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Sharks v Rabbitohs: McInnes moves to lock; Suluka-Fifita to start

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A possible move into the top four is at stake for the Rabbitohs in round 20, while the third-placed Sharks will look to build momentum after an impressive performance in an eventual loss to Penrith last Saturday.

Cronulla matched - and for large periods outplayed - Penrith in round 19, and were in the match right up until Jarome Luai's 77th-minute try put the game beyond reach.

The Rabbitohs head to PointsBet Stadium in red-hot form, having won their last four matches including a 24-12 victory over the Storm last weekend. 

The two clubs have met just once a year for the past six seasons, with South Sydney winning four of those clashes. 

The Rundown

Latest team news

Sharks: No late changes on game day after Dale Finucane's two-game ban for Dangerous Contact on Tuesday night saw Cameron McInnes join the starting side at lock and veteran forward Aiden Tolman return to the bench. Kade Dykes is 18th Man.

Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs are 1-17 with no late changes. Daniel Suluka-Fifita comes into the starting side after being 18th Man last week in place of the injured Mark Nicholls. Taane Milne returned from a finger injury in NSW Cup.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
  • Winger for Sharks is number 2 Connor Tracey
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
  • Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Jed Cartwright
  • Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Isaiah Tass
  • Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
  • Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
  • Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Forwards

  • Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
  • Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Daniel   Suluka-Fifita
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi  
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow
  • Lock for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Teig Wilton
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Davvy Moale
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Siliva Havili
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Aiden Tolman
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Thomas Burgess

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Kade Dykes
    Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 21 Zane Bijorac

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Key match-up

Blayke Brailey vs Damien Cook: After a week off following the Origin decider, Cook returned to contribute plenty on the attacking side of the ball for the Rabbitohs last week, running the ball from dummy-half 10 times for 79 metres, with four tackle breaks. Against the Panthers Brailey was a defensive beast, churning through 60 tackles with just one miss, and the 23-year-old continues to go from strength-to-strength this year. 

Stat Attack

Between them the two left-side wingers in this match, Alex Johnston and Ronaldo Mulitalo, have 48 line breaks this year and head into round 20 well clear of their nearest rivals at the top of that category. To put that number into context, the Knights have only made 57 line breaks as a team in 2022. Johnston was in fine touch last week, breaking the line twice for two tries, while Mulitalo will have his eyes set on a big outing after being kept quiet in the loss to the Panthers last week. 

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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