THURSDAY AUGUST 21st 2025 Accor Stadium, Sydney, 7.50pm.
History Beckons for Johnston as Rabbitohs and Dragons Rekindle Rivalry
The lights of Accor Stadium will burn bright on Thursday night as Round 25 kicks off with a clash steeped in history and emotion. At the centre of it all stands Alex Johnston, the Rabbitohs’ try-scoring machine, who edges ever closer to rugby league immortality. Four tries separate him from Ken Irvine’s seemingly untouchable record of 212, yet the Bunnies’ winger has endured a rare drought, held scoreless in last weekend’s grinding 20-16 win over the Eels.
That victory was South Sydney’s eighth of a turbulent season, one that has tested their resilience through injury setbacks and pressure from the cellar. The result moved them four points clear of the Titans at the foot of the ladder, and with only the Dragons, Roosters, and a Round 26 bye remaining, every contest now carries weight—not for finals, but for pride and legacy.
The Dragons arrive with their own fire, having toppled the Sharks and Raiders before falling narrowly to the Warriors. Old rivals by tradition and temperament, they have not forgotten the heartache of Round 2 at WIN Stadium, when the Rabbitohs escaped with a one-point win. Thursday is their chance at revenge.
South Sydney, battered but never beaten, welcome a massive boost in the return of Keaon Koloamatangi, who defied early fears of a season-ending ankle injury. Tallis Duncan, pressed into centre duty after Bayleigh Bentley-Hape’s concussion, retains his spot, while Lachlan Hubner’s comeback allows Jai Arrow to shift into the second row. Cody Walker and Brandon Smith are again primed to inject energy off the bench, though the Bunnies will continue without their talisman Latrell Mitchell, sidelined with a back complaint.
For Johnston, for the Rabbitohs, and for the Dragons, Thursday night is more than a game—it’s a chapter in a rivalry where pride, payback, and history are all on the line.
Souths
1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Ashton Ward 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Jacob Host, 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner Bench: 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Brandon Smith 16. Cody Walker 17. Thomas Fletcher Reserves: 18. Shaquai Mitchell 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Salesi Ataata , 21. Haizyn Mellars 22. Lewis Dodd.
Dragons Reshuffle as Injuries Force Fresh Faces into the Pack
The Dragons’ preparations for Thursday night have been anything but smooth, with Hamish Stewart, Jack de Belin, and Hame Sele all sidelined under the concussion protocol. Their absence has forced a major reshuffle in the forward pack, opening the door for fresh opportunities.
Jacob Halangahu and veteran enforcer Ben Murdoch-Masila step straight into the starting back row, bringing a mix of youthful energy and hard-edged experience. Up front, Blake Lawrie’s return adds grit and leadership from the interchange bench, a welcome reinforcement for a side that thrives on toughness in the middle.
There’s also a touch of unpredictability with Tyrell Sloan named among the reserves after serving as 18th man last week. His inclusion adds spark and versatility to the Dragons’ lineup, hinting at a game plan that could shift gears quickly if needed.
For the Red V, it’s a test of depth and resilience—reshaped by circumstance but still brimming with determination to take the fight to their oldest rivals.
Dragons
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Hayden Buchanan 4. Mathew Feagai, 5. Corey Allan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook, 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jacob Halangahu 13. Ben Murdoch-Masila, Bench: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 17. Tyrell Sloan, Reserves: 18. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 19. Viliami Fifita 20. Nathan Lawson 21. Lachlan Ilias.
Key Stats
The Rabbitohs are aiming for three successive wins for the first time in 2025.
The Dragons have not defeated the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium since 2013.
Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 95 tries in 97 games at Accor Stadium.
Dragons centre Mat Feagai has scored four tries in his last four games.
Wayne Bennett will coach his 100th game with the Rabbitohs.
Officials
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Touch Judges, Belinda Sharpe, Chris Sutton ,Bunker, Chris Butler.
Rabbitohs Ride Momentum as Dragons Fight to Keep Faint Finals Dream Alive
South Sydney’s late-season surge rolled on last week with a gritty win over the Eels, achieved without superstar Latrell Mitchell. It was another reminder of the Rabbitohs’ resilience, their ability to scrap for points despite a year scarred by injuries and setbacks.
Across the Tasman, the Dragons looked poised to shock the Warriors in New Zealand. For long stretches they had the home side rattled, only for a string of head knocks to rob them of key forwards. With their pack decimated, they simply ran out of steam, watching a golden opportunity slip through their fingers.
Now the equation is brutally simple: the Dragons must win to keep their wafer-thin finals hopes alive. For the Rabbitohs, the stakes are different but no less important—momentum is building, and every performance feels like a foundation stone for a brighter 2026 campaign.
The stage is set for another bruising chapter in this rivalry, with pride, history, and a season’s direction on the line.
Tip: Dragons by 1.
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