NRL Preliminary Final Preview - Roosters v Rabbitohs @ Allianz Stadium

NRL Preliminary Final Two - Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs @ Allianz Stadium

Preview - Bitter rivals the Roosters and Rabbitohs lock horns in the final game at the old Sydney Football Stadium with a place in the 2018 decider at stake. In what will be a fitting farewell to Allianz Stadium a sell-out crowd is expected to create a raucous atmosphere at a ground which these two Clubs have called home for many years. The Roosters are fresh after a week off, having beaten Cronulla 21-12 in a physical encounter at Allianz Stadium in Week 1 of the finals. The Roosters will have to get over their Preliminary Finals hoodoo, having lost 3 since 2014, after they won the Grand Final back in 2013. The Rabbitohs had to survive an epic struggle against the Dragons 13-12 in game where Adam Reynolds kicked a remarkable 3 field goals. The teams have clashed twice this season, with the Rabbitohs winning convincingly 24-10 in Round 5, before the Roosters hit back later in the year with a tight 18-14 win, which helped them edge the Minor Premiership battle.

Sydney Roosters’ Scouting Report - Huge blow for the Roosters with Latrell Mitchell suspended for a week for that crusher tackle against the Sharks. Veteran utility Mitchell Aubusson moves to centre, with Victor Radley starting in the back row and Nat Butcher joining the bench.

South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Scouting Report - Anthony Seibold has named an unchanged line-up from the one that battled back to beat the Dragons.

Verdict - Roosters by 1-6

Tossed and turned on this game all week, however I think the Roosters might just scramble over the line. I actually think that Souths’ best game is better than the Roosters; however I also think their worst is inferior, and that might be the difference in a high stakes game where every mistake could be costly. I think the Roosters are vulnerable without Napa and Mitchell, however they have been the best defensive side this season, and the sting of losing the last three Preliminary Finals might spur them on here. Souths have played two pretty taxing finals, and still have a slight cloud hanging over them with the Sam Burgess incident being dragged through the paper. Expecting this game to be decided in the final five minutes with perhaps a field goal required either way by Cooper Cronk or Adam Reynolds who have already proved in the final how cool they can be under pressure. Roosters are a bit fresher, with a point to prove, and I think they might defend their way to victory.