The Newtown Jets will be hoping the home ground advantage works a treat again as they strive for back-to-back wins at Henson Park, when they host the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.
The Rabbitohs will be hoping The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup’s leading try-scorer – South Sydney winger Izaac Thompson – can help propel his side into the top-five with a victory.
The 3pm game will be live streamed on NSWRL TV.
It is a battle between the first-placed Jets and seventh-placed Rabbitohs with the two teams having close defensive records – the Jets have conceded 339 points across 19 rounds, the Rabbitohs 343.
Newtown will need to contain Thompson, who not only has 18 tries but is second in the competition for line breaks with 20.
These two clubs met back in Round Six with South Sydney running away with a 32-10 victory.
But since then they have experienced fluctuating fortunes.
The Rabbitohs snapped a three-match losing streak with a 30-0 victory over Mounties last Saturday, while the Jets have enjoyed wins over the Bulldogs, Mounties, Eels and Bears and will be shooting for a fifth consecutive win.
Jets centre Mawene Hiroti is up against his old club. He had five NRL games for South Sydney before switching to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2020, where he’s played 18 matches in first grade.
Rabbitohs halfback Dean Hawkins is another danger man with 26 try assists to be way out in front in the NSW Cup, with Jets hooker Jayden Berrell the next best with 14.
NSWRL TV schedule
Saturday
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup R20: Newtown Jets v South Sydney Rabbitohs, at Henson Park 3pm
