Coming off Saturday's dramatic victory against the North Queensland Cowboys, we take a look back and rank some of the best South Sydney Rabbitohs last-play wins in recent memory.
5. Rabbitohs 26-24 Sharks, Round 26 2009 – Geddes' First Try
Pride was on the line for both the Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks heading into the Round 26 clash at Shark Park.
Looking to send off veterans Craig Wing and David Fa'alogo on a high note, Souths overcame a late surge from the Sharks to find themselves down by two right and in front of the try-line in the final minute of play.
With seconds left on the clock, John Sutton sent Scott Geddes over the line to win the match, and ironically gift the stalwart prop his first try for 2009 in the final play of the season.
4. Rabbitohs 23-22 Tigers, Round 10 2009 – Nathan Merritt's Field Goal
The Sydney Cricket Ground has provided some of the best moments in rugby league history, and this occasion is up there with one of the best.
Trailing the Wests Tigers by 12 with less than half an hour left, the Rabbitohs rallied to tie up the scores at 22-22 to set up a grandstand finish. After a Craig Wing field goal attempt went astray, he received the ball again on the next set with just seconds to spare.
But to everyone's surprise, the mercurial half passed it onto winger Nathan Merritt, who kicked the first and only field goal of his career to seal a dramatic 23-22 victory.
3. Rabbitohs 34-30 Tigers, Round 22 2010 – Dylan Farrell's Magic Debut
Called into the NRL squad on game day due to an injury-disrupted lineup, 19-year-old Dylan Farrell would have never thought his first-grade debut would have ended like this.
Down by twelve with less than a quarter of the match left, the Rabbitohs levelled up the match in the last few minutes, putting the contest into Golden Point.
Souths stunned competition heavyweights the Tigers, and the slog continued for all ten minutes of extra time before Rhys Wesser broke through the line in the 90th minute of play.
After throwing a looping pass to Shaune Corrigan, an inside ball saw Farrell cross over for his third try of the night – and the match winner – keeping Souths' finals hopes alive for season 2010.
2. Rabbitohs 24-22 Roosters, Round 19 2012 – You Can Take Me Now I Have Seen It All
It was a victory every Rabbitohs Member and supporter remembers. The Red and Green were flying high coming into this Round 19 clash against a lowly Sydney Roosters side.
After leading 12-4 at halftime, our arch-rivals seemed to rise and with five minutes left in the contest, the scores were at 22-12. Not to be outdone, the Rabbitohs showed why they were top four contenders, and with two minutes left, swung the ball left and scored through Nathan Merritt to bring the deficit to just two.
With less than a minute to go, the Rabbitohs put on a stunning passage of play, going from one end of the field to the other.
Dave Taylor put Chris McQueen through a gap, finding Merritt who found Issac Luke on his inside. Just as he looked to touch down, the wily hooker threw a hail mary pass behind his body, which bounced up and found the arms of Adam Reynolds, who crossed over for the match winner as the siren went off.
With the crowd in absolute raptures, Reynolds booted the game-winning conversion, sinking the Roosters' finals hopes in captain Braith Anasta's 250th match.
1. Rabbitohs 20-19 Cowboys, Round 11 2018 – Penalty Goal Seals Victory
Plenty will find this choice controversial, but in the context of a season, this victory very well could turn out to be season-defining.
Coming off a huge win against the ladder-leading Dragons, the Rabbitohs travelled up to Townsville to take on a Cowboys outfit struggling for form. After scoring the first try, five-eighth Cody Walker was sin-binned for dissent, but that failed to deter the side as they took a 12-8 lead at halftime.
But with injuries to fullback Alex Johnston and lock Sam Burgess putting the side's bench to just two men, fatigue began to take its course as the rejuvenated Cowboys took a 19-18 lead into the last five minutes.
An unfortunate bounce of the ball saw Souths take a drop out with less than a minute to go, but a brilliant play by bench utility Adam Doueihi saw his side regain the ball, and charge their way downfield.
With just seconds left on the clock, halfback Adam Reynolds looked to take the match into Golden Point, before shanking the ball to the right.
Cowboys players and fans rejoiced, only to find that the referee had called a penalty for hooker Jake Granville being offside from the play the ball. Reynolds lined up the penalty kick from out in front, and the Rabbitohs took a giant step into the top four, taking out an unforgettable 20-19.
