Raiders vs Rabbitohs Prediction & NRL Betting Preview

The Canberra Raiders’ NRL Finals hope depend on them continuing a recent upturn in form, and a win against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at GIO on Saturday would keep the pressure on the top eight (3pm local, 6am BST, Watch NRL).

The reigning Minor Premiers have spent all year playing catch-up but back-to-back wins over the Dragons and Bulldogs have kept them in the play-off hunt. My Raiders vs Rabbitohs predictions follow with full team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Raiders vs Rabbitohs Betting Tips

Raiders by 1-5 @ 13/2
Kaeo Weekes Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/5

*odds correct at time of publishing

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Raiders vs Rabbitohs Odds

When I say that the bookies can’t split this pair, I mean they just cannot split them.

There’s the slightest of favouritism for the Raiders at 10/11 for the win in 80 minutes, with the Rabbitohs at 20/21. The draw is 16/1.

Handicap-wise, there is a big fat zero on the three-way market since there’s such a fine line between the two sides.

It’s 23/10 about the Raiders winning by 1-12 points and exactly the same price for the Rabbitohs in that bracket.

Team News

Ricky Stuart welcomes Savelio Tamale and Morgan Smithies back into the 19, while Ethan Stranger and Hudson Young are promoted to the starting XIII having been post-Origin subs last week.

Seb Kris is still missing with a leg muscle injury, while Ata Mariota and Daine Laurie are on the bench after starts in the win over the Bulldogs.

Rugby League Odds

Wayne Bennett is expected to have Alex Johnston back available following a calf issue, but Dayne Jennings misses out in a like-for-like swap after sustaining a lengthy gash to his leg against the Knights.

Jayden Sullivan’s head injury rules him out for this week at least, so Cody Walker comes in at stand-off.

Raiders by 1-5 @ 13/2

They were practically unstoppable in 2025, but the Raiders have taken a helluva long time getting going in ‘26.

The pain of back-to-back play-off losses as Minor Premiers appeared to have struck them so hard they wouldn’t get back up.

But do they still have it in them to make up the six-point gap to the eight?

They’re probably going to have to win on Saturday if they are to keep those dreams alive, and they’re up against a Bunnies side they’ve already beaten this term in that 70-point barnstormer in Perth back in April.

However this goes, it will be dead close. And I just see a spark about Canberra that wasn’t there previously so am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Given the small margins we’re talking about, the 13/2 about them holding on by five or fewer looks massive.

Kaeo Weekes Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/5

He might not have scored in five now, but I just think that makes the probability that Kaeo Weekes is due a try bigger and bigger by the week.

So consistent a presence is he chiming into the line that he went on a run of six tries in seven games earlier this year despite the Raiders losing four of those fixtures.

The Bunnies give up enough chances on their edges that I think the Canberra full-back can take advantage with a key score at GIO.

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