The Raiders will face off against the Rabbitohs for the 53rd time in NRL history this Saturday night at ANZ Stadium. A number of clashes between the two sides have been nail biters, while some have been complete white washes. Let’s take a look at ten of the best matches between the two sides.
10. Raiders 62 d Souths 22 – Canberra Stadium (September 4th, 2004)
It was an 84 point try fest in this Round 26 clash at Canberra Stadium as the Raiders crushed the Rabbits in front of 10,800 people in the nation’s capital. Winger Marshall Chalk claimed 4 tries and Jason Croker and Mark Mclinden both grabbed doubles. The win pushed the Raiders into 8th on the ladder, earning them a Finals spot ahead of the Tigers.
9. Raiders 40 d Souths 25 – ANZ Stadium (August 24th, 2008)
In round 24 of the 2008 NRL season, a win for the Raiders against South Sydney would guarantee Canberra a finals spot. Trailing 19-6 at half time the Raiders came out in the second half and piled on six tries to complete a remarkable turnaround. All of Canberra’s 1 through to 5 (Milne, Best, Monaghan, Kelly and Purtell) scored tries, with winger Adrian Purtell claiming a double.
8. Raiders 7 d by Souths 37 – Redfern Oval (February 27th, 1982)
This was the first ever meeting between the two sides, as the Rabbitohs overcame a 16-9 penalty count to top the Raiders in front of a home crowd of just under 7,000 people at Redfern Oval. Winger Mark Ross bagged a hat-trick whilst Raiders Fullback Gerry De La Cruz scored his sides only try of the match
7. Raiders 6 d Souths 2 – Seiffert Oval (May 27th, 1987)
A cold Sunday afternoon in Queanbeyan saw the Raiders grind out a very low scoring four point win over the Rabbits in front of a crowd of 4,751 people. This match unbelievably saw no tries as two Peter Jackson penalty goals and a Chris O’Sullivan penalty goal edged the Raiders home.
6. Raiders 16 d by Souths 17 – Redfern Oval (March 19th, 1983)
A Ken Wright field goal proved the difference is this round 4 nail biter of the 1983 NRL season. Out of all 52 head to head matches played between these two clubs, this is the only match to have ended in a winning margin of one point.
5. Raiders 24 d Souths 22 – Canberra Stadium (June 3rd, 2006)
It was a round thirteen mid-season clash where poor goal kicking proved to be the difference. Both teams scored four tries each in a match where Clinton Schifcofske kicked 4/4. Joe Williams kicked 3/5 for South’s where a failed attempt at a penalty goal ensured the Raiders would hold on for a one point win
4. Raiders 46 d Souths 6 – Sydney Football Stadium (July 24th, 1994)
In front of 19,000 home South’s supporters, The Rabbitohs were hovering on the edge of the top eight and needed to win against a red hot Raiders side who would eventually go on to lift the Winfield Cup at the end of the season. The Raiders embarrassed the Bunnies as they ran out 40 point winners with Fullback Brett Mullins snaring 4 tries.
3. Raiders 6 d by Souths 11 – Redfern Oval (August 10th, 1986)
In round 23 of the 1986 NRL season, Gary Belcher and Bronko Djura scored each team’s only tries in this clash. It was the only match between the two teams to be scoreless after the first half. Two Neil Baker penalty goals and a field goal gave the Rabbitohs a grinding 5 point win over the Raiders in front of 5,100 people at Redfern.
2. Raiders 54 d Souths 4 – ANZ Stadium (July 31st, 2016)
The last time these two sides met was in round 21 last season and it was all the Green Machine. It was the highest scoring margin ever between the two sides in a match Jordan Rapana and Elliot Whitehead both grabbed doubles. Michael Oldfield was a starting winger for South’s in that game, however will now be starting on the wing for the Raiders this Saturday.
1. Raiders 24 d by Souths 26 – Canberra Stadium (April 25th, 2010)
At half time of this round 7 clash in 2010, The Raiders were coasting along at 24-6 at half time as tries to Croker, Dugan, Thompson and Thurling set up the start of a prosperous Sunday afternoon. However the Rabbits turned it on in the second half to score four tries in a comeback win. Ironically, Dave Taylor scored for the Rabbits in the comeback win.