NRL Round 15 Preview and Prediction - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Gold Coast Titans @ ANZ Stadium

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Gold Coast Titans @ ANZ Stadium
 
Preview - Both the Rabbitohs and Titans will be looking to break alarming losing streaks when they clash at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Friday night. Both sides came into the year with lofty exceptions, however with just 4 wins from their opening 13 games look long odds to be playing finals football in 2017. Despite a 3rd consecutive loss last week, the Rabbitohs were far more competitive putting in one of their better performances of the season in going down 24-18 to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The Titans were listless in their 28-12 loss to the Warriors, despite the return of Nathan Peats to the side and Jarryd Hayne going back to fullback. 
 
History - The Rabbitohs and the Titans often play hard fought games with 11 of the last 14 games being decided by 8 points or less. Last year the team met in a Golden Point thriller in Perth with the Titans prevailing. The Titans have won 3 from their last 6 against the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, however the Rabbitohs lead the overall head to head by 8 to 6. 
 
South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Scouting Report - The Rabbitohs are unchanged from the side that took it to the Broncos last week but ultimately came up short. The Titans’ defence has been brittle on the edges this season  so the Rabbitohs might be looking at some early shifts here and spotting up Sam Burgess against one of the Titans’ halves, with Big Sam having got across the line a couple of times in the last few weeks.
 
Gold Coast Titans’ Scouting Report - The Titans again are decimated, with Nathan Peats, Jarryd Hayne and Jarrod Wallace unavailable due to being selected in Origin 2. William Zillman pushes back to fullback with John Olive coming on to the wing. This pairs Dale Copley in the centres with the returning Konrad Hurrell. The Titans welcome back Kevin Proctor after his drug suspension and he will be desperate to make up for lost time for a side that really needs some forward power right now. Pat Politoni has won the starting hooking role over Karl Lawton. 
 
Verdict - Souths by 13 +

Souths look morals here given the fact the Titans are missing 3 of their best players in Jarryd Hayne, Nathan Peats and Jarrod Wallace. Souths are virtually intact and they actually were not too bad at Suncorp Stadium last week against a near full strength Broncos’ side, whereas the Titans were awful at home against the Warriors. There just doesn't seem to be anywhere near the same competitiveness and grit about this Titans’ side week to week as there was last year and some of their experienced forwards like Ryan James look tired this year and busted. Despite their lowly position on the table, Souths still have quality experience in the likes of Reynolds, Farah and Sam Burgess and if they can't beat this Titans’ team at home, then they really are done and dusted for the year.