The Rugby League calendar is filled with notable events, but none are quite as significant as the NRL’s yearly Harvey Norman Women in League Round.
There is no end to the contributions made by women to the South Sydney Rabbitohs and to Rugby League in general. From top-tier players, officials, and administrators to the mothers who manage the canteens at their neighborhood football facilities every Sunday for more than half the year, there is no end to what they do.
The Rabbitohs will be hoping to honor the women who make rugby league the greatest game of all time when they play the Sharks at Shark Park this Saturday night. Women in League Round, which is about to enter its 18th year, is the ideal opportunity to do just that.
In addition to honoring the outstanding female athletes, South Sydney has a lot to gain from this matchup. The Rabbitohs, who are currently two victories short of the top eight, will be trying to secure a crucial two points in order to stay within striking distance of a finals berth.
History does not always repeat itself, but South Sydney will be full of confidence from their last visit to the Sharks’ home field, which coincidentally happened to be around the same time period as this weekend’s match. It was the 2023 first round. This time, the Red and Green defeated the host team by a score of 27 points to 18, kicking off their 2023 season in spectacular fashion.
South Sydney started strongly thanks to an early try from Lachlan Ilias, while Keaon Koloamatangi bagged one eight minutes before halftime. Campbell Graham then scored a second-half double to put the game out of the Sharks’ reach. Latrell Mitchell too was instrumental with the boot, kicking five goals and a field goal.
Another source of confidence for South Sydney ahead of this clash is the return of their captain Cameron Murray, who missed the last two games after being suspended in the third Origin game. Murray’s skill, toughness, leadership and never-say-die attitude will all be welcome additions to a South Sydney side looking to make it seven wins from their last nine starts.
Coach Ben Hornby has opted for three other changes to the side that lost to the Raiders in round 21. Richie Kennar returns in the centres after missing last week’s clash due to a head knock sustained in the previous week’s win over the Wests Tigers. This will in turn push Michael Chee Kam to the bench, after filling in at right centre for the injured Kennar last week.
