Monday’s NRL game for Round 12 is between South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons with the opening kick to commence at 19:05 local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium with the favourite for the match being South Sydney Rabbitohs. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons.

Where and when: Allianz Stadium, 19:05 | Monday 2/06/2014

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Odds Comparison:

South Sydney Rabbitohs	1.25	1.20	1.22	1.20	1.25	1.22
St George Illawarra Dragons	3.95	4.70	4.50	4.70	3.95	4.20

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

SOUTH SYDNEY

For not the first time this year, the Rabbitohs let punters down when as short priced favourites, they trialled the Storm from the outset and were defeated 27 – 14 in round 11.

Quite remarkably, it was their fourth straight loss from five matches at ANZ Stadium this year, and they’ve started favourites each time.

They redeemed themselves to a certain degree last Monday night with an 18 – 0 victory over the struggling Sharks at Remondis Stadium.

The Rabbitohs had the better of almost aspect of the game but the points still did not come easy against a committed Sharks outfit and by half-time, the Rabbitohs had only managed the one try to lead 6 – 0.

It was the Rabbitohs sixth win of the season and their fifth by a margin of 13 + or more.

The Rabbitohs three representatives in Wednesday night’s game have all be named in the starting line-up for this match.

Hooker Isaac Luke, who has been out for several weeks with a shoulder injury, is an outside chance of making his return and will have an immediate impact if he starts.

DRAGONS

After falling to their third straight loss, and their sixth from their last seven games, against Parramatta in Round 10 36 – nil, Dragons Coach Steve Price was shown the door this week by the Dragons board with Paul McGregor called into the position for the remainder of the year.

The loss to Parramatta meant that from their past three games, the Dragons have only produced a combined total of 20 points whilst they have conceded 108 or an average of 36 points.

The return to the NRL of Benji Marshall did little to spark the Dragon offence and with another significant change to the team structure this week, it’ll take Marshall and the Dragons some weeks before they get back to any sort of form.

McGregor has wasted no time making changes to his side with Peter Mata’utia starting in the centres, Dan Hunt and Ben Creagh will start as props and Leeson Ah Mau falls back to the second row.

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HEAD TO HEAD

The Rabbitohs have won four of the last five against the Dragons, all by margins of 13+ and given the current record of both sides, that trend looks to continue here.

The Dragons are basically starting from scratch, never a good thing almost half-way through a season, whilst Souths will field a strong and settled side with a forward pack that should dominate proceedings.

We’ve said it before and they’ve let us down, but South Sydney should win this one comfortably.

TIP: Rabbitohs 13 +

Teams:

Rabbitohs: Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Kirisome Auva’a, Joel Reddy, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Apisai Koroisau, David Tyrrell, Kyle Turner, Ben Te’o, Sam Burgess. Interchange: Cameron McInnes, Jason Clark, Chris McQueen, Thomas Burgess

Dragons: Josh Dugan, Brett Morris, Peter Mata’utia, Gerard Beale, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Ben Creagh, Mitch Rein, Dan Hunt, Leeson Ah Mau, Joel Thompson, Trent Merrin. Interchange: Tyson Frizell, Jack de Belin, Mike Cooper, Bronson Harrison, Shane Pumipi, Will Matthews

News:

St George Illawarra caretaker coach Paul McGregor has moved swiftly to put his stamp on the Dragons, naming talented rookie Peter Mata’utia for his first NRL start in the centres in a series of changes.

After taking over from the dumped Steve Price on Monday, McGregor named his first team as interim coach on Tuesday for Monday’s round 12 clash with South Sydney.

One of the joint venture’s greatest centre-three-quarters, McGregor has thrust Mata’utia, who joined the Red V this season after limited opportunities with Newcastle, into the centres after his only appearance for the club so far on the wing in their last start 36-0 loss to Parramatta.

In a host of changes, Joel Thompson moves back to the second row-from centre with Jason Nightingale returning from a knee injury on the wing.

Ben Creagh will start at prop alongside Dan Hunt, Tyson Frizell and Bronson Harrison move to the bench, while Leeson Ah Mau moves to the backrow.

Benji Marshall will start at halfback after an indifferent first-up effort in their 36-0 thrashing to Parramatta.

McGregor put the Dragons through their paces at Wollongong on Tuesday for the first time after taking the reins.

“The business has seen a need for change now the players have to change,” McGregor said.

“Everyone involved in this situation is disappointed.

“It starts every time we get on the paddock, every time we do video, we have to really work hard for each other.

“There is no easy way out of this.

“The circumstances aren’t great but there are games of footy to be played and everyone in this association needs to work hard to get that done.”

Hooker Issac Luke hasn’t been named to make his return from a shoulder injury for the Rabbitohs but is likely to be a late inclusion.

State of Origin stars are set to return for their clubs following Wednesday night’s series opener, while England international forward Lee Mossop should finally debut for Parramatta against Penrith on Friday after recovering from a shoulder injury.

French forward Remi Casty has retained his spot in Sydney Roosters 17 after his NRL debut for the premiers’ clash with Canberra at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Ben Roberts returns to the Melbourne halves, replacing the injured Joel Romelo (ankle) for the Storm’s trip to Townsville to meet North Queensland.

Halfback Shaun Johnson has been named for the Warriors to take on Newcastle in Auckland on Sunday, but he remains a 50-50 proposition due to an ankle injury.

Manly welcome back Jamie Lyon and Kieran Foran for their match against Brisbane, with David Williams falling out of the side.