Wests Tigers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
ANZ Stadium
Friday, 7:50pm
The Rabbitohs will be looking to set the record straight this Friday against the Wests Tigers after a dreary first encounter in wet conditions in Round one.
Adam Reynolds, Alex Johnston and Robbie Farah have benefitted from a week's rest during the rep round whilst Damien Cook and Cody Walker have returned from Country Origin in good condition.
Aaron Gray has been named in the reserves for the first time this season after suffering a knee injury in the NRL Auckland Nines tournament and could be a late inclusion.
The Tigers will be without Aaron captain Aaron Woods, whilst David Nofoaluma is in doubt with a knee injury. Jamal Idris, despite not playing since round seven, has been ruled out for the season after an ACL injury.
Head Coach Michael Maguire says his team have left recent results behind them and are motivated to play to their potential against the Tigers at ANZ Stadium.
"They're in a good headspace at the moment," said Coach Maguire.
"We've worked really hard in these last two weeks so I'm looking forward to see the boys go out and perform."
With both teams sitting at 13th and 14th place on the NRL ladder and both registering three-wins, six-losses on paper it looks like it'll be an even contest regardless of the Round one result.
Souths have ranked the fourth best in the NRL Telstra Premiership in terms of fewest missed tackles and fewest errors, as opposed to the Wests Tigers who have been struggling in both departments.
Celebrating the NRL's Indigenous Round, the Rabbitohs will be wearing a special Indigenous Round Jersey with the story behind it to be revealed for our Rabbitohs Indigenous Round (Round 17 vs Panthers, Sunday 2 July).
Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker feels the jersey - designed by his uncle - will be a big motivation for the squad to put their best foot forward on Friday.
“We are looking to turn it around this weekend against the Tigers and it’s a pretty special moment," said Walker.
“We’ve got a big job this weekend.”
NYC
It's been a bleak start to the year for the Tigers and Rabbitohs who have mustered just three wins between them so far in 2017.
The sides played out a thriller in Round 1 with the Tigers holding on for a 30-28 win but it's been slim pickings ever since.
Interestingly, the Tigers are 0-4 at home this season while the Bunnies are 0-5 on the road, so unless we have a draw, someone's drought is about to end.
