It's Round 23 of the NRL season and we're looking forward to another finals-like atmosphere on Thursday night as the top-of-the-table Penrith Panthers (1st – 18-3) take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs (5th – 13-5). Souths and Penrith will take two contrasting form lines into this match-up which should produce an interesting contest.
Greg Davis is back with his free preview and NRL betting tips for the Rabbitohs versus Panthers!
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Penrith Panthers Betting Tips
Accor Stadium, Sydney, Thursday 7:50pm AEST
Squads
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1.Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Taane Milne 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Siliva Havili 17. Hame Sele 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Dean Hawkins 20. Davvy Moale 21. Shaq Mitchell 22. Izaac Thompson
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jaeman Salmon 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Matt Eisenhuth 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Charlie Staines 18. Robert Jennings 19. J’maine Hopgood 20. Taylan May 21. Chris Smith 22. Kurt Falls
Match Preview
The Bunnies are on the boil while the Panthers are plodding heading into this re-match of the 2021 NRL grand final.
Souths and Penrith will take two contrasting form lines into this match-up as well as having vastly different luck with their casualty wards.
The Rabbitohs belted Parramatta by 26-0 last week for their sixth win in their past seven outings with the only loss in this ominous form surge a one-point defeat at the hands of Cronulla in Round 20.
After losing Adam Reynolds to the Broncos in the off-season, Souths have very much found their groove and their best football in the run home to the finals to be knocking on the door of the top four. Latrell Mitchell has been in stunning touch since he returned from injury and he has been named at fullback for the home side despite aggravating a groin issue at training on Monday. The Rabbitohs also welcome back centre Campbell Graham and halfback Cameron Ilias while prop Daniel Suluka-Fifita is back in the starting 13.
So, Souths are fit and firing on all cylinders.
The same cannot be said of Penrith who suffered a 16-0 loss to Melbourne last week.
The Panthers are riding high at the top of the table after only suffering three losses in 2022 but they are still missing key men for this showdown. Nathan Clearly, Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris are still sidelined after being sorely missed against the Storm. Take any first-choice halves pairing and cornerstone prop out of any club’s line-up and they will struggle.
The Panthers are the clear benchmark in the competition and while they have been very good for a number of years, they are not immune from the hammer blow of injuries to key players. Penrith were also without fullback Dylan Edwards and prolific try-scoring winger Taylan May last week but they get Edwards back this week in a major boost to the reigning premiers who need all the help they can get against the Bunnies.
The Panthers will bounce back to an extent from last week’s performance but not enough to get the points against the Rabbitohs who should continue to roll on into September.
First try: Alex Johnston - $6.50 (Ladbrokes)
Souths -3.5
$1.90 (1 unit)
