The Serve

Ray Warren: Tigers to win easy

THE STATEMENT GAME - Wests Tigers v South Sydney

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Ray Warren: Tips round 24

In simple terms, I think the Tigers are a better team. I can see the Tigers winning this game handsomely.

Firstly, they made the right decision staying at Leichhardt. I hate the cavern that is Telstra Stadium. Put 40,000 there and you wouldn’t know it. 20,000 fans might miss out this week, however that home ground advantage might guarantee a finals appearance, and those 20,000 can go to that.

Back to the game, this is a Tigers side that sweats on the availability of its 1,6,7 and 9. Hodgson, Morris, Marshall and Farah. If that’s unbroken, they’re a good team. It’s a quartet that on paper, Souths simply can’t compete with.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m impressed with what the Rabbitohs have done this year. I’m one of the converted. Earlier in the year I thought there was a lot of hullaballoo, a lot of hot air, but generally this was a side that wasn’t going anywhere. Their problem was and still is their three-quarter line, which has a lot of kilomentres of the legs.

The fact is they’re in the eight, and have a genuine shot of making the finals. It’s quite an achievement. To those that are still niggling at Holmes A Court and Crowe for getting publicity, they are just petty and jealous.

While I don’t believe Souths will win this game, I believe they will start favourites against the Roosters and sneak home there, and given I can’t see Brisbane winning at Parramatta in the final round, that would be enough for the Rabbitohs to make it.