From Zero Tackle,
Rested Rabbitohs given edge ahead of Season’s decider
Despite lacking access to their suspended star
Latrell Mitchell and having finished behind the Panthers on the competition table, both
Cameron Smith and Matthew Johns believe that South Sydney will win their 22nd premiership this weekend.
Speaking on
SEN 1170, the pair of competition winners stated that Souths' less brutal run to the season's decider should hold them in better stead than their western Sydney rivals come Sunday night.
“I’ve got the Rabbitohs winning,” Smith said.
“Mainly because of their run into this match and how difficult the last three finals have been for Penrith, they’ve been beaten up and again they have a handful of players that have been battled and bruised from that game against Melbourne."
Irrespective of the fact that Penrith posted 56-points on the Bunnies during their Round 12 rout in Dubbo this year, the Storm legend held the view that the previously vanquished Rabbits had drastically improved their once leaky line.
“So, they’re in a really good position the Rabbitohs, and the one thing we’re talking about defence right now, and the one thing I’ve been impressed with is their defence.
“I’ve got the Rabbitohs ahead, just.”
Johns echoed Smith's sentiments, but also claimed that with
Wayne Bennett at the helm, the Redferners held a significant trump card over an opponent they have already defeated once this month.
“I’m with Cameron, Souths by a fraction at the moment,” Johns said.
“I’m curious to see how bad the injury is to
Adam Reynolds, I think the extra day is an advantage.
“I think the coach [ Bennett], just about how he goes about his work gives me confidence in the Rabbitohs.
“I think, like Cameron, they’re a lot fresher than Penrith are, and that win (against Melbourne) was a really difficult game for them.
“I genuinely think they will win.”
Should Smith and Johns prove correct in their predictions, South Sydney will become the first team in the competition's lengthy history to ever finish the season as premiers after having 50-points or more posted against them.
As mentioned, Penrith raised the bat against the Rabbitohs in late May of this year just a fortnight after Melbourne skinned Souths by 50-0 in Round 9.
League fans will need to wait a further six days before finding out whether these former Origin representatives are on the money or not, with the kick-off for the 2021 NRL Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium scheduled for 7:50pm on Sunday night.
From the Daily Telegraph,
2021 NRL Grand Final - Braith Anasta and Michael Ennis split on whether Souths or Penrith win
While the names of Reynolds, Walker and Cook grab most of the headlines, Fox Sports expert Braith Anasta believes it could be the form of an unheralded trio that gets Souths home on Sunday.
With the Rabbitohs to face off against the Panthers for this year’s premiership, Fox League’s Michael Ennis and Braith Anasta give us their early predictions.
BRAITH ANASTA
SOUTH SYDNEY to win
Souths know exactly what they have to do to beat Penrith - just follow the same blueprint they used to upset the Panthers in the first week of the finals.
Their line speed and intensity in defence helped them get in Penrith’s face and throw them off their game. It took away their time and space and denied the Panthers any attacking opportunities.
So once again, the key for Souths is to worry Penrith out of the game and intimidate them. Jai Arrow was enormous off the bench and he got right up in their face and they niggled them out of the game.
They have to put pressure on them, hurry them up on the last tackle and Wayne Bennett has so much experience in grand finals he’ll have them ready to do just that.
It’s interesting to hear Wayne speak after South Sydney’s losses this year - he understands that more often than not, when Souths lose it’s because they beat themselves. They’ve won so many games now they know what it takes, they’re a close team, they know what works best for them and what doesn’t and what doesn’t is errors.
THE RIVALRIES
Played 97 times with South Sydney winning 51, Penrith 44 and two draws
They have played three times already this year with Penrith winning twice.
South Sydney won in the opening week of the finals 16-10 after Penrith beat them 56-12 in round 11 and 25-12 in round 23
Wayne Bennett v Ivan Cleary
Played 24 times with Bennett winning 15, Cleary winning nine
Cleary has won five of his past six games against Bennett coached teams
Bennett won his first 10 of 12 matches against Cleary
When they do make errors they compound them and they kill their own chances. That’s why the emphasis this week will be on themselves.
Their forwards have really lifted since Latrell got suspended and they’re the unsung heroes of this Souths team.
We all know how good Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds are, and Reynolds can still be really effective even if he’s carrying an injury, but guys like Tom Burgess and Keaon Kolomatangi have been in great form and Cam Murray has been playing like Superman.
I’m leaning Souths - the Panthers-Storm prelim was ferocious, and one of the best games I’ve seen in a long time, but I fear it might have taken some juice out of Penrith.
Souths know how to attack them and with Reynolds, Walker and Benji Marshall running them around the park they can stop the Panthers premiership dream from coming true.
MICHAEL ENNIS
PENRITH to win
Penrith have fought their way to the grand final via three absolute wars - but that just means they’re battle-hardened for the clash against South Sydney.
The win over the Storm shows they’ve learned their lesson from the disaster of last year’s grand final and their resounding effort in defence is something that will give them enormous confidence.
The way they came out and didn’t hesitate, they didn’t wait to see how Melbourne were going to be, they attacked with their aggression and their line speed and that’s what’s most important to them this week.
They know where they went wrong against Souths last time and have been through two really tough games, and while their attack might not have been at their best, defensively their resolve has been incredible.
Against Melbourne, even though it wasn’t raining points, there was a real attacking arrogance back in their play and I love that from Penrith. They didn’t hesitate to move the ball, especially to that left side to Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton.
When the game was in the balance, they had the confidence to do that and that’s when Penrith are at their best.
They’re coming up against an attacking juggernaut next week and for Penrith to unlock their own attack, while Nathan Cleary is vital, Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau are the ones who give them a point of difference and stop it from just being Nathan all the time.
Luai wasn’t quite back to where he was early in the season, but against the Storm he stepped up and took his moments.
The fact the Panthers have had a look at grand final week, which can be really daunting, means they’ll be a lot more settled.
I think Penrith get it done.
Wayne Bennett will have Souths primed, and you have to tip their hat to them, but the defensive resolve in Penrith could really frustrate Souths and if their attack starts to find it’s gears, and given their experience from last year, I think they get home in a tight one.
