Panthers v Rabbitohs betting tips, predictions and odds; NRL Rd 23 preview

Welcome to our Penrith v South Sydney predictions, betting tips and odds update for their round-23 clash at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Friday night. 

The teams sit second and third on the table with identical win-loss records and given all finals will probably be played at neutral venues in Queensland, there is not a lot of difference in finishing second or third on the table this season.

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But the winners of the Panthers-Rabbitohs clash will at least have an outside chance of overhauling the Storm in the race for the minor premierships.

It has been an unprecedented season for the dominance of the top three teams, which have lost just eight matches between them after 22 rounds!

Melbourne Storm have lost only to the Eels and Panthers in rounds two and three and they have not lost since.

The Panthers have lost only to Wests Tigers and Cronulla (both during the disrupted Origin period) and also the Storm, while Souths have lost to the Storm twice and Panthers once.

It is important for the Rabbitohs to notch up a win in this one to prove they are genuine chances of upstaging the big two when to comes to finals time this year.

This is the second match of a Friday night double-header at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

The earlier match is also crucial in the race for the finals as fifth-placed Manly take on the ninth-placed Canberra Raiders. The Sea Eagles have been red-hot in the second half of the season but need to win this one to keep the heat on fourth-placed Sydney Roosters.

Penrith have won their past fourth matches against Souths by an average of 14.25 points. That average is blown out by their incredible 56-12 win in round 11 this season.

When the teams met in the finals in 2020, the Panthers won 20-16 in a tense struggle.

Both teams are getting back to full strength with the finals looming, and the Rabbitohs are riding a 10-match winning streak heading into this one.

Rabbitohs regain wing flyer Johnston

Souths have named champion try-scorer and Alex Johnston and Origin centre Dane Gagai to resume after hamstring injuries. Not that Souths’ attack has struggled, but Johnston is their all-time leading try-scorer and has scored 24 tries in his 17 matches this season to lead the NRL.

Rangy centre Campbell Graham is also back after a head knock.

Meanwhile, Penrith regain Origin second-rower Kurt Capewell from a suspension and he is named on the bench, with Izack Tago making way.

Broncos recruit Tevita Pangai jnr  is named as reserve but it’s expected he will find his way into the top 17 for this clash, with one of Scott Sorensen and J’maine Hopgood to miss out.

Read on for our free Panthers v Rabbitohs betting tips, predictions and odds analysis for their NRL round-23 clash from 8.05pm on Friday, August 20. 

Start:	8.05pm AEST, August 20
Venue:	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Head-to-head odds:	Penrith ($1.83) v Souths($2.02)
Line betting:	Penrith -1.5 ($1.95) v Souths +1.5 ($1.85)
Premiership odds:	Penrith $3.80; South Sydney $5

Panthers v Rabbitohs tips

Our NRL betting expert has examined the odds for the Panthers-Souths clash and found some value tips:

Panthers v Rabbitohs prediction 20/8

This should be another classic as we head towards a great finals series, with these two teams plus the Storm seemingly having a mortgage on grand final spots. This one will be important for confidence heading to September. The Rabbitohs look a little closer to full strength now, and should be slightly more cohesive at this stage as the Panthers have chopped and changed a lot of late. Our final Panthers v Rabbitohs prediction? Rabbitohs by 2 points. 

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