The only NRL Round 16 match on Friday is between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canberra Raiders. The opening kick is set to commence at 7.45pm local time with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium. The home team the South Sydney Rabbitohs are the current favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canberra Raiders.
ANZ Stadium
South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.20 vs Canberra Raiders $4.50 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.22 vs Canberra Raiders $4.45 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:
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| South Sydney Rabbitohs | 1.20 | 1.18 | 1.22 | 1.18 | 1.20 | 1.21 |
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Canberra Raiders
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4.50 | 4.85 | 4.45 | 4.85 | 4.50 | 4.50 |
Preview:
Round 16 kicks off with competition front runners South Sydney, hosting Canberra Raiders.
South Sydney has won seven of their last eight and enjoy playing at ANZ Stadium where they have a season record of 5-1, the loss coming to Melbourne back in Round 6.
They have registered more points than any other team thus far this season and only once in the past two months have they failed to reach 20 points in a game.
After accounting for Parramatta easily last week, the Rabbitohs should welcome back Inglis, Merritt and McQueen from Origin duty.
After two very good wins at home over Brisbane and Penrith, the Raiders last week reconfirmed with a surprise loss over West Tigers that they struggle to produce the goods on the road.
In fact their record this year reads 1-7 and combined with the fact that they have lost their last three games to Souths by margins of 29, 18 and 22 points and they’ll struggle to better Souths in this game.
Each of the last three games have resulted in total match points of 54 points or greater and with both sides capable of moving the ball, weather permitting another high-scoring encounter could be on the cards.
Teams:
South Sydney Rabbitohs:
Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Bryson Goodwin, Dylan Walker, Andrew Everingham, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Dave Tyrrell, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi, Chris McQueen, Ben Te’o, Sam Burgess.
Interchange: Nathan Peats, Ben Lowe, Jeff Lima, Tom Burgess, Dylan Farrell, Justin Hunt, Luke Keary, Josh Starling
Canberra Raiders:
Reece Robinson, Sandor Earl, Jarrod Croker, Jack Wighton, Sami Sauiluma, Terry Campese, Josh McCrone, David Shillington, Glen Buttriss, Dane Tilse, Josh Papalii, Joel Thompson, Shaun Fensom.
Interchange: Anthony Milford, Joel Edwards, Sam Mataora, Paul Vaughan, Jarrad Kennedy
Tupou chasing more game time at Canberra
Bill Tupou’s agent says the winger was too young and talented to be lingering on the NRL sidelines, which is why he has cut his Warriors contract short to sign with the Canberra Raiders.
Tupou will arrive in Canberra on Sunday to begin a 2-1/2 year deal which was completed in haste ahead of the June 30 transfer deadline.
The Warriors granted the 22-year-old a release just six months into a two-year deal, which also had an option to extend into 2015.
Tupou played nine of the Warriors’ first 10 games this season but was dropped from first grade after the club-record 62-6 loss to Penrith in Sydney on May 18.
Agent Stan Martin says it became apparent that coach Matt Elliott was favouring club rookie Ngani Laumape over Tupou so he requested a release.
“He’s only 22 and to be struggling to find his spot in the team, I thought it best that he move,” Martin said.
“It will be good for Bill because it will get him out of a comfort zone. It will get him back into the form he was in during the final series of 2011, where he was outstanding.”
Tupou will be available for Canberra’s round 17 home match against North Queensland on July 7.
Martin was surprised the Warriors were seemingly unconcerned about losing a player who had served them well at first grade level for four seasons, scoring 19 tries in 62 games. That followed a two-year stint in the under-20 side, where he scored 28 tries.
Martin believes the Warriors may have been motivated to clear salary cap space for a big-money signing in the outside backs.
It has been widely reported that the club are chasing the signature of high-profile Wigan fullback Sam Tomkins.