Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 13 clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the New Zealand Warriors.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
South Sydney Rabbitohs Vs New Zealand Warriors
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Date: Sunday 1 June, 2:00pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jye Gray 15. Sean Keppie 16. Davvy Moale 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Lewis Dodd 22. Jacob Host
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Rocco Berry 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Leka Halasima 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jackson Ford 18. Jacob Laban 20. Samuel Healey 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Tanner Stowers-Smith 23. Taine Tuaupiki
Referee:
Bunker:
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will face the New Zealand Warriors in Round 13 at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon in an intriguing match up as the Rabbitohs battle to remain in the top eight.
The sixth-placed Rabbitohs have won eight of their past nine games against the third-placed Warriors and will be hungry for a win this weekend, where they only need two points to reach 5,000 points at Accor Stadium.
After defeating the Wests Tigers 22-12 in round 11, they return from a bye in round 12, energised and confident in their ability to defeat the Warriors.
The return of Latrell Mitchell after a protracted absence due to injury and suspension appears to have helped the Rabbitohs get back on track. They won their last two matches, taking them to six wins and five losses with one bye.
Given Mitchell’s impressive playing skills and his ability to guide his team to victory in previous matches, it will be interesting to see how he pulls up after Origin I duties, with Fletcher Myers waiting in the wings if a change must be made later in the week.
The Rabbitohs make only one change to their side that cruised to victory over the Tigers ahead of their bye, with Sean Keppie on the bench replacing Liam De Blanc, who is 18th man.
The Rabbitohs will be without Cody Walker and Jack Wighton until round 14, Tyrone Munro until round 14-15, and Cameron Murray (to be confirmed), while Mikaele Ravalawa returns from a hamstring injury to bolster the outside edge.
With 39 head-to-head matches between the Rabbitohs and Warriors since 1998, the Rabbitohs have won 21 to the Warriors’ 18. It could be a narrow escape for one of these two teams.
The Warriors last faced the Rabbitohs in round 5 of 2024, when they defeated them 34-4 at Accor Stadium; they now could do it again.
This season, the Warriors have had eight wins, only three losses, and one bye, with five of their last six this season, with five of their past six games won in Australia. Last weekend’s home loss against the Canberra Raiders (16-10) moved the Raiders up to second position on the table, but given the Warriors’ history of success, they should not be a team underestimated in this weekend’s game against the Rabbitohs.
The full-strength side, combined with the team’s speed and control, as well as their solid backline of players like Roger Tuivasa-Shek and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and their incredible line-breaking abilities, combined with Luke Metcalf’s brilliant kicking ability, footwork, and pace, could make all the difference for the Warriors. They also provide a stronger, more guided play through pairings such as Wayde Egan and Metcalf.
James Fisher-Harris will return from suspension, as will Rocco Berry from injury, to bolster the Warriors side, while Mitchell Barnett is set to back up after Origin I.
All eyes will be on the head-to-head battle between Tuivasa-Sheck and Alex Johnston: with Tuivasa-Sheck having scored six tries in his last seven games at Accor Stadium, and Johnston’s record of scoring 27 tries in his last 25 games at the same venue, making for some intriguing viewing.
This weekend, speed, skill, focus, and determination will play a part in determining who comes out victorious.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Warriors by 12 points.
Check out our round 13 predictions here.
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