NRL Round Two Preview: Rabbitohs vs Dragons
South Sydney will be looking to write the next chapter of the storied rivalry with the Dragons this Saturday when they travel to Wollongong in this round two clash.
Fresh off a strong opening performance in their 16-14 win over the Dolphins in round one, the Rabbitohs will be hoping for more of the same in this encounter with the Dragons as they aim to get season 2025 off to a 2-0 start. South Sydney will have taken plenty of confidence out of last week’s victory – particularly knowing that they are able to grind out a win in a tight contest, which this Saturday’s match up with the Dragons certainly has the potential to be.
Junior Tatola: “We worked hard for each other and didn’t let in soft tries.”
Junior Tatola was extremely happy with last week’s win over the Dolphins. Despite being on the back foot for much of the game, the Rabbitohs were able to grind out a tough win in difficult circumstances, which Tatola believes is a testament to the character of the players, and their willingness to work hard for one another.
“We dug in pretty deep. As I said, we didn’t get out of our half too often. Dolphins did well to keep us down there… I think the main thing was that we worked hard for each other and didn’t let in soft tries.”
Keaon Koloamatangi: “Match fitness is a big thing for me.”
Keaon Koloamatangi reflects on a big performance against the Dolphins that saw him play 80 minutes, make six tackle breaks, 28 tackles, two offloads and ran for 186 metres. While any player would be happy with those figures, Keaon believes he can reach another level once he adjusts back into the grind of week-to-week NRL football in the coming weeks.
“Yeah I was blowing a bit, but I was just trying to do as much as I could. Match fitness is a big thing for me and I’m still not there yet, but hopefully in the next month I’ll be able to gain that back.”
Jye Gray: “He kicked us to a win.”
Jye Gray is relishing the chance to play alongside new halfback Jamie Humphreys. Humphreys was immense for the Rabbitohs in round one, and was particularly influential with the boot getting his side out of trouble. That didn’t go unnoticed by Gray, who is very much looking forward to getting back out there this weekend alongside his new teammate.
“I thought he was really calm. He was composed. He kicked us to a win, I saw he had 700 or something kick metres. The times that we couldn’t get out of our own end, he put boot to ball and we’d all be on the chase line. He was really composed when we were attacking the line as well."
Team Changes
Wayne Bennett has made just two changes to the side that defeated the Dolphins last Friday night. Fletcher Myers has been named for his first start of 2025 off the back of some high-quality performances at the end of last year, as well as some impressive trial form. He will come in at centre to replace the suspended Jack Wighton.
Meanwhile, Bayleigh Bentley-Hape has been named for his NRL debut on the wing, replacing the injured Tyrone Munro. Bentley-Hape has been playing in South Sydney’s lower grades since 2023, racking up 23 NSW Cup appearances and seven tries in that time. The Kiwi-born outside back possesses plenty of pace, and will be looking to make the most of his opportunity in the top grade.
Recent Results
- Round 10, 2024 – Dragons 28-14 Rabbitohs (Netstrata Jubilee Stadium)
- Round 24, 2023 – Rabbitohs 26-14 Dragons (Barlow Park)
- Round 15, 2023 – Dragons 36-30 Rabbitohs (Netstrata Jubilee Stadium)
- Round 15, 2022 – Dragons 31-12 Rabbitohs (WIN Stadium)
- Round 5, 2022 – Rabbitohs 24-12 Dragons (Accor Stadium)
Match Details and Where To Watch
- Fixture: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons
- Date: Saturday 15th March 2025
- Kick-off: 3pm (AEDT)
- Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
- Where to Watch: Get to the game and support your team live and in-person. If you can't make it to WIN Stadium, watch live on Fox League and available for streaming on Kayo Sports.
