29th Apr 2026
Ding dong Witch is Dead
After 27 years the longest losing streak is finally over when South Sydney beat Melbourne in convincing fashion. It was a powerful display across the paddock as we scored 5 tries down the left and 4 tries down the right side. It was great to see the team not let in pointsjust before the break too. Defence was outstanding, as the team started to learn how to play as a team. The focus now shifts to making the finals for the first time in 4 years. 9 more wins to make the finals. Off to Newcastle to play a Knights team who are on the edge of the 8 again.
Duncan hattrick, Johnston and Graham doubles
In a try scoring frenzy it was Tallis Duncan with running onto short balls that caused constant havoc with the Storm. Twice on the right side he broke the line to score at right second row, the he popped up on the left at centre to score his first career hatrick. He is developing into one of the best young second rowers in the game. While on both wings we saw South Sydney score doubles with AJ once again crossing early in the game for another career double on the left wingand then Graham did the same on the right wing. The team is starting hum again and it is great to watch.
Fletcher hattrick
In reserve grade it was a man of the match performance by Thomas Fletcher who was playing left second rower this week, who combined well on the left to score three runaway tries. The first was a stumbling effort to score. While the second was a well worked blindside play for him to run and score on a injured ankle. While the third won a tight contest in another blindside play to score the winning try. It is now 5 wins in a row for our reserve grade outfit.
U19 SG Ball bow out
Our U19 bowed out after a successful season one game short the grand final once again this year. They showed a lot of ability through the year with some stars coming through. The top point scorer for the season was Dayne Jennings with 60 points from 4 tries and 22 goals. Taj Alvarez finished the season as top try scorer with 12 tries. Well done to everyone on a good year.
U17 Matts bow out
Our U17 boys also lost in a very tight contest, to the minor premiers They had improved significantly as the season progressed with a number of players shining. The top point and try scorer for the year was Payton Tarau who scored 87 points from 8 tries, 27 goals and 1 field goal. Again well done to everyone involved, another good year.
No football on ANZAC Day Holiday
With a public holiday being announced for monday after ANZAC Day, the NRL lost a opportunity to host a game on the long weekend monday. The NRL should use this opportunity to spread games next year, as Monday was a non sport day. It was a perfect opportunity to say move the Friday 6pm game to Monday.
Round 8 - Stat Attack
Statistically it was a very good game. Completions dropped to 81% from 85% last week. Errors dropped to 9 from 6 last week. We gave away 8 penalties and 5 6-again calls from 13 last week. Souths Effective 1st tackle improved to a good level of 28.9m from 30.0m last week. Our missed tackles dropped to a very poor level of 39 from 22 last week. Opposition offloads improved to 8 from 15 last week.
Looking at our left side defence - Johnston-Mitchell-Walker-Murray/Aitken (1-1-1-4) dropped to 7 from 2 missed tackles last week. On the right side Graham-Wighton-Humphreys/Sullivan-Duncan (1-3-5-5) dropped to 14 from 8 last week. Ruck defence Tatola/Koloamatangi-Garlick/Sullivan-Keppie/Aitken-Smith/Hubner (3-2-6-5) dropped to 16 from 10 missed tackles last week.
Our go forward improved to 2100m from 2029m last week. With our props go forward improved to a good level of 474m compared to 385m last week. Koloamatangi, Tatola, Dufty, Johnston, Mitchell and Wighton made 10+m per run. Koloamatangi, Tatola, Duncan, Hubner, Aitken, Dufty, Johnston, Mitchell, Graham, Wighton and Walker made 100+m in the match. Dufty made 300+m in the match. Koloamatangi made 200+m in the match. Defensively Garlick was our best in the tackling raking up 33 tackles. No one didn't miss a tackle.
none
Rd06 Canberra PrSt L 34-36 Rd07 St Geo-Ill StAu W 30-12 Rd08 Melbourne MRSt W 48-6
Rd06 Wests-Tig Camp L 22-42 Rd07 Syd Rstrs SFS2 L 24-38 Rd08 Penrith NISC L 12-44
2023 Rd25 NISC L 10-29 29,018 G.Atkins 2024 Rd25 StAu L 16-36 9,659 C.Butler 2025 Rd09 LngS L 4-30 50,638 L.Kennedy
First Grade Pe 6A SB OR SO
2024 Rd22 Cronulla Ende L 6-20 12,753 Referee 7-7 5-2 - 2 - :
2025 Rd09 Newcastle LngS L 4-30 50,638 Referee 3-3 5-3 - 1 - :
2026 Rd06 Canberra PrSt L 34-36 33,404 Referee 3-3 2-1 - - - :
M W D L : PeW PeD PeL PeF PeA : 6AW 6AD 6AL 6AF 6AA : SB OR SO
v Newcastle 1 - - 1 0% : - 1 - 3 3 50% : 1 - - 5 3 63% : - 1 -
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