plenty of tries for their respective teams this year.

Stat attack

Cody Walker is streaking away from the pack in try assists (21) and line-break assists (26). On both counts he's more than five ahead of Tom Trbojevic - and that's saying something.

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