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Rabbitohs v Raiders: Graham drops out; Woolford, Cotric return

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Both sides will be looking to bounce back from disappointing losses last week but the Raiders will fancy their chances against a Rabbitohs side without Origin stars Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray and Jai Arrow.

Knocked off the top of the ladder after the Eels snapped their six-game winning streak, South Sydney will be hoping to get their season back on track when they host the eighth-placed Raiders at Accor Stadium.

Jason Demetriou's men are flying high with an 8-4 record this season but this may be their toughest test yet with Mitchell, Murray and Arrow called into Origin camps and centre Campbell Graham resting a sternum injury. 

Meanwhile, Canberra are also coming off a loss but coach Ricky Stuart will only be without Blues call-up Hudson Young after veteran representative stars Josh Papali'i and Jack Wighton officially announced their Origin retirement this year.

Emotions are always running high with Stuart on the sideline, but the Round 13 clash is one full of spice with Wighton set to face South Sydney for the first time after signing a four-year deal with the club last month. 

Hanging by a thread in the top eight, if the Raiders are to upset the red-hot Rabbitohs they will need to get their discipline in check and cut out the simple errors that cost them any chance of victory against the Sea Eagles last Sunday.

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Team News

Rabbitohs: A late switch sees Keaon Koloamatangi join the run-on side in the second row, in what is his first game back from a leg injury, meaning Michael Chee-Kam moves back to the bench. Jed Cartwright replaces Campbell Graham (sternum) at centre. Liam Knight starts at lock for Cameron Murray and Blake Taafe at fullback for Latrell Mitchell. The new faces on the bench are Shaquai Mitchell and Tallis Duncan.

Raiders: Canberra will take the field as named, with Zac Woolford returning from a head knock at hooker and Nick Cotric coming off the bench in his comeback from a hamstring injury. The Raiders are without Hudson Young (Origin) and Elliott Whitehead (suspension), so Corey Harawira-Naera comes into the second row, Joe Tapine moves to lock and Pasami Saulo will play prop. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
    Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian Kris
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
    Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert Hopoate
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
    Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
  • Centre for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jed Cartwright
    Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
  • Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane Milne
    Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
  • Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
    Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
  • Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
    Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
    Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
  • Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
  • Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Hame Sele
    Prop for Raiders is number 10 Pasami Saulo
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Corey Harawira-Naera
  • 2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 21 Keaon Koloamatangi
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Corey Horsburgh
  • Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Liam Knight
    Lock for Raiders is number 13 Joseph Tapine

Interchange

  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 11 Michael Chee Kam
    Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Tallis Duncan
    Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Shaquai Mitchell
    Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Nick Cotric
  • Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
    Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota

Reserves

  • Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Richard Kennar
    Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Hohepa Puru

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Raiders centre Jarrod Croker will play his 299th game. 
  • Raiders winger Jordan Rapana requires one try for a century of NRL tries.
  • The Raiders have won three of their last five games against the Rabbitohs.
  • The Rabbitohs have won four of their past five games at Accor Stadium.
  • The Raiders play at Accor Stadium for the first time since the 2019 grand final.
  • Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored seven tries in 10 games against the Raiders.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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Acknowledgement of Country

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.