NRL 2021: South Sydney Rabbitohs v New Zealand Warriors, round 19 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 24 Jul 2021, 02:01 PM

Things are getting desperate for the Warriors when it comes to them featuring in the finals.

Not only are they four points adrift of the top eight with seven games remaining, there are six teams between them and eighth spot. Another loss this week could just about end their hopes of playing beyond round 25.

There are no such problems of that nature for the Rabbitohs. They would need to lose three of their final seven matches to have any chance of missing a top-four finish.

The minor premiership is still in the equation for Wayne Bennett's side.

Round 19 - Round 19 - Saturday 24 Jul

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Warriors

Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Rabbitohs: Campbell Graham has been ruled out (concussion protocols) with Taane Milne elevated to the starting side at centre and Braidon Burns the new face on the interchange.

Milne has shifted to the interchange with Jaxson Paulo and Josh Mansour earning recalls on the edges with Alex Johnston sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Latrell Mitchell returns at fullback following a post-Origin III rest by coach Wayne Bennett.

Jai Arrow returns on the bench after serving a suspension for a breach of COVID protocols while in Maroons camp.

Blake Taaffe is the 18th man. Jed Cartwright was trimmed from the extended bench an hour before kick-off, after Dean Hawkins was culled from the reserves on Friday.

Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker has scored eight tries in his past six games against the Warriors.

Warriors: Kodi Nikorima returns to the starting side at five-eighth with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion) sidelined.

Adam Pompey comes into the centres in place of Rocco Berry (hamstring) while Jazz Tevaga takes over at hooker for Wayde Egan (shoulder). Bunty Afoa and Taniela Otukolo are the new faces on the bench.

Edward Kosi is 18th man, with Kane Evans dropping off the reserves list on game day. Reserve forward Ben Murdoch-Masilia and utility Sean O'Sullivan dropped out of the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Round 19 - Round 19 - Saturday 24 Jul

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Josh Mansour

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 14 Taane Milne

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Euan Aitken
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson Paulo

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Mark Nicholls

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Jazz Tevaga
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jack Murchie
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jaydn Su'A

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Josh Curran

Interchange

Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jacob Host

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Taniela Otukolo
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick Mago

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Eliesa Katoa
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Jai Arrow

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Braidon Burns

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Leeson Ah Mau

Reserves

Reserve for Rabbitohs is number 20 Blake Taaffe

Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Edward Kosi

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:40:55 AM

Key match-up

Adam Reynolds v Chad Townsend: Both men will be wearing different colours in 2022, but right now their focus remains on maximising the results of their respective sides this season.

It will be sad to see Reynolds walk off the field in Rabbitohs colours for the last time, but for Townsend, his half-season at the Warriors carry nowhere near as much sentimentality.

Stat attack

Addin Fonua-Blake arrived at the Warriors as one of the prized recruits of 2021. A knee injury meant a lengthy stint on the sidelines, but last weekend he showed just why the Warriors were so keen to sign him.

He ran for a momentous 257m, with 123 of those coming after contact. He also had a tackle efficiency rate of 94 per cent.

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