The Rabbitohs 2020 Home Draw has now been confirmed with some mouth-watering clashes set to take place upon the season's resumption, kicking off from next week!
Let's go through the games that you've just got to circle in the calendar straight away!
AWAY // Round 4 - Storm vs Rabbitohs (Friday 5 June, 7:55pm Kick-Off)
It's always a top-of-the-table clash when the Rabbitohs take on the Storm.
While Melbourne have gotten the upper-hand in recent years they have generally been games decided by one or two tries.
The key to this match lies in the forwards. Both sides have strong packs who don't shy away from a challenge - It'll be a physical encounter I can tell you now.
Last year in the Central Coast, Campbell Graham crossed for a hat-trick off the back of some Cody Walker magic. Look out for the two livewires who will be wanting to unlock that combination once again, come round four!
AWAY // Round 12 - Raiders vs Rabbitohs (Saturday 25 July, 7:35pm Kick-Off)
Probably the most anticipated rematch of the 2020 season will be against the Canberra Raiders after they knocked us out in the 2019 Preliminary Final at GIO Stadium, Canberra - one game short of the Grand Final.
Despite winning one game apiece in 2019, Canberra secured the one that mattered, which led them to play the Roosters only to just fall short of the premiership.
We'll be looking for redemption come round seven, in what will sure to be a physical encounter won in the forward pack!
HOME // Round 13 - Rabbitohs vs Broncos (Friday 7 August, 7:55pm Kick-Off)
Having clean-swept the Broncos in both encounters last season, Brisbane dealt us our first loss in 2020 when we narrowly went down by four points at Suncorp Stadium. In the first game played behind closed doors, that was the week before the competition was put on pause.
It's well documented the rivalry that's played out in recent history particularly between the coaches. It'll be strictly business as usual for Bennett making sure we'll be ready when the Broncs make the journey down to Sydney to our house, this time round.
Both sides ooze youthful exuberance, particularly in the outside backs.
Kotoni Staggs crashed over for a hat-trick the last time we played. Staggs was able to receive early ball while on the front-foot after the Brisbane pack marched up and through the middle. The key will be slowing the ruck down and playing the game at our pace, led by our brilliant number nine, Damien Cook!
HOME // Round 20 - Rabbitohs vs Roosters (Friday 25 September, 7:55pm Kick-Off)
There's no better way to end the regular season and also have a yardstick for how we're going in the competition when we come up against old rivals, the Roosters!
We luckily don't need to wait long at all when we match-up against them in next week's season re-opener. But it'll be interesting to see what a full season of football does when comparing round three to round 20 - in terms of styles of play, combinations and also where we'll sit on the table come September.
It's the oldest rivalry in Rugby League history, dating back 112 years, and one thing's for certain there will be no love-lost between the two foundation clubs!
