NRL Match Preview: Rabbitohs vs Warriors RD13
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will be at Accor Stadium in round 13 to take on the Warriors at 2pm this Sunday afternoon. Back in front of their home fans and fresh off two wins and a bye in the last three weeks, the Rabbitohs will be eager to put in a strong performance and continue their ascent up the NRL ladder.
South Sydney boasts an impressive record over the New Zealand-based side in recent times having won four of their last five encounters. This includes some resounding victories for the Rabbitohs, such as their 60-22 win in 2021, and their 48-10 win in 2022. The Rabbitohs will take plenty of confidence from their record against the Warriors coming into this clash.
One thing South Sydney has lacked this year is continuity in the side from week-to-week, mostly due to a heavy injury toll this season. However, having 16 of the 17 players that defeated the Tigers in round 11 named to take the field for this game will provide the Rabbitohs with a massive boost. This consistency will help build the platform for what should be a memorable South Sydney victory this Sunday afternoon.
Wayne Bennett will notch up his 950th NSWRL/ARL/SL/NRL game as Head Coach this week when we face the Warriors. A milestone that reflects one of the greatest coaching careers in Rugby League history.
Jai Arrow: “Just with the amount of work he gets through and the carries that he takes. He’s pretty special in the middle.”
Jai Arrow is convinced that his front-row partner Keaon Koloamatangi will not be moving back to the edge position anytime soon. Keaon made the move to the middle alongside Arrow earlier in the season, and has been posting some massive numbers since making the move, including an 80-minute shift that saw him run 282 metres and make 49 tackles against the Tigers in round 11. After floating between edge and middle throughout his career, Arrow seems to think that Koloamatangi has finally found a home in the front row, and apparently Head Coach Wayne Bennett agrees.
“Yeah obviously Keaon wanted to start in the back row, but he’s so much better suited to the middle. Just with the amount of work he gets through and the carries that he takes. He’s pretty special in the middle… Benny (Ben Hornby) put him there last year and he was doing the exact same things last year as well in the middle. As Wayne (Bennett) said in the meeting this morning, he’s played himself back into the middle for the rest of his career.”
Keaon Koloamatangi: “We’re just working a lot better as a team together, especially defensively.”
South Sydney has endured a torrid injury toll in the last two seasons. Despite that, the Rabbitohs are faring far better this year than last, sitting in sixth position in 2025 as opposed to near the bottom in 2024. Keaon Koloamatangi attributes this difference in performance under difficult circumstances to Head Coach Wayne Bennett’s “no excuses” attitude, as well as much-improved teamwork and cohesion in defence.
“We had similar injuries last year and we were at the bottom of the comp. But I think Wayne has pressed into our head that there’s no excuses and the people that he picks in the 17 each week – we’re all NRL calibre and we can’t really have excuses and we’re the only people that are going to win the two points at the end of the day… We’re just working a lot better as a team together, especially defensively. We don’t really think about that (injuries) too much, at the end of the day that’s how it is.”
Jamie Humphreys: “It doesn’t change the fact that we have games to win each week.”
Halfback Jamie Humphreys was among the injured brigade until he made his comeback from a hamstring strain against the Broncos in round 10. While he’s certainly excited to see some of his experienced teammates join him back on the field in the coming weeks, Humphreys’ focus is firmly upon this week’s fixture against the Warriors, and insists that whichever 17 players take the field each week are capable of getting the job done for the Cardinal and Myrtle.
“It’s exciting. I’m genuinely really excited to be back myself. To have some guys like Cody (Walker) and Jack (Wighton) coming back hopefully soon, and Ty Ty (Tyrone Munro) as well adds a lot of experience… Hopefully Brandon as well (Smith)… It doesn’t change the fact that we have games to win each week. That’s kind of the focus. If we get boys coming back after that or during that, that’s a bonus for us. Whoever takes the field will do the job. Everyone’s confident with whoever goes out there.”
Team Changes
South Sydney Head Coach Wayne Bennett has gone with the same starting line up that got over the Wests Tigers in round 11. Sean Keppie also returns to the interchange bench in jersey 15 after serving as 18th man against the Tigers.
Wayne Bennett has confirmed in Captain’s Run media that Latrell Mitchell will back up from State of Origin duties and line up at fullback for Sunday’s clash against the Warriors.
Recent Results
- Round five, 2024 – Warriors 34-4 Rabbitohs (Accor Stadium)
- Round 18, 2023 – Rabbitohs 28-6 Warriors (Go Media Stadium)
- Round 21, 2022 – Rabbitohs 48-10 Warriors (Sunshine Coast Stadium)
- Round ten, 2022 – Rabbitohs 32-30 Warriors (Suncorp Stadium)
- Round 19, 2021 – Rabbitohs 60-22 Warriors (Sunshine Coast Stadium)
Match Details and Where To Watch
Fixture: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Warriors
Date: Sunday 1 June
Kick-off: 2pm (AEST)
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Where to Watch: Purchase Tickets Here
