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He’s a Panthers premiership winner who has rarely tipped against the club over the last three years but one factor has convinced NSW coach Brad Fittler to back the Rabbitohs in Thursday night’s blockbuster.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth’s Tips, Fittler initially said he was tipping Penrith after running through the depleted forward packs of both sides.
But before locking in his tip it dawned on the legendary former five-eighth that he’d discounted an important factor in a clash that has become one of the NRL’s greatest rivalry games in recent years.
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“They both lose back-rowers and front-rowers, no Tevita (Tatola for Souths) still, Keaon’s (Koloamatangi) out, he’s out for a while. I’ll go Penrith,” Fittler said, before backtracking.
“Actually I might change,” he added. “Five day turnaround for Penrith. I might go Souths.”
Fittler’s concern for how Penrith might turn up for the match at Accor Stadium is amplified by the fact that the reigning premiers were taken deep by the Knights, with Nathan Cleary digging his side out of a hole by kicking two field-goals, including a golden point match winner on Saturday afternoon.
It was a brutal road trip, with representative back-rower Liam Martin an added casualty after reinjuring the hamstring that had sidelined him since round two. Martin joins James Fisher-Harris on the injury list, leaving the Panthers to field a forward pack that is barely recognisable in comparison with their grand final pack from last season.
The Rabbitohs are far from full strength themselves, but there’s a sense that they sniff an opportunity.
Andrew Johns can feel it.
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“These teams don’t like each other, which is good,” Johns said. “I’m going to go Rabbits, just.”
The Rabbitohs sit fifth on the ladder on eight points, two behind Penrith, but face a torrid next few weeks, with clashes against the Broncos and the Storm to follow Thursday night’s game.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 8 tips by Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Brad Fittler: Rabbitohs, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Andrew Johns: Rabbitohs, Eels, Sharks, Knights, Titans, Tigers, Roosters, Storm
Johnathan Thurston: Panthers, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Ruan Sims: Panthers, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Peter Psaltis: Rabbitohs, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Titans, Manly, Roosters, Storm
Paul Gallen: Panthers, Eels, Sharks, Cowboys, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
James Bracey: Rabbitohs, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Titans, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
The Mole: Panthers, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Titans, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
David Middleton: Panthers, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Titans, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Wally Lewis: Panthers, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Allana Ferguson: Rabbitohs, Eels, Sharks, Knights, Titans, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Warriors
Darren Lockyer: Rabbitohs, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Danika Mason: Panthers, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Immortal backs change to Golden Point system: Freddy & The Eighth – Ep09
Mat Thompson: Rabbitohs, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Michael Chammas: Panthers, Eels, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Dolphins, Tigers, Dragons, Storm
Billy Slater: Panthers, Broncos, Sharks, Knights, Titans, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
Ben Glover: Rabbitohs, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm
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