Round 19’s matchup between the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs is shaping up to be a Thursday night thriller, with both teams reshuffling their starting sides due to injury and origin selection.
TEAM CHANGES:
The Dolphins will be without the services of hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, ruled out with a foot injury, which sees young gun Max Plath move into the starting dummy half role. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Felise Kaufusi will also be unavailable due to selection for Queensland. Kenny Bromwich will start at lock in his 250th NRL appearance, with Tevita Pangai Junior making his first start since joining the team mid-season. Try-scoring winger Jack Bostock will also return following the completion of concussion protocols and will be looking to add to his 11 tries scored for the season.
Due to State of Origin, Cody Walker will lead the Rabbitohs in Cameron Murray’s absence, while Michael Chee-Kam will start in the second row. The South Sydney outfit will also be missing damaging fullback Latrell Mitchell, who sustained a foot injury in the side's last fixture. He will be replaced by rookie Jye Gray in his 5th NRL appearance and will be joined by fellow rookie Liam Le Blanc on the bench.
TOP EIGHT RACE:
Only four competition points separate the 13th-placed Rabbitohs from the 6th-placed Dolphins, with both teams looking to secure the win in a bid to qualify for finals football.
The Dolphins enter match week coming off a bye in round 18, following back-to-back defeats to the Dragons and Storm. Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs are looking to continue their run in strong form, having won their last five matches.
The match presents an opportunity for the Dolphins to hold on to their position in the top 8 with a win, while a win for the Rabbitohs will put further pressure on their mid-table rivals after they overcome their slower start to the season.
BATTLE OF THE SEVENS:
A key match-up for the game will pit youthful excitement and energy against seasoned experience when Isaiya Katoa and Cody Walker meet on the field.
Both half-backs have been building solid seasons, Katoa impressing with his attacking kicks and supporting play, and Walker demonstrating his leadership and game-management skills. Fans can expect a thrilling duel as these two pivotal players strive to lead their teams to victory on Thursday night.
STATS BREAKDOWN:
When it comes to offensive firepower, the Dolphins have outshone the Rabbitohs with their scoring in 2024. The Dolphins boast an average of 25.2 points per game, ranking third in the competition, while the Rabbitohs trail behind in sixteenth with an average of 16.7 points per game.
Defensively, the Dolphins hold the upper hand as well, having conceded just 331 points, the sixth-best record in the league. In contrast, the Rabbitohs have allowed 414 points against them.
However, in line with the Rabbitohs recent form, they have reversed these trends in their last five games, outscoring opponents 28 tries to 12
The Rabbitohs also hold a historical edge, having triumphed in their only previous encounter in the Dolphins' inaugural season last year, securing a commanding 36-14 victory at Suncorp Stadium in round 7.
