Newcastle Knights vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview
Newcastle are tipped to win in a tight contest at home against the high flying Rabbitohs. The Knights can slow down the South Sydney attack and keep them under 26.5 points on the Team Total.
- Newcastle have won 3 straight games against South Sydney and 13 of their last 19 games at home on a Sunday.
- South Sydney have averaged just 10 pts per game in their last 3 against the Knights and have struggled to score against better defensive teams this season.
- Bradman Best has scored in 5 of 6 career games against South Sydney
- The Rabbitohs have allowed the majority of opposition tries down their right edge, opposite Bradman Best.
Head to Head
The Knights have won three straight and five of the last seven regular season matchups against the Rabbitohs. The lone matchup last season ended 30-4 at Magic Round.
Three of the last five games have gone Under the Game Total while five straight meetings have finished with double digit margins. The Knights are 6-1 ATS since the start of 2019.
Newcastle Knights Form - Knights Slip
After winning four of their first five games the Knights have slipped to 11th on the ladder following a three-game losing streak. The 44-12 loss at home to the Panthers, the latest on the list.
If injuries are plaguing your team and you need to capitalise on the few opportunities your opponent presents you, it doesn’t help to have 15 Errors and then also miss 58 tackles which is exactly what happened against the Panthers last weekend.
With a host of names set to return this week, including captain Kalyn Ponga, Dylan Lucas and Bradman Best, there is bound to be a bit more confidence in that dressing room.
South Sydney Rabbitohs Form - Souths Pile On The Points
The Rabbits put Melbourne to the sword last weekend running away 48-6 winners at AAMI Park, their first ever win at the venue.
The Storm often put it on a platter for them but there was a lot of skill on show by the likes of Latrell Mitchell who had three Linebreak Assists and Matt Dufty at fullback who is impressing in place of the injured Jye Gray.
One of the better metrics for South’s was holding out the Storm inside the Red Zone, absorbing 33 tackles without breaking. The only opposition try an opportunistic one off the short kickoff.
Souths have scored 30+ points in four straight games and while they have been strong defensively when things are going right at the other end, they have been shown to lose patience and focus in tight clashes or when behind on the scoreboard.