Rabbitohs v Storm: Bunnies' big guns back; Meaney to fullback
After suffering three-straight defeats for the first time in seven years, the Storm travel to take on an in-form Rabbitohs side now with their eyes set on climbing towards the top four.
Just two competition points separate them right now, with the Storm falling to fourth after their most recent defeat at the hands of the Raiders and South Sydney holding firm in seventh position after picking up their third win in a row on Sunday against the Bulldogs.
Melbourne have struggled to put it together in attack over the past fortnight and are now without influential fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) for the rest of the year.
The Bunnies have had no such trouble with ball in hand and are playing with a newfound confidence, led by star fullback Latrell Mitchell.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Rabbitohs v Storm
The Rundown
Team news
Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs are 1-17 with no late changes. Captain Cameron Murray returns after missing the Bulldogs game due to a head knock sustained in Origin Three and is joined in the squad by Blues team-mate Damien Cook who was rested last week. Davvy Moale and Siliva Havili go back to the bench and Daniel Suluka-Fifita to 18th Man. Jed Cartwright has been promoted to the starting side in the centres with Taane Milne dropping out.
Storm: In late changes an hour before kick-off Grant Anderson has been promoted to the starting side on his return from an elbow injury with Tyran Wishart going to the bench, and Tom Eisenhuth joins the bench for his first game of 2022 in place of Jordan Grant.
Nick Meaney shifts from the wing to fullback in place of Ryan Papenhuyzen who suffered a season-ending knee last week. Tyran Wishart is the new winger and Grant Anderson joins the bench having recovered from an elbow injury. There were no late changes for the Storm team 24 hours out from the game.
Match: Rabbitohs v Storm
Round 19 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex JohnstonWinger for Storm is number 2 Dean Ieremia
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Jed CartwrightCentre for Storm is number 3 Marion Seve
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Isaiah TassCentre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson PauloWinger for Storm is number 14 Grant Anderson
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan IliasHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Mark NichollsProp for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Storm is number 13 Josh King
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Kodi NikorimaInterchange for Storm is number 5 Tyran Wishart
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Davvy MoaleInterchange for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Siliva HaviliInterchange for Storm is number 16 Alec MacDonald
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Thomas BurgessInterchange for Storm is number 21 Tom Eisenhuth
Reserves
-
Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Daniel Suluka-FifitaReplacement for Storm is number 20 Young Tonumaipea
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Key match-up
Cameron Munster vs Cody Walker: After shaking off the disappointment of missing the Origin decider due to COVID, Munster seemed to be involved in everything good the Storm did in the loss to the Raiders last Sunday and his role becomes even more important with Papenhuyzen out of action. While he has taken a back seat to Latrell Mitchell in recent weeks, Walker remains the chief orchestrator for the Rabbitohs.
Stat Attack
South Sydney have made more errors than any other team heading into round 19 at an average of 11.6 per game. Five-eighth Walker's 29 errors are second only to Zac Lomax's 30 this season, and he made three errors last Sunday against the Bulldogs.
Match: Rabbitohs v Storm
Round 19 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
6th Position
away Team
Storm
5th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
