Roosters v Rabbitohs NRL finals: Teams on week 2 collision course

Rugby league’s longest and most bitter feud isn’t over just yet with the Roosters and Rabbitohs set to collide for a third time in 2021.

Referee Ashley Klein gets between Joey Manu and Latrell Mitchell. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Round one was marred by a punch to the head and round two with Latrell Mitchell breaking Joey Manu’s face. Now round three could be just a fortnight away.

This could be the most anticipated rematch of rugby league’s modern era. And an irate Sydney Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves would be back, pumped and angry.

The Daily Telegraph has crunched the numbers and it’s now probable that despised rivals South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters will meet again in week two of finals.

The race to the 2021 NRL Telstra Finals Series is on and every game matters. Watch Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Rugby league’s longest and most bitter feud is ready to ignite yet again. While the Roosters prime target, Mitchell, would be suspended, there is every chance the aggression, hatred and animosity will bubble over again.

The realisation these two sides could go to war again has come just as the fallout from Friday night’s Suncorp Stadium powder keg has begun to settle.

“The drama was phenomenal on Friday night and it could be on again,” said former Roosters and Rabbitohs captain, Sean Garlick. “All eyes will be glued to the TV if they meet again in the finals – it will be feisty and fiery.

Referee Ashley Klein gets between Joey Manu and Latrell Mitchell. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

“In terms of theatre, no one watching on Friday night even went to the toilet because you didn’t know what you were going to miss. I couldn’t believe what was unfolding.”

NRL legend and Fox Sports analyst Greg Alexander said: “This is the most famous rivalry in rugby league. This year, it has had more feeling than we thought and I’m sure game three this year, if it happens, would be no different.”

And former Roosters and Souths prop Royce Ayliffe added: “It will be intense if they meet again given what went on last Friday. It’s also a semi-final and will be sudden death.”

During the first game between the two teams in March, Roosters forward Daniel Suluka-Fifita was sin-binned for punching South Sydney’s Jai Arrow in the back of the head.

Round two erupted last Friday night when Mitchell fractured Manu’s cheekbone, causing on-field, sideline, dressing room and press conference chaos.

This year’s drama actually kickstarted last season when Queensland and Souths forward Arrow slammed an already concussed NSW and Roosters champion James Tedesco into the ground during State of Origin III.

There are multiple variables to consider before a Rabbitohs-Roosters rematch is set in place.

It seems more than likely the Roosters will finish in sixth position and Souths will end the regular season in third place.

Should Penrith beat Souths (two versus three) in week one of the finals, as expected, and the Roosters defeat Newcastle (six versus seven), the Rabbitohs and Roosters would clash in week two.

The Roosters could finish as high as fourth but more likely sixth while Souths could finish second but more realistically third.

Latrell Mitchell’s hit on Joey Manu sparked a melee. Picture: Fox Sports

Daniel Suluka-Fifita goes at Jai Arrow. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Injured and suspended Roosters players Waerea-Hargreaves, Angus Crichton and Victor Radley went into meltdown on the sidelines last Friday after Manu was belted out of the game.

“They wanted to storm the field,” Alexander said in commentary.

The trio’s returns will be staggered over the next fortnight but all three will be back for week two of the finals and a possible date with Souths.

Radley and Waerea-Hargreaves will be wild eyed and angry.

Waerea-Hargreaves twice stopped Mitchell trying to speak with Manu post-game.

Mitchell attempted to walk up the Roosters tunnel and then appeared at the Roosters dressing room door but Waerea-Hargreaves told the Souths fullback, in colourful language, that he wasn’t getting anywhere near Manu.

Originally published as Roosters v Rabbitohs NRL finals: Teams on week 2 collision course