We look at four Burning questions facing the Rabbitohs ahead of this Friday's Round 15 clash against the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium.
1. Will Sam Burgess play?
Lock-forward, Sam Burgess, left the field of play against the Tigers last week following an attempted tackle that saw the forward’s shoulder come into contact with the attacking player. Scans over the weekend revealed that the forward had sustained no structural damage. Burgess will be monitored throughout the week to determine whether he will play.
2. Who will come into the outside backs?
Rabbitohs centre, Bryson Goodwin, also failed to finish the clash against the Tigers with the Kiwi international sustaining a broken arm. The injury opens an opportunity up in the Club’s outside backs that could see Siosifa Talakai come into the starting line-up. Talakai scored a try with his first touch in first-grade against the Gold Coast Titans two weeks ago, but it remains to be seen whether Head Coach Michael Maguire will opt for the young Kiwi.
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3. Will Keary return?
While named to play against the Tigers, Luke Keary was a late withdrawal from South Sydney’s Round 14 line-up, putting a brief pause on Maguire’s recent game plan that has seen the playmaker come off the bench late in games to provide spark. Should Keary be cleared to play this week, the Premiership-winning pivot will no doubt come back into the side at either five-eighth or half pending the Origin selections of Greg Inglis and Adam Reynolds.
4. How will both teams respond?
A last-minute touch-line conversion from Reynolds was all that separated the Rabbitohs and Eels in their recent encounter. Will the clash produce a similar finish? Both sides will be looking to assert their authority on Friday night’s match by bursting out of the blocks with plenty of enthusiasm. If the Rabbitohs emerge with the same kind of vigour they showed against Parramatta last time around, they will go a long way to claiming the two competition points.
Stay tuned to Rabbitohs.com.au on Tuesday to see your Rabbitohs line-up for Round 15.
