NIB Stadium Perth
Fri Jun 24, 7:00pm WST
Late Changes
WIN 16-12
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have recorded their second straight victory at nib Stadium in Perth in consecutive years, registering a 16-12 win over the Brisbane Broncos tonight in absolutely treacherous conditions. The Rabbitohs led 14-6 at the half time break and held on to defeat one of the competitions heavyweight Clubs, notching up their sixth victory of the 2011 season in front of 15,371 brave souls in unbelievably wet conditions. The Rabbitohs dominated in the forwards, laying the platform for halfback Chris Sandow to control the game, ably supported by halves partner John Sutton and centre Greg Inglis. The Rabbitohs started the game on fire, registering their first four-pointer in just the third minute of play when second-rower Chris McQueen charged over after a Broncos turnover. Sandows conversion gave the Rabbitohs an early six-nil lead. Just four minutes later, veteran fullback Rhys Wesser scored after Chris Sandow kicked the ball strongly in what looked a kick that would fly over the dead ball line. But with the rain bucketing down and the pitch heavily water-logged, the ball stopped dead where it landed, providing an open ball in goal for Wesser to pounce upon. Sandow converted to stretch the lead to 12. Seven minutes later the Broncos struck back through centre Jack Reed who scored a contentious benefit-of-the-doubt try to reduce the deficit to six. A Sandow penalty goal late in the half extended the lead to 14-6 at the break, with the Rabbitohs gaining the ascendency. Dave Taylor was particularly damaging in the first 40 minutes, with Issac Luke making some metres up the middle from dummy half. Legendary Bronco Darren Lockyer was quiet in the first 40 minutes, however in the second 40 he threw everything he could at the resilient Rabbitohs. The second half was all about defence for the Rabbitohs, defending their line and in turn defending their lead. Eddy Pettybourne, Issac Luke, Greg Inglis and Chris Sandow all pulled off massive tackles on their own line in the second half to thwart several attacking raids by the Broncos. And down the other end, Ben Ross, Dave Taylor, Michael Crocker and Shannan McPherson made it as difficult as possible for the Broncos to drag themselves out of their own end, building consistent pressure on the boys from Brisbane. Lockyer threw everything he could at the Rabbitohs, mustering his troops and launching raid after raid after raid at the Rabbitohs line. It wasnt until the 59th minute of play, when Broncos hooker Kurt Baptiste dived over from dummy half, that the score would change, and Corey Parkers conversion brought the visitors within two. The Rabbitohs put themselves under pressure with four or five play-the-ball infringements which resulted in turnovers, but their ability to defend their line consistently enabled them to hold their two-point buffer. With less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock, the Broncos gave away a penalty in front of the sticks and with Sandow calmly potting the penalty goal, the Rabbitohs managed to record only their fifth victory against the Broncos since they entered the competition in 1988. The Rabbitohs were so excited with the victory that centre Dylan Farrell threw himself into the puddles in front of the grandstand at nib Stadium, followed closely by Issac Luke and then Head Coach John Lang. The team even sang the victory song twice, once for the team and again with Rabbitohs legend John Sattler listening on the other end of the phone. Coach Lang was full of praise for his charges. Thats the best win weve had since Ive been here, Lang said. I thought we were clearly the better team. Im absolutely rapt with our first half performance. We played as a team and played for each other. Our season changed seven weeks ago against the Sharks when we brought all the young boys in and they showed that true South Sydney spirit. The boys just kept going tonight. Captain Michael Crocker said the energy in the team is infectious. The confidence and energy we have out there in defence is amazing, Crocker said. Issac Luke, Greggy (Inglis) and Chrissy (Sandow) pulling off those big defensive plays was great. The atmosphere was unreal out there despite the weather. Broncos Coach Anthony Griffin also praised the Rabbitohs performance. Their first 15 minutes and their last 15 minutes won them that game, he said. They piled on 12 points in the first 15 and defended for their lives in that last 15. They were just too good for us tonight. Broncos captain Darren Lockyer agreed with his Coach. That first 15 minute hurt us and in conditions like that its hard to pull those points back, Lockyer said. The last 15 minutes was the difference in the game I thought.
McQueen, Wesser tries Sandow 4 from 4 goals Crowd 15,371 Referee J.Robinson / S.Lyons Penalities 6-3 Scrums 6-8 Other FG Matches 16-6 Camp Canterbury b Wests-Tig 36-12 Robi Cronulla b Gold Coast 25-12 Bruc Canberra b Parramatta 16-8 MtSm Melbourne b Warriors 30-20 Penr Penrith b Nth Qld 18-10 NISC Newcastle b Syd Roosters 24-6 Woll St Geo-Ill b Manly
Judiciary News
No one has been charged out of the match.
U20 National Youth Toyota Cup - Round 16
v Brisbane, North Sydney Oval, Sun Jun 26 1:00pm
LOSS 24-32
Late changes - The South Sydney Rabbitohs have fallen to the Brisbane Broncos by 32 points to 24 in the round 16 Toyota Cup match played at North Sydney Oval today (Sunday). Five-eighth Apisai Koroisau scored a double for the Rabbitohs but it was not enough to get the home side over the line.
13 min 0-4
22 min 6-4
25 min 6-10
48 min 12-10
53 min 12-16
55 min 12-22
59 min 18-22
63 min 18-26
75 min 18-32
79 min 24-32
Koroisau 2, Mecham, Jarrett tries
French 3 from 3, Jaeger 1 from 1 goals
Final Line Up
T G/A FG
Flbk - Vale, Kieran - - -
Wing - Sisifa, David - - -
Cntr - Jaeger, Reece - 1/1 -
Cntr - Mecham, Liam 1 - -
Wing - Tongahai, Jordon - - -
5/8 - Koroisau, Apisai 2 - -
Half - French, Kurt - 3/3 -
Prop - England, Scott - - -
Hook - Brennan, Darryl - - -
Prop - Lee Hang, Jack - - -
SRow - Jarrett, Brett 1 - -
SRow - Turner, Kyle - - -
Lock - Ha'angana, Adrian - - - (c)
Int - Bryant, Hamish - - -
Int - Vaingalo, Keliti - - -
Int - Matthews, Blake - - -
Int - Valentino, Johnathan - - -
4 4/4 -
Other NYC Matches
22-18 Camp Wests-Tig b Canterbury
28-16 Robi Cronulla b Gold Coast
40-30 Bruc Canberra b Parramatta
34-16 MtSm Warriors b Melbourne
46-10 Penr Nth Qld b Penrith
26-14 NISC Syd Rstrs b Newcastle
42-24 Woll St Geo-Ill b Manly
Reserve Grade - NSW Cup Round 16
v Canterbury-Bankstown, North Sydney Oval, Sun Jun 26 3:00pm
LOSS 15-32
Late Changes - Hawkins, Falloon, Areaiiti are out, Pettyborne starts wing, MicKinnon hooker, Retzlaff prop, Ryan Apps added to the bench.
60 min 11-14
70 min 11-26
15-32
Judd 2, M.Webster tries
M.Webster 1 from 3 goals
Florimo fieldgoal
Final Line up
T G/A FG
Flbk - Mansour, Josh - - -
Wing - Pettyborne,Kennedy - - -
Cntr - Nichols, Greg - - -
Cntr - Leslie, Bennett - - -
Wing - Johnston, Curtis - - -
5/8 - Florimo, Jay - - 1
Half - Webster, Malcolm 1 1/3 -
Prop - Ranieri, Alex - - -
Hook - McKinnon, Brendan - - -
Prop - Retzlaff, Herman - - -
SRow - Apps, Deon - - - (c)
SRow - Molan, Brock - - -
Lock - Judd, Blake 2 - -
Int - Shearer, Jake - - -
Int - Webster, Dean - - -
Int - Matapuku, Joey - - -
Int - Apps, Ryan - - -
3 1/3 1
Other NSW Cup Matches
58-18 MSm2 Auckland b C Coast
27-20 Hens Cronulla b Manly
28-6 Hens Newtown b Wests
32-22 Wind Wntwrthvll b Windsor