The numbers that matter ahead of Saturday’s NRL preliminary final between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney.
1. HISTORY WITH THE MINOR PREMIERS
* After the NRL finals format was revamped in 2012, the minor premiers have won four from four grand final qualifiers after earning a week off in the second weekend of the finals.
2. IMMOVABLE OBJECT MEETS AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE
This game will pit the best attacking team in the Rabbitohs against the best defensive team in the Roosters. Souths have scored the most points per game (24) and made the most linebreaks (5.8). The Roosters have let in the fewest points per game (14.9), linebreaks (3.2) and missed the fewest tackles (21.5).
3. ROOSTERS HAVE RECORD TO CROW ABOUT
The Roosters have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning five of the last seven, including their meeting in round 22. The Roosters have won 20 of the past 27 matches against the Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium.
4. CAN THE ROOSTERS BREAK THEIR PRELIM HOODOO?
After winning six straight preliminary finals (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2013), the Roosters have now lost their past three (2014, 2015 and 2017).
5. WALKER ON FIRE
Based on statistics, Cody Walker has been the most damaging player in the league this year. He leads the NRL for try involvements with 51 – 12 tries, 17 try assists and 22 contributions.
6. ABSENCE OF LATRELL
On the face of it, Latrell Mitchell’s suspension is a big loss for the Roosters. He has scored 41.9 per cent of their points this year (236 points from 16 tries and 86 goals). That’s the highest percentage of any player for any club. However in the five games he has missed since debuting in round one, 2016, the Roosters have won four of them.
7. GI: THE FINALS EXPERT
Rabbitohs skipper Greg Inglis needs one more four-pointer to become just the fourth player in NRL history to rack up 15 finals tries behind Billy Slater (21), Eddie Lumsden (17) and Brett Stewart (16).
8. THE CRONK AFFECT
Cooper Cronk will play his 34th finals game, drawing alongside Kevin Walters in third on the list of most finals matches – only behind Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith (both 35).
9. ROOSTERS’ MAGIC NUMBER IS 19
Over the last 21 finals series, when the Roosters have scored 19 points or more, they have gone on to win on 20 of 21 occasions. The one they lost? Against Souths, 32-22 back in 2014. At Allianz Stadium, they have won 14 of 14 when reaching their magic number.
10. ARE SOUTHS FLAGGING?
After winning 11 of 12 matches from rounds nine to 21, Souths have won just two of their past six.