Rabbitohs v Titans: Burns in for Gagai; Peachey good to go
The Rabbitohs are going from strength to strength and looking every bit a premiership contender as they look to send Wayne Bennett and Adam Reynolds out on a high.
The Bunnies have now won nine on the trot, averaging 41 points per game in the process and they made a statement with a clinical dismantling of top-four rival Parramatta in round 21.
Gold Coast, meanwhile, have put together three on the bounce to climb to seventh on the ladder and are finally delivering on their potential.
When these sides met back in round seven the Titans gave up a 24-10 half-time lead to go down 40-30 in a high-scoring shootout which featured a hat-trick to David Fifita and some sublime skills from Benji Marshall.
Match: Rabbitohs v Titans
Round 22 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
away Team
Titans
8th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
The rundown
Team news
Rabbitohs: Wayne Bennett has replaced centre Dane Gagai (hamstring) with Braidon Burns in the only change to the 17 that took care of the Eels in an emphatic fashion last week to keep the Bunnies in the minor premiership hunt.
Veteran Benji Marshall was eased back into the fray with 15 minutes off the bench in the win over the Eels and he'll be looking to have more of an influence this week.
Hame Sele was dropped from the squad on Friday, with Blake Taaffe dropping out on game day. Patrick Mago is the 18th man.
The Rabbitohs have won their past five games against the Titans.
Titans: Jamal Fogarty has recovered from a finger injury but Titans coach Justin Holbrook has once again gone with in-form halves pairing Toby Sexton and Ash Taylor.
Holbrook said on Friday that he would roll with the same game-day 17 with David Fifita again reverting to a bench role and Beau Fermor starting in the second row.
Erin Clark is the 18th man with Sam McIntyre dropping out of the squad on game day. Fogarty and Esan Marsters were omitted when the squad was culled to 19 players 24 hours out from kick-off.
Titans prop Jarrod Wallace will make his 100th appearance for the club.
Match: Rabbitohs v Titans
Round 22 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Titans is number 1 Alexander Brimson
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Josh MansourWinger for Titans is number 2 Greg Marzhew
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Taane MilneCentre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 18 Braidon BurnsCentre for Titans is number 4 Patrick Herbert
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson PauloWinger for Titans is number 5 Corey Thompson
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Ashley Taylor
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Titans is number 7 Toby Sexton
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Mark NichollsProp for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Titans is number 10 Moeaki Fotuaika
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow2nd Row for Titans is number 17 Beau Fermor
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Benji MarshallInterchange for Titans is number 12 David Fifita
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jacob HostInterchange for Titans is number 14 Tyrone Peachey
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Tevita TatolaInterchange for Titans is number 15 Sam Lisone
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Jaydn Su'aInterchange for Titans is number 16 Jaimin Jolliffe
Reserves
-
Reserve for Rabbitohs is number 19 Patrick MagoReserve for Titans is number 18 Erin Clark
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Latrell Mitchell v AJ Brimson: Brimson probably isn't at the elite level of Mitchell just yet, but he isn't far away. This match will feature two wonderful attacking players, athletes who have a great understanding for the game.
Stat attack
Tevita Tatola turned in a brilliant performance for the bench forward in the round 21 win over the Eels. In 40 minutes of game time he ran for 192m from 19 hit ups. He also didn't miss a tackle.
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