The Rabbitohs and Panthers square off for the second time this season with Jason Demetriou's men out to avenge a 16-10 loss at BlueBet Stadium in Round 2.
A key area the Rabbitohs will need to improve if they are to take down the premiers is their completion rate, which was down at 68 per cent (24 of 35 sets) that night, making their task extremely tough.
The fact they stayed in the fight and had a chance to draw level in the dying minutes is cause for optimism heading into a game on their own turf and coming off two big wins over the Bulldogs and Dolphins.
The Panthers played their 'get out of jail' card in a golden point thriller against Newcastle and have climbed to second on the ladder despite being short of their lethal best in a number of matches this season.
In 11 games at Accor Stadium it's the Rabbitohs with a 7-4 advantage but the most recent meeting saw the Panthers charge home in the second half of the 2022 preliminary final to leave Souths one game shy of a grand final for the fourth time in five years.
Match: Rabbitohs v Panthers
Round 8 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
10th Position
away Team
Panthers
4th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Rabbitohs: Hame Sele will start and Thomas Burgess comes from the bench in a game day switch. Taane Milne replaced Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson (ankle) on the wing on Wednesday. The loss of Keaon Koloamatangi to a leg injury sees Michael Chee Kam return to the starting side. Josiah Karapani is 18th man.
Panthers: The Panthers are 1-17 with no late changes. Scott Sorensen moves back into the starting side to replace Liam Martin, who continues to battle hamstring issues. Lindsay Smith has been called onto the bench. Jack Cogger is 18th man.
Match: Rabbitohs v Panthers
Round 8 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex JohnstonWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Isaiah TassCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell GrahamCentre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 18 Taane MilneWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan IliasHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Jai ArrowProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 16 Hame SeleProp for Panthers is number 10 Matthew Eisenhuth
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Michael Chee Kam2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Zac Hosking
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Soni Luke
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Jed CartwrightInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Daniel Suluka-FifitaInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Spencer Leniu
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Davvy MoaleInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman Salmon
Reserves
-
Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 20 Josiah KarapaniReplacement for Panthers is number 21 Jack Cogger
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Rabbitohs have not defeated the Panthers at Accor Stadium since 2017.
- The Panthers have won 10 of their past 11 games against the Rabbitohs.
- Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell requires nine points to reach 1,000 career NRL points.
- Panthers centre Stephen Crichton has scored seven tries in his past eight games against the Rabbitohs.
- The Rabbitohs will play their 200th game at Accor Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
