Batten down the hatches folks.
In a delicious final round twist, South Sydney boss Wayne Bennett has a chance to help deliver his former club its first ever NRL finals appearance, while banishing the Rabbitohs’ fiercest rivals at the same time.
Expectations were already high for an antagonistic Round 27 grudge match between the Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters—and Round 26 results have added further fuel to the fire.
Should South Sydney be victorious on Friday night at Allianz Stadium, the Dolphins will have the chance to leapfrog the Roosters into eighth place with a win over Canberra on Sunday.
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It’s a scenario made entirely possible given Ricky Stuart has already indicated he will be resting a significant number of Raiders stars now that NRL top spot, and two home finals, is already safely in the club’s keeping.
Bookmakers certainly think the result is on, listing the Phins as short-priced $1.35 favourites against the minor premiers.
It means Trent Robinson and the Roosters must win on Friday night to avoid a very nervous weekend.
Coming off a Round 26 bye, the Rabbitohs have won their past three matches and, in an added boost to their hopes of derailing the Roosters’ season, inspirational skipper Cameron Murray has also declared he’s ‘ready to go’ after missing the entire year with an Achilles tendon rupture.
Throw in Bunnies winger Alex Johnston needing just two more tries to tie Ken Irvine’s all-time try scoring record and it promises to be quite a night.