Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers: Bunnies chase six straight; Bateman good to go
The Rabbitohs are the hottest team in the NRL with five wins on the bounce and they will fancy their chances of making it six when they host Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium.
With Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell working their magic and the forwards dominating rivals in the middle, the Bunnies have disposed of the Storm, Broncos, Panthers, Dolphins and Bulldogs during the past month to sit second on the ladder.
The last time the Rabbitohs won five straight was late in the 2021 season as they marched towards the grand final and with their big guns firing on all cylinders their form looks every bit as ominous in 2023.
Standing in their way on Saturday afternoon is a vastly improved Tigers outfit that has won two on the bounce on the back of star recruits Api Koroisau, David Klemmer and Isaiah Papali'i and rising fullback Jahream Bula, who continues to impress.
Since debuting in Round 8 against Manly, Bula has averaged 153 running metres per game, busted 14 tackles and produced a couple of sensational trysavers on Nathan Cleary and Mikaele Ravalawa to ensure the Tigers came away with two morale-boosting wins.
The battle of fullbacks Bula and Mitchell, halfbacks Luke Brooks and Lachlan Ilias and hookers Koroisau and Damien Cook hold the key to a game that has taken on a whole new dimension with the Tigers finding form and confidence in recent weeks.
Match: Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers
Round 11 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
16th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Rabbitohs: No late changes on game day for the high-flying Rabbitohs who welcomed back Liam Knight in Round 10, adding more depth to a powerful forward rotation. Knight made 106 metres from 12 runs in 25 minutes of game time against the Storm in his first NRL match since May last year. Blake Taaffe is 18th Man.
Wests Tigers: Tim Sheens' men will line up 1-17 with no late changes. John Bateman returns after being a late withdrawal from Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. The Englishman's return sees Asu Kepaoa go back to the bench and Alex Seyfarth to 18th Man. Shawn Blore is 18th Man.
Match: Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers
Round 11 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex JohnstonWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah TassCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell GrahamCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane MilneWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Brandon Wakeham
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan IliasHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Hame SeleProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Michael Chee Kam2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua Pole
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jai ArrowInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jed CartwrightInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Joe Ofahengaue
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Liam KnightInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Blake TaaffeInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Asu Kepaoa
Reserves
-
Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 19 Richard KennarReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 20 Shawn Blore
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker leads the NRL for try assists with 12 while teammate Latrell Mitchell has eight.
- Wests Tigers have come up with 114 offloads this season. Only Parramatta with 132 have more.
- The Rabbitohs have won five of their past six games against Wests Tigers, who have not defeated the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium since 2018.
- Alex Johnston has scored 82 tries in 84 games at Accor Stadium.
- Wests Tigers are aiming for three wins in a row for the first time since 2018.
- Latrell Mitchell has scored six tries in nine games against Wests Tigers.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
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