Match day guide and preview for the 2022 NRL Preliminary Final between the Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Match details

• Who: Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
• When: Saturday 24 September, 7.50pm
• Where: Accor Stadium, Sydney
• Weather: min 14, max 20. 90% chance of rain, 2 to 6 mm
• Head-to-head record: Played 91. Panthers 43 wins. Rabbitohs 47 wins. 1 draw.

Line ups

The Panthers have replaced suspended winger Taylan May with Charlie Staines.

South Sydney has lost Siliva Havili to a calf injury with Jed Cartwright replacing him on the bench. Alex Johnston has been named on the wing but remains in doubt with an abdomen issue.

Finals so far

Penrith

The Panthers have been premiership favourites all season and reinforced that with a big statement in the first week of the finals.

Some pundits thought they may be vulnerable given Nathan Cleary was coming off a five-match ban, but Penrith proved they are still clearly the team to beat with a 27-8 victory over the Eels.

It was a tight contest for the opening 50 minutes with Parramatta even leading 8-7 early in the second half, but in typical Panthers fashion, they ground their opponents down before surging clear late.

The Panthers are overwhelming favourites to go back-to-back and it feels like it will take a special performance to knock them off.

South Sydney

The Rabbitohs have produced two strong finals outings to find themselves in a remarkable fifth straight Preliminary Final appearance.

They were too good for the Roosters in a fiery week one encounter, before smashing the Sharks 38-12 in a dominant display last week.

After an up and down start to the season, their star players are all starting to find form at the right time of the season, with Cam Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook all hitting their straps.

Souths were awfully close to beating Penrith in the Grand Final last year and they are probably the team most likely to upset them in 2022.

Last 6 meetings

• 2022 round 23: Rabbitohs 22 – 26 Panthers at Accor Stadium, Sydney
• 2022 round 4: Panthers 26 – 12 Rabbitohs at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
• 2021 Grand Final: Panthers 14 – 12 Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
• 2021 Qualifying Final: Panthers 10 – 16 Rabbitohs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
• 2021 round 23: Panthers 25 – 12 Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium
• 2021 round 11: Rabbitohs 12 – 56 Panthers at Apex Oval, Dubbo

These two should be very familiar with each other given this will be the seventh meeting in the last two seasons.

Penrith hold a dominant 5-1 edge in their previous six encounters, although there has only been one real blowout victory, a 44-point thumping in Dubbo early last year.

The Bunnies shocked the competition with a six-point win over the Panthers in the Qualifying Final last year before Penrith got their revenge in a tense Grand Final.

Pre match predictions

Parting the seas: Moses Leota to part the Bunnies defence to score a try. Panthers by 2.

Cook with gas: Damien Cook to use his speed for two line breaks and a try assist.