Rabbitohs v Panthers NRL grand final tips, prediction and betting preview

Welcome to our preview of the South Sydney v Penrith Panthers grand final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Sunday, October 3.

We are set for a cracking grand final with so many interesting story lines, especially that around Souths where master coach Wayne Bennett is in his final game in charge, while beloved halfback Adam Reynolds also play his final match in red and green.

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On the Penrith side, they have been a dominant force in the regular season for the past two years, but of course fell at the final hurdle last season when they lost in the grand final to the Melbourne Storm.

The Panthers exorcised some of those demons with a stirring 10-6 win against the Storm in the preliminary final last weekend, but if they fail in the grand final again it will be a bitter pill to swallow.

Penrith have a couple of players in their final matches before moving elsewhere next season in star utility Matt Burton (Canterbury) and Kurt Capewell (Brisbane Broncos). Souths’ Dane Gagai (Newcastle) and Jaydn Su’A (St George Illawarra) are also moving on. 

Penrith have won five of the past six matches between the teams, with Souths’ 16-10 win in the opening week of the finals breaking a five-match winning run for the Panthers.

The teams met three times during the season, with the Panthers winning 56-12 at Apex Oval in Dubbo in round 11 and 25-12 at Suncorp Stadium in round 23.

But, of course, the finals were turned on their head when the Rabbitohs prevailed 16-10 in Townsville in a qualifying final, a victory which has meant a torrid road to the decider for the Panthers.

The Rabbitohs have a minor score to settle as the Panthers beat them 20-16 in a preliminary final last season.

Team news for Rabbitohs-Panthers grand final

Halfback Adam Reynolds struggled with a groin injury in the preliminary final and the crack goal kicker even handed over goal-kicking duties to young fullback Blake Taaffe.

But Reynolds is in no doubt for the grand final in what will be his final game for the club before joining the Brisbane Broncos next season.

In comparison the Panthers are a little more beaten up after their bruising win over the Storm.

Five-eighth Jarome Luai passed a HIA after a heavy knock but is also in no doubt of playing.

Prop Tevita Pangai jnr has been ruled out with a knee concern, while fellow front-rower James Fisher-Harris has been named to played despite a knee concern of his own. Fellow prop Moses Leota is the replacement for Pangai jnr, although he needs to overcome the calf problem that kept him out of the preliminary final.

Continue reading for our free Souths-Penrith betting tips and winner prediction for their NRL grand final on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

Start:	7:30pm AEST, October 3
Venue:	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Head-to-head odds:	South Sydney ($2.25) v Penrith ($1.68)
Line betting:	South Sydney +3.5 ($1.91) v Penrith -3.5 ($1.95)
Match total:	Over 38 points $1.95, Under 38 points $1.85

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Penrith Panthers tips – NRL GF 2021

Our NRL betting expert has examined the markets and found value Souths-Penrith tips:

South Sydney v Penrith prediction 3/`10/2021

This is the first NRL grand final to be played in Brisbane and the Panthers are warm favourites with Australian betting sites despite coming through three brutal, low-scoring finals to make it to this point. Their defence has been breathtaking in conceding so few tries but the biggest question is can they keep it going for another week? Souths have shrugged off the loss of star fullback Latrell Mitchell to produce two outstanding displays in the finals so far and are on course to give coach Wayne Bennett an eighth NRL title. They will relish being the underdogs even though they have won 14 of their past 15 matches. Somehow they are still under the radar! This should be a cracker and tries will be hard to come by. Our final Souths-Penrith grand final prediction? Rabbitohs by 2 points. 

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