VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium – Monday, July 27, 7.05pm (AEST).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 198 – Rabbitohs 104, Roosters 89, Drawn 5.
LAST TIME: Round 1, 2009 – Rabbitohs 52-12.
WALKING WOUNDED: Skipper Craig Fitzgibbon is missing for two to three weeks with a cracked cheekbone while Anthony Cherrington (leg) will also sit this one out. The big news for the Roosters is Anthony 'The Count' Minichiello returns after what seems like a lifetime in rehab. The Bunnies have no fresh injury concerns. Michael Crocker returns on an extended bench.
FORM: Souths' season was heading south a fortnight ago as they endured a nightmare run of five straight defeats and a draw. Back-to-back wins over the past fortnight has drawn new life into their campaign and they now sit three points out of the top eight. If they are to make the finals they need to win games like this. The Roosters' season has been on the mortuary slab for months. Coach Brad Fittler has paid the highest price, sacked in favour of Newcastle mentor Brian Smith, but there are a few under-performing players who deserve to head out the door with him. The bottom-placed Chooks were beaten late in the piece by the Warriors.
WHO'S HOT: Fairytales don’t always have happy endings, as Craig Wing will attest after cutting short his South Sydney homecoming to play rugby in Japan. The Rabbitohs trumpeted Wingy's return from despised neighbour the Roosters as the greatest coup since the fall of the Berlin Wall. But after being injured for most of last year, Wing's woes have continued (off field, at least) in 09. A number of property deals and third party arrangements have turned sour and Craig is plenty out of pocket. Before taking the big yen on offer in Japan, the classy utility has vowed to do everything he can to help the Bunnies reach the play-offs. Then again, what else is he going to say? Any fair-minded league fan will wish Roosters star Anthony Minichiello all the best in his comeback match. Let's hope Mini has put the worst of his injuries behind him and can string together some games.
WE THINK: Surely the Rabbitohs will aim up with so much to play for? Won't they? You never quite know what you are going to get with South Sydney. The Bunnies gave the Roosters a nice old hiding back in Round 1 and a similar beating could be on the cards here if the visitors lose interest early. Souths by 16
TEAMS:
Rabbitohs: Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi [c], Ben Lowe, Eddy Pettybourne, David Fa'alogo.
Interchange: Craig Wing, Shannan McPherson, Michael Crocker, Scott Geddes, Dave Tyrrell (one to be omitted).
Roosters: Sam Perrett, Anthony Minichiello [c], Mitchell Aubusson, Tom Symonds, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ben Jones, Mitchell Pearce, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Jake Friend, Lopini Paea, Setaimata Sa, Willie Mason, Shane Shackleton.
Interchange: Stanley Waqa, Sia Soliola, Rohan Ahern, Nick Kouparitsas.