Monday’s only NRL Round 17 match is between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Gold Coast Titans with the opening kick to commence at 19:00 local time. The game is to be played at ANZ Stadium which see’s home team South Sydney Rabbitohs hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Gold Coast Titans.
Where and when: 19:00 | Monday 07/07/2014 @ ANZ Stadium
Preview:
Having won six of their previous seven games, and with a near full-strength side at their disposal, the Rabbitohs were expected to be one team that could travel to Townsville and come away with the points.
However they fell short and were defeated by a committed and improved Cowboys unit 20 – 18.
The Rabbitohs, like they were when defeated by Melbourne in round 10, were stunned early and behind 14 – 0 inside of the first ten minutes of the game.
Although holding the Cowboys to only one more try during the game, the Rabbitohs couldn’t crack a committed Cowboys’ defence enough times to edge themselves in front.
The Rabbitohs are not the first favourite to fall to a Cowboys ambush at Townsville but the loss did cost them second spot on the ladder. They are now on 20 points with the Roosters and West Tigers, and only win one in front of another four teams.
They’ll have to jump straight back into the winner’s stall here despite missing Inglis, Te’o and McQueen through Origin.
Coach Michael Maguire is also using this game to mix things up a little, dropping Isaac Luke to the bench with Apisai Koroisau starting at hooker and Jason Clark starting at lock.
TITANS
The Titans need a win like the Sharks need some good news.
The Titans fell, albeit narrowly, to their sixth consecutive loss in round 15 when a Gareth Widdop field goal placed them on the wrong side of a 19 – 18 score-line against the Dragons.
The one-time competition leaders have battled an extensive injury toll for several weeks now and their depth has been tested.
Things will get no easier for the Gold Coast side here though with Nate Myles, Greg Bird and David Taylor all loss to Origin whilst yet another halves combination will start for the Titans this year, with Daniel Mortimer and Maurice Blair at half-back and five-eight respectively.
The bottom of a once promising 2014 season has fallen out for the Titans and it’s hard to see the continuation of the slide stopping this round.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Rabbitohs got off to a flyer against the Gold Coast when the sides last met in round 9 and recorded a commanding 40 – 18 win.
It was the fifth straight win for the Rabbitohs over the Titans, three of which have been by 19+ points.
With the Rabbitohs keen to start quickly after last week’s debacle, a similar opening stanza could be on the cards here and the half-time line worth close consideration.
Expect the Rabbitohs to continue their trend of scoring plenty of points against the Titans.
Tips : Rabbitohs 19+
Teams:
RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Alex Johnston, Kyle Turner, Bryson Goodwin, Joel Reddy, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Thomas Burgess, Apisai Koroisau, David Tyrrell, Sam Burgess, Ben Lowe, Jason Clark. Interchange: Issac Luke, Joe Picker, Lote Tuqiri, Luke Burgess.
TITANS: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, James Roberts, Brad Takairangi, David Mead, Maurice Blair, Daniel Mortimer, Luke Bailey, Beau Falloon, Luke Douglas, Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Paul Carter. Interchange: Matthew White, Mark Ioane, Cody Nelson, Matt Srama, Tom Kingston, Albert Kelly.
News:
Brent Kite has no regrets about bringing up his 300th NRL game away from the Manly club, and has revealed he’s being groomed for a post-football coaching career at new home Penrith.
On Sunday against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt, prop Kite will become just the 20th player in history to register the 300-game milestone and will do so wearing Panthers’ colours.
Kite will go down as a Manly great after 221 appearances, two premierships and a Clive Churchill medal with the Sea Eagles – as well as regular appearances for NSW and Australia – but he sees his future out west.
His mental preparation for his 300th game has been sentimental, but largely taken up with the stresses of moving into a new house in Glenmore.
After he hangs up the boots next year, 33-year-old Kite hopes to start a coaching career in the Panthers system having already held discussions with Penrith boss Phil Gould.
“That was part of the plan coming out here. I don’t know in what capacity that’d be. It’s a really good club, Penrith; seems to have more pathways than other clubs by having such a big junior base,” said Kite.
“That was something that was discussed (when signing) … you can’t secure your future beyond playing, but it’s something we’d love to do and hopefully it works out.”
After 13 seasons and playing the toughest position on the field, Kite says the secret to his sustained success has been simply turning up every week willing to have a crack.
Kite signed with Manly from St George Illawarra in 2005 when the club was still struggling to recover from the Northern Eagles collapse. Along with fellow recruit Ben Kennedy, he helped pioneer a culture of dominance at Brookvale which is ongoing.
Manly will always be a part of Kite, but he’s not living in the past – with his experience and leadership helping to inspire Penrith’s rise up the ladder this year.
“It’s definitely gone quick. (Footy) is like being in high school. Everyone always tells you ‘enjoy this years – they won’t last forever’. Before you know it, you’re nearly done and you’re thinking maybe they did know what they’re talking about.
“I’ll miss playing but it can’t go on forever.
“It would have been nice (to do it at Manly) but I had such a great run at Manly and I don’t really have any regrets.
“The Clive Churchill and the 2008 premiership was my best achievement, hands down.
“If I look at that game and what we achieved, it just felt like 17 blokes had close to their personal best games. I obviously got the medal but I think they’d all feel similar. It was just such a special feeling to put the old enemy (Melbourne) away by such a big score.”
