The South Sydney Rabbitohs head to Townsville on Sunday to face the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with kick-off set for 4:05pm AEST in a Round 12 match that could reshape the ladder gap between the two sides. South Sydney sit fifth after six wins and four losses from 10 matches, while the Cowboys are seventh with seven wins and four losses from 11 games.

The Rabbitohs are trying to steady themselves after a 10-32 loss to the Dolphins in Round 11. That result ended a strong run that had seen South Sydney win three of their previous four matches, including a 48-6 rout of Melbourne in Round 8 and a 36-12 win over Cronulla-Sutherland in Round 10. They now face a Cowboys team that won the most recent meeting between the clubs, taking a 24-16 result in Round 6 of 2025 at Optus Stadium.

Alex Johnston is back on the left wing in jersey two, Peter Mamouzelos has come into the starting side at hooker in jersey nine and Talanoa Penitani has been named on the right wing in jersey five. Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, Campbell Graham and Jayden Sullivan are all out of the Rabbitohs side, while Jamie Humphreys has been listed on the interchange bench in jersey 16. South Sydney will need that reshuffled backline and bench to hold together against a Cowboys pack that has also made changes.

Jason Taumalolo returns to the Cowboys starting side at lock, while Kai O'Donnell has been added to the interchange bench in jersey 16 and Viliami Vailea takes jersey 14. Reuben Cotter and Braidon Burns are notable omissions from the lineup. Matthew Dufty will also bring up his 100th career NRL appearance if he takes the field on Sunday, adding another milestone to a match that already matters because the two clubs are separated by just two ladder positions. The Cowboys have the chance to strengthen their place in the top eight, while South Sydney need a response that shows the Round 11 setback was a pause rather than a slide.