The South Sydney Rabbitohs Canterbury Cup side have recorded a stunning 25-22 comeback victory against the St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium, and reclaiming top spot in the competition.
Much like the NRL side’s victory two days earlier, it was a last-minute play that sealed the match as the Cardinal and Myrtle overcame a 16-4 halftime deficit to claim an unlikely victory.
The match began in the worse possible circumstance, with the side conceding two tries in the first five minutes to give their opponents a 10-nil advantage - with one of them being scored in the first minute.
Not to be deterred though, the Rabbitohs scored their first try through winger Mawene Hiroti in the 23rd minute after both sides struggled to gain any ascendency with the ball.
After that though, the weight of possession went to the Dragons, who would score through Reece Robson and grab a 16-4 half-time lead, with a big mountain to climb for the visiting side.
Fives minutes from the resumption, however, young halfback Blake Taaffe would make his first key play of the match, with as linebreak putting away winger Leigh Higgins and bringing the side back into the contest.
And the Rabbitohs would build from that, scoring two tries to Bayley Sironen and Connor Tracey to see them lead for the first time 22-16 after 62 minutes gone.
But the Dragons would reply just five minutes later with a try of their own, levelling the scores with just over 10 minutes left in the match.
After the sides traded errors, it was Taaffe who would have the composure to slot a field goal with five to go, giving the Rabbitohs a 23-22 lead, and a penalty goal just before the final siren saw the Red and Green victorious, 25-22 in a famous victory.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 25 (Mawene Hiroti, Leigh Higgins, Bayley Sironen, Connor Tracey tries; Mawene Hiroti 3 goals; Mawene Hiroti penalty goal; Blake Taaffe field goal)
def
St George Illawarra Dragons 22 (Lachlan Maranta, Jonus Pearson, Reece Robson, Jai Field tries; Tristan Sailor 3 goals)
