South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers Predictions: Bunnies can add to Tigers’ woes

Wests Tigers will be hoping to close the gap at the bottom of the NRL ladder this weekend when they travel to Industree Group Stadium in Gosford to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs (kick-off 06:00 BST).

Read on for my South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Benji Marshall’s men need to bounce back from a substandard showing against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the last round.

After a poor start to the season, the Bunnies had strung five wins together under interim head coach Ben Hornby before last weekend’s narrow loss to the Dolphins in Redcliffe.

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Team News

The Bunnies are without captain Cameron Murray after a bust-up in State of Origin 2024 Game 3 while Kangaroos fullback Latrell Mitchell remains out with a foot injury.

Tallis Duncan comes into the starting side as South Sydney’s pack will be without Jai Arrow, who underwent shoulder surgery during the week. Siliva Havili is also set to return from a calf injury on the bench.

As for the Tigers, captain Api Koroisau misses out with a calf injury with Tallyn Da Silva set to start in his place at hooker.

Centre Justin Olam is still out and Alex Seyfarth is being rested after a heavy knock last weekend, so Alex Twal returns to the side for the first time since a training-ground concussion about a month ago.

The other alteration to the Tigers’ lineup sees 18-year-old winger Luke Laulili’i return to replace Alex Lobb (ankle).

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers Odds

South Sydney are 1/3 to get back to winning ways against Wests Tigers on Saturday.

The visitors are 12/5 to pick up only their fifth win of the season and the 80-minute draw is available at 22/1.

The Rabbitohs are Evens to overturn a 10-point handicap with the Tigers 10/11 to keep the hosts at bay with the buffer.

South Sydney Rabbitohs -9.5 (handicap 2-Way) @ 5/6

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have enjoyed a dominant run against the Wests Tigers in recent years.

Since 2020, the Rabbitohs have secured victories in seven out of their eight encounters with the Tigers. The sole exception to this impressive streak occurred in round seven of the 2022 season, when the Bunnies suffered a narrow one-point defeat.

They will be doubly motivated to return to winning ways after their recent five-game streak under Hornby was ended by Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins last week.

This trip to Gosford, which will be packed to the rafters, will be a landmark game for hooker Damien Cook, who becomes just the 10th player in South Sydney’s 116-year history to play 200 first-grade games for the club.

His teammates will be busting a gut to get the win for him and the absence of Tigers skipper Koroisau, his opposite number, could allow him to shine too.

South Sydney should cover the -9.5 handicap, which they have done in all five of their wins since the last week of May, with ease against a Tigers team in turmoil.

Over 51.5 points @ 5/6

Wests Tigers have conceded 25 tries in their past three games and points have been in plentiful supply whenever Marshall’s men have taken to the field recently.

The Tigers' last seven matches have yielded points returns of 64, 68, 46, 72, 28, 70 and 70.

In two of their last three outings, the 40-6 defeat to Sydney Roosters and the 28-40 home loss to Melbourne Storm, the Tigers scored the final try of the game in the 79th minute.

That ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over even when the match is lost enhances the prospects of the 51.5-point total being surpassed by both teams in Gosford.

Find more Rugby League Tips here at Betfred Insights.