29th May 2024
Finally a win
What a start as the team responded to the news of their new coach duuring the week. In the first 20 minutes they raced out to a 22 nil lead, on the back of quality possession and sustained pressure. But a unforced error and two tries and a sin bin swung the game, as the Eels responded with 16 points, with injuries to Walker before the game and then Wighton forcing another change with Latrell Mitchell moving to five-eighth. After areschuffle in the backline with AJ at fullback and Cook in the centres, saw a steading of the ship as South Sydney controlled the final 30 minutes of the game to finally record a win, taking out the Interium Coaches Cup. We still have work to do on our defense after a set back, but the week was a step in the right direction as we head into the bye.
AJ 200 senior grade tries
Another try to Alex Johnston saw him score his 200th try across 3 grades for South Sydney, something no one at South Sydney has ever achieved. A fantastic achievement. In first grade the try saw him move to 190 NRL tries and join Billy Slater in second place on the nRL all-time try scorers list. But he also achieved with that try was to equal the most ever tries with a single club. Well done AJ, "The Great".
Keaon double
In a bleak season, one person who has stood out in his go forward has been Keaon Kolomatangi, who this week moved into the middle at lock. He had one of his best ever games, scoring 2 tries and running 231m while playing the full 80 minutes. A great effort from the big man.
Welcome Webster-Mansfield
A new face this week is BJ Brandon Jnr Webster-Mansfield. He is a West-Tigers junior from Campbelltown who had stints with St George-Illawarra and Newcastle before coming over to South Sydney. A center in his junior days he slotted in well on the weekend setting a lovely try for Subloo. We wish him well.
PNG 18th team?
This week there was a big buzz around the former Australia territory of Papua New Guinea getting the 18th NRL licence. The federal government headed by South Sydney fan Albanese, has pledged $600 mil or $60 mil a season into the new team, as part of the aid program to assist in international relationship between the two countries. Rugby League in PNG is a religion and the #1 sport, so it was a matter of time when this would translate into a bigger presence at NRL level. While the deal is politically motivated, ie to stop China building military ports in the Pacific, it will strengthen Rugby League in the region. It is expected to be announced during the 50th International celebrations later in the year. The NRL seems to be on track now for a 20 team competition.
Round 12 - Stat Attack
Statistically it was good game this week. Completions dropped to 81% from 83% last week. Errors improved to 10 from 12 last week. We gave away 5 penalties and 2 6-again calls from 6 last week. Souths Effective 1st tackle was steady at a average level of 30.4m from 30.2m last week. Our missed tackles improved to a good level of 27 from 39 last week. Opposition offloads improved to 8 from 11 last week.
Looking at our left side defence - Johnston/Milne-Milne/Cook-Wighton/LMitchell-Arrow/Duncan (2-5-1-2) was steady at 10 missed tackles again this week. On the right side Gagai-CheeKam-Teaupa-Host (3-4-1-2) improved to 10 from 14 missed tackles last week. Ruck defence Moale/Havili-Cook/Mamouzelos-Keppie/Duncan/Burgess-Koloamatangi (1-2-3-2) improved to 7 from 13 missed tackles last week.
Our go forward dropped to 1583m from 1648m last week. With our props made a good 445m compared to 327m last week. Koloamatangi, Keppie and Havili made 10+m per run. Koloamatangi, Moale, Keppie, Arrow, Milne, CheeKam and L.Mitchell made 100+m in the match. Defensively Koloamatangi was our best in the tackling raking up 33 tackles. Keppie, Mamouzelos and L.Mitchell didn't miss a tackle.
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