The Rabbitohs got back to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over the Warriors last week, while the Bulldogs endured their darkest day of the season at the hands of the Knights.
Against an in-form Warriors side at a sold-out Go Media Stadium in Auckland, Cody Walker fired South Sydney to a 28-6 win which snapped a prior two-game losing run.
Saturday's meeting with the Dogs at Accor Stadium marks the last time they will play in Sydney until the final round of the season, with a tough run coming up which includes 'home matches' in Perth, Cairns and on the Sunshine Coast.
The Bulldogs meanwhile crashed to arguably their lowest point in what has been a miserable few years for the club, as they were beaten 66-0 by a Knights side who went into the game sitting just one point ahead of them on the Telstra Premiership ladder.
A look at their recent record against South Sydney will do little to cheer them up this week either, given they have lost the last five meetings stretching back to 2020.
Both clubs have played seven games at Accor Stadium this year, with South Sydney winning four and the Bulldogs two.
Team News
Bulldogs: Toby Sexton comes straight in at halfback having joined the club from the Titans on Tuesday. Matt Burton shifts to No.6 and Khaled Rajab drops out. A backline shake-up sees Jake Averillo move to fullback, Jackson Topine and Braidon Burns named in the centres and Blake Wilson come in on the wing for NSW Blues rep Josh Addo-Carr. Kyle Flanagan comes in on the bench while Hayze Perham and Paul Alamoti are out on the back of the 66-0 loss to the Knights.
Rabbitohs: With Cody Walker, Cameron Murray, Damien Cook and Keaon Koloamatangi on Blues Origin duty, Dean Hawkins is the new five-eighth, Siliva Havili starts at hooker and Ben Lovett and Shaquai Mitchell come into the back row. Isaiah Tass returns at centre Isaiah following the birth of his first child on Sunday so last week's debutant Tyrone Munro goes to the wing and Richie Kennar drops to 18th Man. Peter Mamouzelos and Tallis Duncan are the new faces on the bench.
Match: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
Round 19 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Blake TaaffeFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Jake Averillo
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex JohnstonWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah TassCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Braidon Burns
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 18 Richard KennarCentre for Bulldogs is number 22 Ethan Quai-Ward
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Tyrone MunroWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Blake Wilson
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Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Dean HawkinsFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
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Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan IliasHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby Sexton
Forwards
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
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Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Siliva HaviliHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Ryan Sutton
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 4 Taane Milne2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 4 Jackson Topine
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Benjamin Lovett2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
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Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Shaquai MitchellLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Interchange
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Peter MamouzelosInterchange for Bulldogs is number 11 Jayden Okunbor
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Tallis DuncanInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kyle Flanagan
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Davvy MoaleInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Kurtis Morrin
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 21 Liam KnightInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Tevita Pangai Junior
Reserves
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Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 19 Josiah Karapani
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Jeral Skelton
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Bulldogs forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner will make his 100th appearance for the club.
- The Rabbitohs have won three from 11 without Cody Walker since his debut in 2016.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
