Canberra Raiders Host South Sydney Rabbitohs in Milestone Match
The Canberra Raiders will play host to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a highly anticipated match, with the Raiders’ veteran enforcer Josh Papalii set to make history by breaking the club’s all-time appearance record. According to The Stats Zone, Papalii will surpass Jason Croker’s record, which has stood for almost 20 years, as he takes to the field for his 319th game.
In a classy move, Head Coach Ricky Stuart has promoted Papalii to the starting side, marking his first start since Round 7. As a result, Morgan Smithies will move to the bench, with Corey Horsburgh shifting to lock to accommodate Papalii. The rest of the Raiders’ squad remains unchanged, with Kaeo Weekes, Savelio Tamale, and Matthew Timoko set to start in the top three.
The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, will welcome back Cody Walker and Jack Wighton, who will slot immediately into their rightful positions. Bayley Bentley-Hape and Jayden Sullivan will make way, with Sullivan taking up a spot on the bench and Isaiah Tass shifting to the wing. Jye Gray has dropped to the extended bench, while Liam Le Blanc has been promoted from 18th man and joins the interchange bench.
As The Stats Zone reports, the Raiders (2nd) are coming off a thrilling 26-24 victory over the Sydney Roosters in Round 13, their third win on the trot and fourth in five. The Rabbitohs (9th), on the other hand, suffered a high-scoring 36-30 loss to the New Zealand Warriors in Round 13. Their recent form has been up and down, with two wins and five losses in their past two months.
Hudson Young has been in prolific try-scoring form for the Raiders, crossing for 10 tries in his 12 appearances this season. For the Rabbitohs, Alex Johnston (203) tallied three tries in Round 13 to take his total to 8 tries in just 5 games for the 2025 season as he continues to chase the all-time try-scoring record of 212.
The two teams have a history of closely contested matches, with the Raiders defeating the Rabbitohs 32-12 at GIO Stadium in their sole meeting in 2024. The Raiders hold a 37-24 advantage in their overall head-to-head record. As The Stats Zone notes, the Raiders have been formidable, particularly at home, and will be tough to beat. However, the Rabbitohs will be a different proposition with the return of Walker and Wighton.
In a statement, The Stats Zone quotes a source close to the team, saying: "He has been the heart and soul of this team for over a decade, and to now see him stand alone as the club’s most capped player is a proud moment for all of us." With this milestone match, the Raiders will be looking to make it four wins in a row, while the Rabbitohs will be eager to break into the top eight.
Match Details
- Start date/time: 2025-06-08T05:00:00+01:00
- How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Foxtel / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports
- How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – Kayo Sports / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms
Predicted Outcome
According to The Stats Zone, the Canberra Raiders are likely to win this match, given their strong form at home and their recent winning streak. However, the return of Walker and Wighton will make the Rabbitohs a more formidable opponent, and the match is expected to be a closely contested one.
