The Bulldogs welcome back star No. 6 Matt Burton for their top-of-the-table clash against the Raiders, but the Broncos have delayed Ezra Mam’s return.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium, 8.00pm AEST
Broncos team: 1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Fletcher Baker 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Josiah Karapani 20. Martin Taupau 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Delouise Hoeter
Analysis: Billy Walters and Cory Paix have 80 minutes to save their spots with one of the hookers almost certainly set to be axed next week. Broncos coach Michael Maguire has resisted bringing Ezra Mam straight back in to save the side’s stuttering attack. Mam is now available for selection after completing his nine-game suspension for a highly-publicised off-field incident, but he’ll make his return four Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup to gain match fitness. But that will only last one week, especially if Brisbane loses again, which means it will be Walters or Paix playing reserve grade next week No. 6 Mam’s return expected to shift Ben Hunt to hooker. The Broncos were one of the big disappointments of Magic Round where they were dismantled by Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary. But Maguire has only made the one change, with prop Fletcher Baker coming into the 17 for young gun Jaiyden Hunt who is still trying to find his consistency in the NRL.
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Fletcher Myers 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jye Gray 15. Sean Keppie 16. Davvy Moale 17. Liam Le Blanc 18. Tevita Tatola 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Joshua Schuster 21. Shaquai Mitchell 22. Jacob Host
Analysis: Lewis Dodd has been dropped to the reserves in what is another setback for the high-priced recruit. Dodd was given his first opportunity to start since joining Souths on a deal worth $650,000 a season, but failed to impress as the Bunnies were thrashed by the Knights. Dodd wasn’t recruited by current coach Wayne Bennett and if it wasn’t for Jack Wighton’s injury, he wouldn’t have even started in the halves against the Knights. The question that should be posed is ‘where to now for Dodd?’ He’s too expensive to be playing reserve grade but even though the Rabbitohs are dealing with an injury crisis, Bennett doesn’t want Dodd in his team. Humphreys meanwhile, is right back in the side after overcoming with injury. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks and months, but conventional wisdom suggests that Dodd won’t be with Souths beyond this season unless he takes a massive pay cut. Meanwhile star fullback Latrell Mitchell is back in a timely boost for the Rabbitohs who are coming off a poor performance in a loss to the Knights. The marquee man slots into the No.1 jersey, with Jamie Humphreys also slotting back in at halfback after recovering from a hamstring injury. Jye Gray will wear the No.14 with Siliva Havili being named at hooker. That move comes after an elbow injury to regular No.9 Peter Mamouzelos, who dislocated the joint and was unable to put it back in until after the game. Euan Aitken has moved to the back row from the centres, with Fletcher Myers named on the wing, which also sees Jai Arrow move to prop and Tevita Tatola drop out of the side and into the No.18. Interestingly, Keaon Koloamatangi has also been named in the front row alongside Arrow, which displaces Sean Keppie from the starting side.