The South Sydney Rabbitohs Jersey Flegg side have fallen just short against the Newcastle Knights in a 36-32 thriller in Newcastle on Sunday.
With both sides scoring six tries each, a James Tautaiolefua double wasn’t enough for the Rabbitohs as they came close to securing victory after a last-ditch flurry of tries.
The match began hard and fast, with both sides striking within the first four minutes. The Knights would score soon after, but a try to Marc Zaurrini would see the sides level 10-all at the break.
It was a fast and frantic second 35 however, with Blake Taaffe putting the Rabbitohs in front with a try of his own, before the Knights struck back immediately.
Two more tries to the Knights would see the scores blow out to 30-16 with less than 20 left on the clock, before Tautaiolefua’s first try sparked a short-lived comeback with Tevita Taumoepenu also scoring to narrow the deficit.
Their opponents would seal the match with a decisive try just minutes from fulltime, but the young fullback would earn his double with just over a minute and a half remaining, but the Red and Green were unable to snatch a late victory.
Newcastle Knights 36 (Ben Talty 3, Starford Toa, Jaron Purcell, Cameron Davies tries; Cameron Davies 5 goals; Cameron Davies penalty goal)
def
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32 (James Tautaiolefua 2, Muong Dut, Marc Zaurrini, Blake Taaffe, Tevita Taumoepenu tries; Blake Taaffe 4 goals)
