Roosters vs Rabbitohs Prediction: Expect Roosters to go big in Sydney derby

Any final-round clash between Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs should be an absolute barnburner with all sorts riding on it. But while the Roosters have a finals spot on the line, the Rabbitohs head to Allianz Stadium on Friday with only local pride to play for (20:00 local, 11:00 BST).

The Bunnies do have a three-game winning streak to defend though, having dragged themselves off the foot of the table at the end of a long, tough season. My Roosters vs Rabbitohs predictions are below, with full team news and Betfred’s latest match odds.

Roosters vs Rabbitohs Odds

As the team with something tangible to fight for, the Roosters are obvious favourites. And let’s face it, they’ve been the better of these two sides all season anyway.

The Chooks are 3/10 for the win in 80 minutes at an implied probability of 76.9%, while a bet on Wayne Bennett's Bunnies is available at 13/5. The draw is 22/1.

The Roosters are giving up a 12.5-point start on the two-way handicap, with their price lengthened to 10/11 in that scenario. With the two-score advantage, the Rabbitohs are 5/6.

Team News

The Roosters’ Sandon Smith loses out as a result of regular scrum-half Sam Walker’s return from concussion protocols. Hugo Savala switches to stand-off.

Connor Watson also comes into the starting line-up at hooker, with Benaiah Ioelu switching to the bench in the corresponding move.

Jack Wighton and Cameron Murray both come in for the Rabbitohs, with Wighton starting in the centres. Murray will be a bench option, with Thomas Fletcher and Peter Mamouzelos dropping out.

Tallis Duncan moves to the back row to make way for Wighton in the outside backs, and Jacob Host drops to the bench.

Rugby League Odds

Roosters over 34.5 total points @ 5/4

You’re just not going to find value on the handicap markets, since this ought to be a healthy win for the Roosters.

They’re not going to take it easy on their Sydney rivals no matter how safe the win – and, by extension, their finals slot – is at any point in the game.

The Roosters’ players have spots in the play-off team to play for, and they are not known to let up.

Their average win this season has come by 20.2 points, and having recorded seven scores of 36 or more this term I can well see number eight following.

That magnificent 40-point second-half showing against the Melbourne Storm last week showed that the Roosters are hungry to hammer home an advantage.

Roosters to win both halves @ 11/10

There should be no flies on the Roosters as they look to put any tension to bed early on.

They are the side with something to play for. They are better than the Rabbitohs, with the league table as proof. And they will want to create a buffer so that they can get into a finals-ready frame of mind as soon as the hooter sounds.

I expect them to come out of the blocks quickly and then throw the ball about some more in the second half just as they did against the Storm.

At 11/10, the implied probability here is 47.6%. But I’m on the Roosters to have too much for the ailing Bunnies in both halves.

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