South Sydney Rabbitohs v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sunday, February 19, 5.30pm (AEDT), ANZ Stadium, Sydney
The annual Charity Shield trial affair between South Sydney and St George Illawarra has long been the unofficial start to the rugby league season and it still is despite the inception of the Auckland Nines.
Selection NotesSouth Sydney have named a near full-strength side with Greg Inglis the only notable absentee that will feature in Michael Maguire’s Round 1 side against Wests Tigers. The Dragons have also named a strong 20-man squad that will make-up the majority of their Round 1 side. It’s a big change from last year’s Charity Shield where both teams were missing key personnel. Souths were without the Burgess trio, Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary. Meanwhile, the Dragons went into last year’s clash minus Josh Dugan, Tyson Frizell, Gareth Widdop and Joel Thompson.
HistoryThe Dragons hold a 16-12-5 all-time edge over the Rabbitohs in Charity Shield matches but the Bunnies have had the best of it in recent years with five wins and two draws over the last nine years. The Dragons’ last win in the Charity Shield was in 2012. None of the last four matches at ANZ have tallied more than 38 points. Souths won both regular season games against the Dragons last season. The spoils were shared during the regular season in 2016. The Dragons won 8-6 in Round 3, while the Rabbitohs got the job done 34-24 in Round 11.
Form
South Sydney and St George Illawarra were both terribly disappointing at the Auckland Nines. Both failed to qualify for the knockout stage with the Dragons going 1-2 and the Rabbitohs leaving winless. The Dragons beat the Tigers 20-10 in a trial match in Wollongong last week, while the Rabbitohs went down to the Sea Eagles 22-16.
South Sydney and St George Illawarra were both terribly disappointing at the Auckland Nines. Both failed to qualify for the knockout stage with the Dragons going 1-2 and the Rabbitohs leaving winless. The Dragons beat the Tigers 20-10 in a trial match in Wollongong last week, while the Rabbitohs went down to the Sea Eagles 22-16.
Key MatchupCody Walker and Gareth Widdop had contrasting seasons in 2016 and both will have a point to prove for different reasons. Walker had a breakout season last year and will want to prove that it wasn’t a flash in the pan. If Inglis remains in the No.1 jersey, Walker will have the chance to make the No.6 jersey his own. Widdop was one of the major disappointments and the pressure will only intensify in 2017, with the departure of Benji Marshall to the Broncos and the season-ending injury to Drew Hutchinson.
Final Thoughts
The Rabbitohs are the way to go here. They have the advantage in the halves and the signing of Robbie Farah to work in tandem with Damien Cook will test the tired Dragons forwards around the ruck all afternoon. The Dragons have too many question marks in the halves and until Widdop produces consistent football, The Wolf doesn’t want a bar of them.
The Rabbitohs are the way to go here. They have the advantage in the halves and the signing of Robbie Farah to work in tandem with Damien Cook will test the tired Dragons forwards around the ruck all afternoon. The Dragons have too many question marks in the halves and until Widdop produces consistent football, The Wolf doesn’t want a bar of them.
How It’s Shaping Up
South Sydney by 8
South Sydney by 8
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