NRL Match Preview: Rabbitohs vs Canberra Raiders RD06, 2026

The South Sydney Rabbitohs will take their show on the road to Western Australia this Saturday, facing the Canberra Raiders at Optus Stadium in Perth with kick-off at 1pm WST (3pm AEST) in the first match of a blockbuster NRL double-header.

Match Preview

The South Sydney Rabbitohs will take their show on the road to Western Australia this Saturday, facing the Canberra Raiders at Optus Stadium in Perth with kick-off at 1pm WST (3pm AEST) in the first match of a blockbuster NRL double-header.

Gates open at 11.30am, giving Members and fans plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and grab their Red and Green gear from merchandise outlets located near gates A and D, and inside bay 101. Members who show their 2026 Rabbitohs Membership card will save 15 per cent on merchandise. At half-time, the future of Rugby League in Western Australia will be on display as teams take to the field for Rabbitohs Mini League, thanks to Wahu.

This is the Rabbitohs' fourth home game to be played at Optus Stadium since 2018, and the Club's 13th home game in Perth since 2009. The Rabbitohs have attracted crowds of over 30,000 Members and fans to their previous games at the venue, with another large crowd expected this Saturday. With the Western Australian-based AFL teams playing interstate on Friday and Sunday, this is the perfect opportunity for WA's sports fans to experience elite NRL football ahead of the introduction of the Perth Bears in season 2027.

The Red and Green head into round six sitting fourth on the ladder with three wins from four matches and eight competition points. South Sydney are riding a two-game winning streak after defeating the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 32-24 in round five and the Wests Tigers 20-16 in round three. Their only loss this season came in round two, going down 18-26 to the Sydney Roosters.

The Rabbitohs' squad is loaded with representative talent, containing ten internationals and six State of Origin players, all led by the greatest coach Rugby League has seen in Wayne Bennett. Captain Cameron Murray will lead the side from lock, with a backline featuring Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton in the centres, Cody Walker at five-eighth and Jamie Humphreys at halfback. David Fifita and Tallis Duncan form a formidable second-row combination.

There are some notable milestones to keep an eye on this weekend. Winger Alex Johnston continues to add to his extraordinary all-time NRL try-scoring record, having surpassed Ken Irvine's mark of 212 career tries and now sitting on 215. Johnston is also just two try assists away from 50 for his career and three games away from 250 NRL appearances. In the halves, Cody Walker recently reached the 100 career tries milestone, while David Fifita has notched 50 career tries of his own.

The last time these two sides met was in round 14 of 2025, when the Raiders claimed a convincing 36-12 victory at GIO Stadium. South Sydney will be keen to set the record straight in Perth this weekend.

The Raiders come into this match in 16th position on the ladder, having won just one of their five games this season for two competition points. Canberra have endured a difficult run, losing their last four matches, including a 12-32 defeat to the Newcastle Knights in round five, a 22-34 loss to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in round four, a narrow 10-14 loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round three and a heavy 6-40 defeat to the New Zealand Warriors in round two. Their sole victory came in round one, edging the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 29-28.

Despite their struggles, the Raiders still possess plenty of quality, particularly in their forward pack. Captain Joseph Tapine and veteran Josh Papalii will start in the front row, with Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies providing plenty of firepower in the pack. The Rabbitohs will need to match the Raiders' intensity up front if they are to control this contest.

Jack Wighton will line up in the centres against his former club, having spent the bulk of his career at the Raiders before joining South Sydney. It will be an interesting subplot to watch as the experienced centre looks to get one over his old teammates.

With the Rabbitohs in strong early-season form and the Raiders searching for answers, this shapes as a terrific opportunity for South Sydney to extend their winning streak to three and consolidate their position inside the top four. Perth has been a happy hunting ground for the Cardinal and Myrtle in the past, and the Club will be looking to put on a show for the Western Australian faithful this Saturday.

Team Changes

Rabbitohs Head Coach Wayne Bennett has named Brandon Smith to return at hooker this weekend. Smith comes into the starting side wearing the number nine jersey, providing a significant boost to the Rabbitohs' forward pack. Moala Graham-Taufa drops out of the squad. Edward Kosi, Thomas Fletcher and Latrell Siegwalt have all been named in the reserves.

For the Canberra Raiders, Xavier Savage drops out of the squad, with Jed Stuart named on the wing wearing the number five jersey. Daine Laurie has been added to the interchange, while Joe Roddy and Owen Pattie have also been included in the extended squad. The Raiders' forward pack remains headlined by captain Joseph Tapine and Josh Papalii in the starting props.

Recent Results

Round 14, 2025 – Canberra Raiders 36-12 South Sydney Rabbitohs (GIO Stadium).