Matchday Details
Friday, 3 April 2026 – 3:05pm AEDT – Accor Stadium, Sydney
📺 Broadcast: Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Todd Smith | Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Rabbitohs
1. Jye Gray, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Campbell Graham, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Jamie Humphreys, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Bronson Garlick, 10. Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. David Fifita, 12. Tallis Duncan, 13. Cameron Murray (c), 14. Peter Mamouzelos, 15. Lachlan Hubner, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Liam Le Blanc, 18. Jayden Sullivan, 19. Moala Graham-Taufa, 20. Salesi Ataata, 21. Thomas Fletcher, 22. Latrell Siegwalt
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey, 2. Jacob Kiraz, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Stephen Crichton (c), 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Lachlan Galvin, 8. Max King, 9. Bailey Hayward, 10. Samuel Hughes, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Jacob Preston, 13. Jaeman Salmon, 14. Kurt Mann, 15. Sitili Tupouniua, 16. Harry Hayes, 17. Sean O’Sullivan, 19. Bronson Xerri, 20. Lipoi Hopoi, 21. Jake Turpin, 22. Logan Spinks, 23. Jonathan Sua
Match Preview
South Sydney’s big men will set the tone in Friday’s blockbuster. Their forward pack is rolling at present, while Canterbury’s attack has yet to find a spark.
The Rabbitohs boast some of the biggest names – Origin star Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi and Tevita Tatola – plus marquee recruit David Fifita to back them up.
Their hard‑running, big‑metre style has underpinned a fast start to the season, with many pundits noting the Bunnies have burst out of the gates in 2026. Fifita has been dominating, while playmaker Cody Walker has been pulling the strings and Latrell Mitchell has shone since returning to his familiar centre role.
By contrast, the Bulldogs have scored only 45 points in three games (15 points per game) and have generated few line breaks.
After going down 24-16 to the Knights last week, coach Cameron Ciraldo admits Canterbury’s attack “has been clunky” early on.
Utility Kurt Mann notes their structure is a work in progress: “It’s an evolution…always going to be a little bit clunky to start off with”. He can say that again.
The Dogs have tinkered – even shifting skipper Stephen Crichton to five-eighth during last week’s game – to ignite attack. For now their wins (over St George Illawarra and Canberra) have been built on stingy defence rather than firepower.
Last year’s Good Friday at Accor drew a record 65,305 fans and the Bunnies will be full of confidence riding that history. Given it’s their home game.
Tactically, it shapes as a forwards-versus-defence slog: Souths will look to push the ball through their big runners to tire out Canterbury, while the Bulldogs will rely on organized sets and kicking to stem damage.
X‑factors include Latrell Mitchell on the left edge going up against the relatively inexperienced centre Enari Tuala (who usually plays wing) and Crichton’s creativity for the Dogs, who clearly wants to get his hands on the ball more.
Simply put, if the big red-and-greens can impose their go-forward early, they’ll win the field position battle. The Bulldogs still need to sort their attack; as Mann said, “we’re working really hard on it”.
The match up between Jacob Preston and David Fifita is going to be red-hot. Preston has the defensive power to take it to Fifita, while the bigger bodied South’s second rower will no doubt be trying to go straight over the top of his opposition second rower.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Bulldogs by 10
Bold call: Souths have had their defensive issues, so I’m tipping the ‘Dogs to respond in style and score at least 4 tries.
Related
- NRL Round 5 2026 Predictions & Tips
- NRL Round 5 Team Lists – 2026 Season
- NRL 2026 Results Tracker
- 2026 NRL Match Review Results Tracker: Charges, Suspensions & Fines
- NRL Injury List 2026
