The Eels may be favourites, but history tells a different story. Since 2017, they’ve beaten Souths outside Parramatta just once leaking around 40pg. Over the last nine meetings, they’ve managed only a single win in 2023.
Souths will be fired up, not just for the occasion but also for Alex Johnston, who needs three tries to equal Ken Irvine’s premiership record.
They have won almost every Indigenous Round (9 of 11), while the Eels less than half (5 of 11). Souths also have the wood on the Eels (3 of 4) for their Indigenous Round clashes.
Both sides come off nail-biters last week. The Eels edged the Cowboys 19–18, while Souths snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 22–20 win over the Titans, boosted by the return of Latrell Mitchell and Humpreys.
Expect fireworks.
Team Lists
Souths v Eels, Saturday, 16 August 2025, 7:35pm AEST, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Weather: Windy 20-25kmh, earlier rain, coolish 10-11C, 50% humidity
Sportsbet: Eels $1.63, Souths $2.28
Referees: Gerard Sutton (on-field), Matt Noyen (bunker), Drew Oultram & Kasey Badger (touch judges)
| Souths: | Eels: |
| 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Ashton Ward 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Siliva Havili 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Sean Keppie 11. Jacob Host 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Jai Arrow Bench: 14. Shaquai Mitchell 15. Liam Le Blanc 16. Brandon Smith 17. Thomas Fletcher Extended Bench: 18. Tyrone Munro 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Salesi Ataata 21. Haizyn Mellars 22. Cody Walker Cut: TBC |
1. Joash Papali’i 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Dylan Brown 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dean Hawkins 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Luca Moretti Bench: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Dylan Walker 16. Matt Doorey 17. Kelma Tuilagi Extended Reserves: 18. Jordan Samrani 19. Dan Keir 20. Haze Dunster 21. Isaiah Iongi 22. Toni Mataele Cut: TBC |
| Coach: Wayne Bennett |
Coach: Jason Ryles
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Ins: Shaquai Mitchell , Cody Walker (returning from a hamstring injury) |
Ins: Isaiah Iongi (returning from a hand injury) Outs:None |
Watchlist: Walker and Iongi.
Random Stat: This century, the Eels have only beaten Souths once when trailing at half-time. It was back in 2010, down 2–8.
Holding the Torch
Souths will honour Indigenous icons, with Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman ringing the Legacy Bell alongside Greg Inglis. Tallis Duncan reflected.
“[Freeman’s gold medal] is something you learn about growing up. The run is amazing but then you learn what was behind it… to meet her is pretty special.”
Getty Image: Freeman with Inglis after Souths' 2014 grand final victory.
Edge Battles
On the Cusp of History. Alex Johnston has scored 18 tries in 15 games against the Eels. He will test the Eels right edge.
Johnston and Mitchell form the third-most lethal left edge and will target the Eels’ right edge. A weakness the Cowboys exploited last week for all their three tries. Humphreys may use short kicks, a tactic that’s worked for the Storm and the Cowboys. Papali’i should brace for aerial raids.
Souths’ left edge is also the second-most leaky, giving Moses a chance to hit Lomax, Guymer or Penisini. MOMAX time? Their right edge isn’t much better: another Fox double?
Flying Fox: Addo-Carr has 14 tries in 14 games.
Defensive Trends
Souths have missed more tackles than any team this season and rank second-worst for ineffective ones (nearly 40 a game). The Eels aren’t far behind, sixth-worst, but have shown resilience. Souths’ defence lifted last week, patient, without rushing up, effective sliding, forcing Titans out towards the sidelines and sometimes out. The Eels will need direct running and varied attack, not just sweeping shifts.
Souths have missed more tackles than any team this year and are second-worst for ineffective ones (nearly 40 a game). The Eels are sixth-worst but more resilient.
Last week Souths defended patiently, sliding well and forcing the Titans towards the sideline. The Eels will need to be more direct and use variation, not just sweeping coast-to-coast.
In the Middle
The ruck battle looms large. Ryley Smith has been a standout with Tallyn Da Silva still finding his feet in our systems. Expect Brandon Smith around the 20-minute mark for punch. He made a telling bust last week despite some rust.
Final Word
Souths are a different side with Latrell, Humphreys and Brandon Smith back. Moses’ captaincy will be crucial, leaning on Paulo, Williams, Lomax, Hopgood and Addo-Carr. But the Eels must cut errors as that almost cost them against the Cowboys and Broncos or face the consequences.
Bookies say Eels, history says Souths. Add Indigenous pride, Johnston’s milestone, their returning stars, and it’s set for high drama. Could we see another Moses spray? Latrell fireworks? High shots on Papali’i?
Strap your seatbelts on.
Eels celebrate last week's close encounter against the Cowboys.
Spoon alert Sportsbet: Titans ($1.91), Knights ($2.88), Souths ($5.50), Eels ($23), Cowboys ($71), St George ($251)
Replies
Mitchell is their only threat. A loss here is unacceptable.
I'll admit to the Bunnies being a bogeyman to us in the past, and they have Cody Walker on the reserve bench. I'm also aware their regular wins against us in recent times will garnish confidence in them for this duel.
Usually we meet them at Accor with their olden days rev up club song reminding us of their golden days which also pumps them up.
But this battle will be at Allianz, not so familiar for them.
The last 3 games in particular have seen us do very well and I'm feeling Ryles and Mitchell will be saying "Here's where the rot stops, we are a more resilient team than them and we'll demonstrate that tonite."
We have Longi back among our reserves.
In the past, even when constant finals team, we would lose this more than win. We need to get to a point, for the players present and future, where we win these games, win the games we should win. Many here are pessimistic and to be fair i can see why.
Need to be respected now. It comes beating these teams.
Fair call's Hoey but I think this will be our biggest win of the season.
I saw last weeks game as much harder and the fact that we got away with it as a deserved bonus.
I cannot think of a better team for us to play at this stage, I do have respect for what Latrell brings to them in confidence terms. I am not concerned with the indigeiness aspects just the effect of Latrell......who will rid me of this troublesome pest? No! not you Wiz,.... Latrell!
I feel Souths gave their all last week. We were off our game. Good for us to have an off week, after 2 decent weeks, and get a win from it.
Season is gone but seems many are trying to keep a spot. Iongi will be a big in. We beat Souths away from at Allianz. But I do also know out of all the teams in the comp, one we barely beat is Souths.
The one certainty is that there will be long passes to Johnston from Latrell. I would be alert for an intercept just inside Johnston (with a bit of cover defence just in case)
The only threat to us in this game is US.
If we play and execute I think we have a field day against these jokers.
If we want a side like South's like we did last week against the Cows and cough up cheap ball then well the game can go either way.Make no mistake we are and have been the better side the last 2 weeks we need to embrace that and learn to win games we should.
The only pressure here is all on us as above if we execute and do the basics correctly we'll win and win well..
South Sydney are Parramatta's ultimate bogey side. Let's look at some of their recent wins over Parra. 42-24, 38-0, 38-24, 38-20, 26-0, 40-12, 30-12, 42-26, 32-16
South's have owned us in recent years because they had a good team in its prime, the current Souths team is far from that and hardly has a forward pack right now. If the officials aren't to heavily in Souths favour we should overpower them
We played them last year when they had 10 players out and they even had a third choice halfback yet still put 40 fucking points on us.
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