Your Sydney Roosters return to their home, Allianz Stadium, for the second week in a row, this time to face arch-rivals South Sydney in a Multicultural Round blockbuster.
Recent History: Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
This Friday, the Roosters will take on the Rabbitohs for the 252nd time since 1908, with South Sydney making the journey East to the Tricolours heartland.
Since 1998, the Red, White and Blue have beaten their inner-city rivals 29 times across 48 games. Although, the long-running feud has seen the Rabbitohs claim 131 wins from 251 total games.
In 2022, the two sides went head-to-head in back-to-back games, with the Roosters opening Allianz in style with a 10-point win before going down in the semi-final 30-14.
Both clubs have opened their 2023 season with a win and a loss. The Roosters will enter the game on a high, following their second-round victory over the New Zealand Warriors, while the Rabbitohs come off a Round 2 loss to the Penrith Panthers.
How They Line Up
Trent Robinson’s side features enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for the first time in 2023, with the New Zealand representative returning from a lower back concern, while Victor Radley has been named to start his 99th NRL game at lock this week.
Chasing back-to-back home ground victories, the Roosters line-up remains relatively unchanged. Waerea-Hargreaves return sees Lindsay Collins move into the number 10 jersey, while Naufahu Whyte and Ben Thomas make up the extended bench, after being named in Round 2 following Radley’s absence.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou has also made two changes following South Sydneys second-round loss to the Penrith Panthers. Tevita Tatola returns from a head-knock to start in the number 8 jersey, moving Davvy Moale to the interchange bench. Hame Sele will come off the bench also, with Jed Cartwright locked in as 18th man.
Match: Roosters v Rabbitohs
Round 3 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Joseph-Aukuso SuaaliiCentre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah Tass
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
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Winger for Roosters is number 5 Jaxson PauloWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke KearyFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam WalkerHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay CollinsProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
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Hooker for Roosters is number 14 Jake TurpinHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
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Prop for Roosters is number 17 Fletcher BakerProp for Rabbitohs is number 15 Hame Sele
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Michael Chee Kam
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess
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Interchange for Roosters is number 9 Brandon SmithInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Davvy Moale
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Drew HutchisonInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Shaquai Mitchell
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Terrell MayInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Jed Cartwright
Reserves
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Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Naufahu WhyteReplacement for Rabbitohs is number 14 Blake Taaffe
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Key Match Up
Two quiet achievers with plenty of experience go head-to-head in the centres this week when Joseph Manu meets Campbell Graham.
Two-time Premiership winner and New Zealand Kiwis representative Manu enters his eighth season at the Club since debuting in 2016. A staple for the Roosters, the 26-year-old played in his first Rugby League World Cup last year and is looking to carry his brilliant form into Friday night’s clash.
The 2022 Dally M Centre of the Year has won eight consecutive games at NRL level and looks to take his tally to nine this weekend. With a career total of 51 tries and 43 try assists, Manu brings experience and firepower to the right edge.
His opposite, Campbell Graham, has established himself as an emerging Australian Kangaroos centre recently. In his 112 NRL games, the 23-year-old has crossed the stripe 50 times, making 18 try assists and averaging 124 metres per game.
With a must-win game on the line, there will be plenty of eyes on these two centres come 8:00pm on Friday, to see who plays a more significant role in getting their team the two-points.
What They Said
Final Verdict
With Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returning to bolster the front-line, the Tricolours are focused and ready to welcome South Sydney to their home, Allianz Stadium, on Friday evening.
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No two clubs have a greater rivalry than the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, so this is a game you don’t want to miss! Secure your tickets now, to help us celebrate the NRL’s Multicultural Round.
If you can’t make it to Allianz Stadium, be sure to attend Easts Bondi Junction, where you can watch the game live from Artie’s Bar.
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