Match day guide and preview for the 2022 NRL Elimination Final between bitter rivals, the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Match details
- Who: Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
- When: Sunday 11 September, 4.05pm
- Where: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Weather: min 11, max 21
- Head-to-head record: Played 228. Roosters 104 wins. Rabbitohs 119 wins. 5 draws.
Line ups
| ROOSTERS | RABBITOHS | |
| James Tedesco | 1 | Latrell Mitchell |
| Daniel Tupou | 2 | Alex Johnston |
| Paul Momirovski | 3 | Isaiah Tass |
| Drew Hutchison | 4 | Campbell Graham |
| Joseph Suaalii | 5 | Taane Milne |
| Luke Keary | 6 | Cody Walker |
| Sam Walker | 7 | Lachlan Ilias |
| Jared Waerea-Hargreaves | 8 | Tevita Tatola |
| Sam Verrills | 9 | Damien Cook |
| Siosiua Taukeiaho | 10 | Mark Nicholls |
| Angus Crichton | 11 | Keaon Koloamatangi |
| Nat Butcher | 12 | Jai Arrow |
| Victor Radley | 13 | Cameron Murray |
| BENCH | BENCH | |
| Connor Watson | 14 | Kodi Nikorima |
| Egan Butcher | 15 | Hame Sele |
| Adam Keighran | 16 | Thomas Burgess |
| Matthew Lodge | 17 | Siliva Havili |
| RESERVES | RESERVES | |
| Kevin Naiqama | 18 | Blake Taaffe |
| Terrell May | 19 | Jaxson Paulo |
| Oliver Gildart | 20 | Davvy Moale |
| Fletcher Baker | 21 | Michael Chee Kam |
| Siua Wong | 22 | Josh Mansour |
The Roosters have been dealt a huge blow with star centre Joey Manu ruled out for 2-3 weeks with a calf injury. Momirovski and Hutchison are now the two centres, while Tupou and Sualii return on the wing. Radley returns at lock, shifting Taukeiaho to prop and Lodge to the bench. Waerea-Hargreaves (hamstring) and Verrills (finger) have been named but are in some doubt to play.
The Rabbitohs have named star captain Cameron Murray despite copping a head knock early in last week’s game against the Roosters. Damien Cook returns after a positive COVID test, while Campbell Graham returns at centre.
Team profiles
Sydney Roosters 6th – 15 wins and 9 losses
Points for: 635 points for (3rd in the NRL)
Points against: 434 points against (5th)
Home record: 9-3
Away record: 6-6
Average winning margin: 19 points
Average losing margin: 9.3 points
Last 10: 8-2 – WWWWWWWWLL
Biggest win: defeated Tigers 72-6 at SCG in round 23
Biggest loss: lost to Penrith 32-12 at SCG in round 11
Most tries: Joseph Suallii and Daniel Tupou (15), James Tedesco (13)
Most try assists: Luke Keary (21), Sam Walker (15), Joseph Manu and James Tedesco (12)
Most linebreaks: Daniel Tupou (18), James Tedesco (17), Joseph Suaalii (14)
Most run metres: James Tedesco (4,969), Daniel Tupou (3,319), Joseph Manu (3,233)
Most tackles: Nat Butcher (843), Angus Crichton (739), Connor Watson (626)
Premiership players in selected 17: (3) Daniel Tupou, Luke Keary, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2) James Tedesco, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Victor Radley (1) Paul Momirovski, Sam Verrills, Angus Crichton, Nat Butcher
Finals record: 59 wins, 54 losses. 52.2% win rate.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 7th – 14 wins and 10 losses
Points for: 604 points for (6th)
Points against: 474 points against (7th)
Home record: 9-3
Away record: 5-7
Average winning margin: 16.3 points
Average losing margin: 9.8 points
Last 10: 7-3 – LWLWWLWWWW
Biggest win: defeated Warriors 48-10 at Sunshine Coast Stadium in round 21
Biggest loss: lost to Canberra 32-12 at Apex Oval in round 11 and lost to St George 32-12 at WIN Stadium in round 15
Most tries: Alex Johnston (28), Cody Walker (12), Damien Cook and Taane Milne (8)
Most try assists: Cody Walker (17), Latrell Mitchell (16), Lachlan Ilias (11)
Most linebreaks: Alex Johnston (38), Cody Walker (11), Taane Milne (9)
Most run metres: Keaon Koloamatangi (3,241), Tevita Tatola (3,102), Thomas Burgess (2,839)
Most tackles: Damien Cook (913), Cameron Murray (798), Jai Arrow (758)
Premiership players in selected 17: (2) Latrell Mitchell, (1) Alex Johnston, Thomas Burgess
Finals record: 56 wins, 40 losses. 52.7% win rate
Last 5 meetings
- 2022 round 25: Roosters 26 – 16 Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium
- 2022 round 3: Rabbitohs 28 – 16 Roosters at Accor Stadium
- 2021 round 24: Roosters 12 – 54 Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium
- 2021 round 3: Rabbitohs 26 – 16 Roosters at Accor Stadium
- 2020 round 20: Rabbitohs 60 – 8 Roosters at Accor Stadium
The Roosters win last weekend ended a four game losing streak over their bitter rivals that included a couple of thumpings.
It’s hard to read too much into last week’s game with both sides missing a couple of key players and Souths losing Cam Murray early on.
The Bunnies have towelled up the Chooks twice in recent seasons, racking 60 points in 2020 before piling on another 54 last year.
The last time these two sides met in a final was back in 2019 where the Roosters comfortably accounted for Souths 30-6 in a Qualifying Final.
Pre match predictions
Butcher knife: Nat Butcher to slice through the Rabbits defence for a try. Roosters by 6.
Walk in the park: Sam Walker to kick all of his conversions. Roosters by 12 – Denholm Samaras
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