Rabbitohs v Sharks Round 1, Sat 14 Mar 2020 @5.30pm NRL Telstra Premiership ANZ Stadium

[BlackWhiteBlue]

I think we'll get them. Due a Rd 1 win and with Latrell learning FB I think Souths might take a while to warm up. Though they often start well so what the hell do I know.

hahaha. and you think our idiot 7 will target Mitchell with the highballs? Honestly, we will not target that weakness while it exists. I expect Mitchell to actually put on a show against us

 

[kiwishark]

hahaha. and you think our idiot 7 will target Mitchell with the highballs? Honestly, we will not target that weakness while it exists. I expect Mitchell to actually put on a show against us

SJ has a massive bomb lets hope he sends some his way...

 

[Gumby]

We’ll win this and win this well ⚫️⚪️

 

[CrazyMatt]

We’ll win this and win this well ⚫️⚪️

LOL

 

[HaroldBishop]

hahaha. and you think our idiot 7 will target Mitchell with the highballs? Honestly, we will not target that weakness while it exists. I expect Mitchell to actually put on a show against us

We had someone playing on the wing not so long ago who was very good under the bomb, took us a few games to put up a bomb for him. Cos Cronulla.

 

[snowman]

hahaha. and you think our idiot 7 will target Mitchell with the highballs? Honestly, we will not target that weakness while it exists. I expect Mitchell to actually put on a show against us

yeh this is one thing i am not confident about

not that our idiot 7 wont put a bomb up - he will put up 100 of them

but the ****er will do his standard end over end bomb that my 2 year old can catch

 

[slide rule]

I wouldn’t want to give the **** much time or space. Bombs will need to be ones with a decent chase and a solid wall of defence.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

yeh this is one thing i am not confident about

not that our idiot 7 wont put a bomb up - he will put up 100 of them

but the ****er will do his standard end over end bomb that my 2 year old can catch

Hopefully if your 2 year old can catch it our wingers can and score a try.

 

[Gards]

Who is our vice captain this year? Chad?

Give it to Fifs I say - he shines with official responsibility. Did a good job of it when Gal was out

 

[Super Impose]

Yep I reckon, we ambush Rabbits, straight up the middle we go. Low scoring 14-12.

Yep - straight up the guts - that's the way to go in this one ...

 

[HaroldBishop]

Who is our vice captain this year? Chad?

Give it to Fifs I say - he shines with official responsibility. Did a good job of it when Gal was out

Moyza

 

[stormshark]

Who is our vice captain this year? Chad?

Give it to Fifs I say - he shines with official responsibility. Did a good job of it when Gal was out

Agree, no brainer, particularly with all the young forwards in the squad.

 

[bort]

Yeah I think Fifs is the easy choice. Although not sure I want him in charge of our captains challenge... likely to use it on the first loose carry or slowing the ruck he gets pinged for....

Revert to Chad I guess if Fifita and Graham both off

 

[Tiger Shark]

Yeah I think Fifs is the easy choice. Although not sure I want him in charge of our captains challenge... likely to use it on the first loose carry or slowing the ruck he gets pinged for....

Revert to Chad I guess if Fifita and Graham both off

hahahaha

 

[Sparkles]

That would mean Fif's would be in charge of using the Captain's Call...

 

[Western Sharkie]

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/07/rabbitohs-v-sharks-round-1-preview/

Rabbitohs v Sharks: Round 1 preview

NRL.comSat 7 Mar 2020, 03:01 PM
It's a new era for both the Rabbitohs and Sharks after the departure of some experienced players.

South Sydney lost leaders Sam Burgess and John Sutton to retirement, though they gained a superstar in Latrell Mitchell.

Cronulla, meanwhile, are without Paul Gallen (retirement), Sosaia Feki and Matt Prior (both Super League) and are battling a mini outside back injury crisis, but they often thrive under adversity.

The Rundown

Team news

Rabbitohs: After being a walking headline all summer, Mitchell will make his anticipated Rabbitohs NRL debut at fullback. Second-rower Ethan Lowe hurt his knee at the NRL Nines but is expected to be available for selection. So too Mark Nicholls, who is coming off shoulder surgery. Patrick Mago suffered a torn pectoral in the Charity Shield.

Sharks: Matt Moylan (calf), Josh Dugan (knee) and Bronson Xerri (shoulder) are in doubt, with coach John Morris rating Xerri the most likely starter. Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee) and Shaun Johnson (virus) missed the club's final trial but are expected to take their places. Cameron King is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Key match-up

Damien Cook v Blayke Brailey. The master v the apprentice. Cook is the incumbent NSW and Australian Test hooker who has arguably taken Cameron Smith's mantle as the best No.9 in the business. Cronulla have high hopes for Brailey and did not stand in the way of his older brother Jayden's request for a release to join Newcastle.

For the Rabbitohs to win

It's an old cliche, but the backs can't deliver unless the forwards set the platform. And while the Rabbitohs undoubtedly have extreme firepower out wide, they won't get many shots away unless the big men stand up. Liam Knight and Tom Burgess are the leaders of a now-inexperienced pack.

For the Sharks to win

Gallen and Prior might be gone, but coach John Morris has worked hard to preserve Cronulla's fabled gritty culture. Hanging tough is one pillar for success, while feeding the powerful Jesse Ramien and electric Bronson Xerri early ball in the centres should give Souths headaches.

Stat Attack

The Rabbitohs gained a pretty handy 'back-up' goal-kicker in Latrell Mitchell. Playing with the Roosters last year, Mitchell led the NRL in points (273) and was second in tries scored (19). Souths' first-choice kicker Adam Reynolds was fourth in point-scoring (207).

And another thing ...

These teams have only met once in each of the past four seasons, with the teams trading wins – Souths beat Cronulla in 2016, the Sharks beat the Rabbitohs in 2017, Souths won again in 2018 and Cronulla prevailed in their lone meeting last season. This is the only regular season meeting of 2020, with the recent trend pointing towards a Rabbitohs win.

 

[Thresher]

Thanks WS, now you've given me hope.

I'm destined for disappointment.

 

[bort]

Thanks WS, now you've given me hope.

I'm destined for disappointment.

How much hope did you take from it?
It literally ended in ‘with the recent trend pointing towards a Rabbitohs win.’

 

[Thresher]

How much hope did you take from it?
It literally ended in ‘with the recent trend pointing towards a Rabbitohs win.’

Earlier in the piece there was some hope, particularly in the forwards. 'Trending towards' is better than 'in for a flogging'

 

[Sparkles]

I appreciate the share, but having read these previews for some time, I've come to the conclusion that they are utter pigs dicks. Long, twisted and balls deep in porkies.

Whoever writes them must get their info from month old Telegraph back pages.