The Penrith Panthers are chasing their third-straight victory as they return to NSW for a clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
Ivan Cleary's side held on for a gritty 26-20 win over the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night, the Panthers defending their way to victory.
Now they will take on a desperate Rabbitohs squad at Accor Stadium.
South Sydney suffered a demoralising 54-20 loss to the Melbourne Storm on ANZAC Day and now have a new interim head coach in Ben Hornby, following the club parting ways with Jason Demetriou.
The Rabbitohs have so far won just one game this season, a 20-16 victory over the Bulldogs on Good Friday.
Fullback Jye Gray has emerged as an X-factor and is likely to provide Souths with an attacking spark.
The Rabbitohs will be without Taane Milne who took the early guilty plea for a Grade Three Dangerous Contact charge and will miss the next two weeks.
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Team News
Rabbitohs: No late changes after a big shuffle on Wednesday saw Jacob Gagai ruled out and Isaiah Tass shift to the wing. Michael Chee-Kam moves from back row to centre, with Keaon Koloamatangi named in the second row after initially being selected at prop. Jai Arrow now starts with Sean Keppie the new face on the bench.
Panthers: A late change on game day sees Moses Leota shift to the bench and Lindsay Smith named to start at prop. Leota returned to the side this week after missing last week's win over the Cowboys due to a shoulder injury. The late switch comes after Nathan Cleary was ruled out as a precautionary measure (hamstring) on Wednesday with Brad Schneider coming in at halfback. Jack Cole also joins the bench for the defending premiers, who welcome Sunia Turuva back on the wing.
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Stat Attack
- The Rabbitohs have won only one of their past six games against the Panthers.
- The Panthers have won 10 of their past 12 games at Accor Stadium.
- Rabbitohs winger Jacob Gagai has scored three tries from two NRL appearances.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored 10 tries in 10 games at Accor Stadium.
- The Rabbitohs are conceding an average of 36 points per game in 2024.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.