Roosters legend Brad Fittler has issued a blunt reality check to the Rabbitohs after the club’s request to train at Allianz Stadium this week was shut down.
The Rabbitohs will on Friday night play the first NRL game at the newly re-opened stadium after an $880 million redevelopment was completed.
The winner of their clash with the Roosters will earn a sixth-placed finish and a week one home final, adding to the stakes of the latest chapter in rugby league’s oldest and most fierce rivalry.
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And the mind games started early, with the Rabbitohs’ attempt to get a feel for the ground blocked, a move that Wide World of Sports’ Mark Levy condemned in his Tuesday column.
Yet, speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth, Fittler wondered why the Rabbitohs expected to have the red carpet rolled out for them given it’s a rarity for any team to train on an opponent’s field.
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“When was the last time someone trained at the opposition ground before a game?” Fittler asked.
“That’s hilarious that they even asked that. As if they’re going to let them train there.”
Andrew Johns disagreed, saying the Roosters were just one of many tenants of the ground.
“Yeah, but it’s not the Roosters’ ground,” he said.
“Yeah it is. It’s their home ground,” Fittler replied. “It’s the state government at the moment holding Souths from coming back to Allianz Stadium.
“They can say what they like. I’m a Rooster, it’s ours. You can come and borrow it.”
Gould finds it difficult to conceive of a Rabbitohs victory.
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Both sides are undermanned, with the Rabbitohs missing their coach Jason Demetriou due to COVID-19 as well as star players Damien Cook (COVID) and Campbell Graham (concussion).
The Roosters, meanwhile, are taking the cautious approach with Joseph Suali’i, who has a shoulder injury, as well Victor Radley (concussion), Daniel Tupou (groin) and Lindsay Collins (suspension).
Regardless of who wins the stadium-opener on Friday night, the Roosters and Rabbitohs will meet again next week in an elimination final.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 25 tips by Andrew Johns and all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Andrew Johns: Eels, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Dragons, Cowboys, Knights, Raiders
Brad Fittler: Eels, Bulldogs, Roosters, Warriors, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Dave Middleton: Storm, Bulldogs, Roosters, Warriors, Dragons, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Wally Lewis: Storm, Bulldogs, Roosters, Warriors, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Billy Slater: Storm, Manly, Roosters, Titans, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Ruan Sims: Storm, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Warriors, Dragons, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Paul Gallen: Eels, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Titans, Cowboys, Dragons, Sharks, Raiders
Darren Lockyer: Storm, Bulldogs, Roosters, Warriors, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Peter Psaltis: Storm, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Titans, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Mat Thompson: Eels, Bulldogs, Roosters, Titans, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Michael Chammas: Eels, Bulldogs, Roosters, Warriors, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Tigers
The Mole: Storm, Bulldogs, Roosters, Warriors, Broncos, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
Ben Glover: Eels, Bulldogs, Roosters, Warriors, Dragons, Cowboys, Sharks, Raiders
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