The South Sydney Rabbitohs & the Wests Tigers have given us an all-time classic with the Rabbitohs sealing the match in miraculous fashion through a Thomas Burgess try in golden point.
The Wests Tigers would save what was easily their best performance of the 2021 season for the Rabbitohs, but at the end of eighty minutes of madness, the Rabbitohs would walk away with their fifth win of the season.
The match was tight early in the contest with both sides trading blows, it was the Wests Tigers who had a try-scoring opportunity early due to an Alex Johnston error, but the Rabbitohs defense was resolute and James Roberts was bundled into touch.
The Rabbitohs goal-line defense was able to hold as Wests would continue to build pressure early in the half with some deft short kicking from ex Rabbitoh Adam Doueihi earning the Tigers three repeat sets in a row - before a short drop out off the boot of Latrell Mitchell would help the Rabbitohs to regain possession. The grind would continue until the 23rd minute when Cameron Murray would burst through for the opening points of the match and his first points for the season, following an injection of energy from the Rabbitohs bench.
South Sydney would come close to scoring once again in the 30th minute through their prolific left edge, with winger Alex Johnston getting across the stripe in his 150th NRL match, only to place his hand into touch just before getting the ball to the grass.
The disallowed try would prove to be an early swing in momentum, with the Wests Tigers leveling the scores just a few minutes later through Daine Laurie who pounced on the ball following a David Nofoaluma kick on the back of some enterprising play from Luciano Leilua on the Wests Tigers left edge. Latrell Mitchell was placed on report for high contact on Nofoaluma after the kick during the play. Adam Doueihi's conversion was successful bringing the scores to 6 apiece.
The Rabbitohs would put the ball into touch on the full on the ensuing kickoff, before continuing their resolute goal-line defense, and when the siren sounded for the half-time interval the score was locked at 6 all.
The Tigers would open their account in the second half through Luke Garner following some hard running through the middle third of the park from Daine Laurie, & with Doueihi's conversion, the score was soon 12-6 to the visitors.
Latrell Mitchell would provide a moment of brilliance when he managed to turn an attacking kick from the Tigers into an attacking raid by the Rabbitohs, fielding the ball just millimeters from the touchline & before streaking forty meters upfield. Wests would hang on in the ensuing set, pulling Cody Walker down short of the line - & would find the energy to defend their line in the ensuing sets.
The Rabbitohs would eventually breach the Tiger's defense when Dane Gagai would cross following a line break by Cody Walker from a deft pass from front-rower Junior Tatola, & Adam Reynolds would make no mistake with the conversion bringing the scores to 14 - 12 with 12 minutes remaining in the match.
It was Adam Reynolds once again who would level the scores in sensational fashion, slotting his second two-point field goal in as many weeks with five minutes left to play. Just moments later the Rabbitohs would have the opportunity to take the lead, once again from the boot of their captain Adam Reynolds, when Tigers winger Tommy Talau would commit a professional foul while defending his line. The Rabbitohs halfback would provide an uncharacteristic miss with the ensuing shot at goal, & the frantic dying moments of the match continued.
With the Tigers reduced to 12 men for the final moments of regulation, both sides would have opportunities to ice the match, but where unable to finish the job before the full time siren sounded.
It was Rabbitohs prop forward Thomas Burgess who would be the man of the moment, scoring a barnstorming try under the post on the first set of extra time - but the drama hadn't quite ended - with the referee allowing the play to continue, and the Wests Tigers streaking away for what appeared to be the winning play. Upon review, the video referee would overturn the decision & award the Rabbitohs an astounding victory & seal the match as another instant classic between the two sides.
