Broncos v Rabbitohs | Suncorp Stadium | Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:40
The first match of a huge double-header at Suncorp Stadium represents a pivotal point in both the Brisbane Broncos’ and South Sydney Rabbitohs’ seasons.
With the competition officially entering the run home post-Origin there are only eight games left to find a way into the finals zone, and for the Rabbitohs particularly each loss is a nail in a half-built coffin.
The home-side Broncos are no certainties to push their consecutive finals series streak to 18 years despite currently sitting in seventh spot in the ladder, as their defence continues to look shaky in the big games. But they have a reasonable run home with a mixture of games against top-eight sides and bottom-eight sides, so if they can get the results when expected they should be there when the whips are cracking.
This means they need to kick-start the post-Origin section of the year with a win against a desperate, 10th-placed Souths, who despite winning last week against the depleted Panthers, still find themselves three competition points adrift of the top eight.
With Darren Lockyer, Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday and Karmichael Hunt looking to back up after Origin III there are no certainties in the Brisbane line-up but with the rest of the side fresh from the bye there will be no excuses.
The changes from their last-start win against the Warriors will see Hunt back at fullback, with Josh Hoffman out, while Israel Folau’s major injury opens the door for Alex Glenn to start on the wing and for Ben Teo to return to the side on the bench.
For South Sydney, it well and truly remains crunch time. A win here would be a huge step in the right direction for a charge home that is pretty difficult.
In their eight remaining games they take on five current top-eight sides including the top-three Dragons, Bulldogs and Titans, plus they face the current ninth-placed Sea Eagles to boot.
They come into the match on the back of a good win over the Panthers. with Origin players Craig Wing and Michael Crocker set to back up from the bench. Beau Falloon misses out.
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