South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters Prediction, Tips & Odds

A key grudge match and traditional final-round showdown has been tipped on its head by the Roosters pre-finals resting strategy.  

FORM: The up-and-down Rabbitohs have won three of their last four, responding to a 46-25 loss to the Warriors with a 42-22 win over the Titans last week.  

The Roosters’ eight-match winning streak seems a distant memory after back-to-back losses to the Tigers (25-24) and Dolphins (26-12).  

INS AND OUTS: Latrell Mitchell starts at centre, Jye Gray has been promoted to fullback with Matt Dufty to come off the bench, and Adam Elliott starts in the back-row as Euan Aitken slips back to the interchange.  

James Tedesco, Billy Smith, Rob Toia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Daly Cherry-Evans, Naufahu Whyte, Reece Robson and Siua Wong will all be rested by the Roosters. Sam Walker is on the injured list and Daniel Tupou is back after five games out.  

Cody Ramsey Junior Pauga, Tommy Talau, Rex Bassingthwaighte, Reece Foley, Toby Rodwell, Benaiah Ioelu and Egan Butcher come into the starting line-up.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Cody Ramsey suddenly finds himself as the Roosters’ most experienced spine player, while Jye Gray has been handed a huge opportunity on the eve of the Rabbitohs’ finals campaign.  

HISTORY: The Roosters have dominated this fierce rivalry of late, winning six of the past seven encounters – including a 26-18 result in Round 2 at Accor Stadium.  

KEY STAT: Alex Johnston has scored 20 tries in 25 games against the Roosters, with his history-making double in March snapping a three-game drought.  

VERDICT: The down-on-form Roosters have essentially sacrificed this game to freshen up for the playoffs, leaving out key stars on top of Sam Walker’s devastating injury setback.  

Souths need to win to stay in sixth spot and avoid a week one trip to Newcastle, so there’s plenty of motivation on their part – and they’ve been racking up points (albeit while conceding a few too many). But this shapes as a straightforward win for Wayne Bennett’s men against a NSW Cup-esque line-up. 

Tip: Back the Rabbitohs to Score Over 39.5 Points @ $1.82 

SGM: RABBITOHS 23.5 / OVER 55.5 TOTAL POINTS / DAVID FIFITA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JYE GRAY ANYTIME TRYSCORER / DANIEL TUPOU ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $16.63