Rugby League Live Rugbyleaguelive.com | 28/08/09 | 0 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Saturday 27th August, 7.30pm
ANZ Stadium
Referees: Ashley Klein, Steve Lyons
HEAD TO HEAD
Dragons 11 wins, Rabbitohs 2 wins
FORM GUIDE
Rabbitohs: WLWWLLWLBWDLLLBLLWWWLWLL
Dragons: LWWWWLWWLWWWLWBWWWBWWWLL
What’s happened to the Dragons? Worrying signs, or the slump they had to have?
After looking unbeatable for much of the season, St George Illawarra have gone down to the Raiders and Broncos in recent weeks, but continue to hold onto top spot of the NRL ladder.
Wendell Sailor has insisted it’s not a typical Dragons “choke”, and if the team can get back on track and go all the way to the grand final, this mini-losing-streak will be quickly forgotten.
That task starts here against a Souths side that has also lost two on the trot, but is now out of the running for the finals.
St George Illawarra has a terrific record against the men in red and green, winning 11 of the 13 games between the teams, and they go into this game at full strength.
Not so for the unfortunate South Sydney, who have a list of stars (Wing, Asotasi, Crocker, Wesser, etc) on the injured list.
Still, it’s the last home game of the year for the Rabbitohs faithful, and a win against the league-leaders would be the perfect way to see out the season.
PUNTERS GUIDE
Head to head: Rabbitohs $6.00; Dragons $1.11
If the defeat against Canberra a fortnight ago was a wake-up call for the Dragons, last week’s 12-2 home loss to Brisbane was a slap in the face.
They won’t be on cruise control for much longer, which is a bad sign for the Bunnies.
The minor-premiership is on the line for St George Illawarra, and Wayne Bennett will want them firing at their ruthless best.
It should be too much for the under-strength Rabbitohs to handle – Dragons by 18.
CASUALTY WARD
Rabbitohs: Rhys Wesser – knee (indefinite), Shaune Corrigan – leg (indefinite), Kane Cleal – wrist (season), Roy Asotasi – knee (season), Beau Champion – hand (season), Craig Wing – hamstring (indefinite), Michael Crocker – ankle (indefinite), Fetuli Talanoa – knee (season)
Dragons: -
BAD BOYS
Rabbitohs: -
Dragons: -
TEAM LISTS
RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Colin Best, Junior Vaivai, Chris McQueen, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart (capt), Issac Luke, Scott Geddes, Ben Lowe, Eddy Pettybourne, David Fa'alogo. Interchange: Beau Falloon, Shannan McPherson, Dave Tyrrell, Jaiman Lowe.
DRAGONS: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Matt Cooper, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (capt), Justin Poore, Dean Young, Michael Weyman, Matt Prior, Ben Creagh, Neville Costigan. Interchange: Dan Hunt, Jeremy Smith, Nathan Fien, Jarrod Saffy, Jason Nightingale, Jon Green (two to be omitted)
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