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The stage is set for a huge party at the new Sydney Football Stadium on Friday, and while Souths have made the call to include Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook and Campbell Graham will be watching on from the sidelines.
With both the Rabbitohs and Roosters locking up finals berths last week, there was speculation that key players could be rested from either team – and Cook will be among that red and green contingent when the team list is released on Tuesday afternoon.
Their superstar fullback was carefully eased back from a hamstring injury earlier in the year, and while some were speculating he may be spelled due to his absence from training on Tuesday, that is not the case.
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Meanwhile Cook, who was absent for the team’s win over the Cowboys due to a positive COVID test, will not feature – regardless of whether guidelines are changed around isolation.
Graham, who has only just returned from injury and was on the end of a nasty high shot in the dying moments of Saturday’s game, will also not play – with Jaxson Paulo named in the centres against the team he’ll line up for in 2023.
Siliva Havili will again start at hooker while Peter Mamouzelos will come into the team in the No.14 jersey.
There’s never a ‘dead rubber’ between these two teams, but the stakes are relatively low when you consider that at various points in the season this game loomed as one that may determine a top four spot, or if one of the teams involved played finals at all.
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But now, depending on Thursday’s result between Melbourne and the Eels, this game may be almost meaningless.
If Parramatta beat the Storm to secure fourth spot, it means that the two oldest rivals in the league will finish in sixth and seventh, meaning the prize for winning on Friday is hosting next week’s elimination final.
Should Melbourne beat the Eels, the winner on Friday will host either Brisbane or Canberra, while the loser will travel to Parramatta Stadium.
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