Match Discussion: Round 3 vs Souths @ Polytec Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2026 - Round 3
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers
Polytec Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung (TICKETS)

Saturday 21 March 2026
Kickoff 7:30pm AEDT
Live on Fox League, Kayo Sports

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Euan Aitken 16. Sean Keppie 17. Jayden Sullivan 18. Lachlan Hubner 19. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Latrell Siegwalt 22. Liam Le Blanc

Changes from last match:
In: Jamie Humphreys (halfback), Moala Graham-Taufa (bench)
Changes: Jayden Sullivan (halfback to bench), Euan Aitken (second row to bench), Tallis Duncan (bench to second row)

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Jeral Skelton 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal 14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Tristan Hope 19. Patrick Herbert 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Faaletino Tavana 22. Tony Sukkar

Changes from last match:
Out: Taylan May (centre)
In: Jock Madden (bench), Tristan Hope (bench), Patrick Herbert (bench)
Changes: Jeral Skelton (bench to centre)

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Sideline Officials: Dave Munro, Damian Brady
Video Referee: Chris Butler

HEAD TO HEAD - 2002 - 2025​

	TOTAL	SOUTH SYDNEY	WESTS TIGERS	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	45	27	18	0
POLYTEC	1	1	0	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 11	SOUTH SYDNEY 20-0	Accor	21013
2023	Round 22	SOUTH SYDNEY 32-18	Scully	10453
2024	Round 20	SOUTH SYDNEY 42-28	Industree	16284
2024	Round 24	WESTS TIGERS 18-16	Campbelltown	11420
2025	Round 11	SOUTH SYDNEY 22-12	Campbelltown	11102

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2004	Round 22	WESTS TIGERS 56-6	Leichhardt	19402
2013	Round 10	SOUTH SYDNEY 54-10	ANZ	19718

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
SOUTH SYDNEY	(BYE)	CANTERBURY (H)	CANBERRA (H)	ST GEO ILLA (H)
WESTS TIGERS	WARRIORS (A)	PARRAMATTA (A)	NEWCASTLE (H)	BRISBANE (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 1		Round 2
SOUTH SYDNEY	DOLPHINS	W 40-30	SYDNEY	L 18-26
WESTS TIGERS	(BYE)	NORTH QLD	W 44-16

STATE OF PLAY: 2026 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
SOUTH SYDNEY	8th	2	0	1-1-0	58	56
WESTS TIGERS	5th	1	1	1-0-0	44	16

 

[Nutz]

Some of these stats and history will be rewritten.
Tiges by 16.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Nice to get a comfy win 1st up at the 8th but the cows were atrocious.Souths are formidable we will know at the end of this game whether we are a decent team that’s genuinely on the improve.

 

[Tigerm]

Just purchased 6 x adult & 2 x kids tickets, for $587.95.
My last game attending, it's a f**king ridiculous price for 80 minutes entertainment.
Even worse if we lose.
But maybe better if we wipe LM out of the game. hahaha

 

[Tiger05]

Nice to get a comfy win 1st up at the 8th but the cows were atrocious.Souths are formidable we will know at the end of this game whether we are a decent team that’s genuinely on the improve.

We'll know over the next 5 weeks or so. There are no easy games. The Cowboys was the easiest game we'll get in a while.

 

[Tiger Ted]

We'll know over the next 5 weeks or so. There are no easy games. The Cowboys was the easiest game we'll get in a while.

3 away games in succession & the next 2 are especially difficult as we have warriors across the ditch the following wk

 

[Wizardman]

Tough game for sure. I think our pack should and will do their job offensively. Defensively, Im a bit concerned. My biggest concern is at centre. I think neither options can quite contain Wighton and Trell. It will be a good education for Maka either way. Goodness knows who we pick in the other centre spot.

Hoping for the best, fear a loss.

 

[Tiger05]

My biggest concern is at centre.

To'a and May are our first choice centres and they are both out. We have one high quality reserve outside back so we can handle one being out. When both are out though it's harder to manage.

 

[Tigerm]

To'a and May are our first choice centres and they are both out. We have one high quality reserve outside back so we can handle one being out. When both are out though it's harder to manage.

I think Masi & Herbert (is he allowed to play at this time?) will do the job.

 

[Tigerm]

I think Masi & Herbert (is he allowed to play at this time?) will do the job.

ZT has him in the top 30, so Herbert's good to go.

 

[Tiger05]

I think Masi & Herbert (is he allowed to play at this time?) will do the job.

It'll be interesting. They may go with Masi and Turuva which will work. Skelton on the wing works as well. The problem is Luke L has too many mistakes in him right now.

It'd be great if To'a was back and fit.

 

[League Unlimited News]

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva 3. Jeral Skelton 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii
6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi
8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole
11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal

14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth
18. Tristan Hope 19. Patrick Herbert
20. Bunty Afoa 21. Faaletino Tavana 22. Tony Sukkar

Changes from last match:
Out: Taylan May (centre)
In: Jock Madden (bench), Tristan Hope (bench), Patrick Herbert (bench)
Changes: Jeral Skelton (bench to centre)

NRL TEAMS & OFFICIALS - 2026 Round 3 - Multicultural Round » League Unlimited

leagueunlimited.com

 

[Tigerm]

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Jeral Skelton 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii 6.Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11.Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal 14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16.Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Tristan Hope 19. Patrick Herbert 20. Bunty Afoa 21.Faaletino Tavana 22. Tony Sukkar

Still a hot looking team.

 

[Tiger05]

Still a hot looking team.

True but Souths look really good as well. This is a big test.

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

We're going to have to win the battle up front and restrict their ability to get good quick ball out wide to their weapons.

If we can't do that I can see their left side attack running riot.

Souths have always been a bit iffy in defence though and if we can get half as many offloads as last week we should be able to do some damage.

Personally I'd have gone with Herbert, and Skelton on the wing and LL (or someone else) on the bench.

Marshall has gone with Madden and Hope again on the bench. Reggies are on the same day as 1st grade again so there'll be no option for them to play for the second week in row. This won't be sustainable going forward, if they don't get 1st grade minutes.

 

[Pezz70]

I can’t see us winning this game, I hope we do, but I think carrying Lualilii into this game was a mistake, he’s still a kid, he’s thinking about what he is gonna before he gets the ball and is sometimes hesitant, his defensive reads are atrocious way worse then anything Nofolauma was capable of. Probably heavy criticism and it’s early days for him a bit more game time might make or might break him, I think Benji should probably be playing him sparingly (obviously that’s somewhat dependent on who else is available). Bennett will aim a lot of attack down his side, could get ugly.

The Herbert option with Skelton on the left wing as espoused above is probably a way better option.

 

[macnaz]

Just purchased 6 x adult & 2 x kids tickets, for $587.95.
My last game attending, it's a f**king ridiculous price for 80 minutes entertainment.
Even worse if we lose.
But maybe better if we wipe LM out of the game. hahaha

If it was at LO it would have been even more

 

[chunk]

Yeah going to be a tough game, if Souths are on we will struggle to contain them.

They may appreciate playing at night after playing in the hot afternoon sun, so that could be a plus.

 

[Tigerm]

Us by 12, with Bula scoring a double and KPP MoM.

 

[BossyC]

Despite copping a beating at the hands of the mighty Roosters, the Rabbitohs should have a handy win over Benji's boys. It seems that Latrell has finally pulled his finger out and starting to perform. He may be the difference.