The South Sydney Rabbitohs have stormed to their 10th consecutive win for the 2021 season defeating the Gold Coast Titans 36 points to 6 on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon, becoming the first team since 1908 to score 30 points in 8 consecutive games.
Walker, Mitchell, Reynolds and co have been the most prolific point scorers in Rabbitohs history this season, but perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this victory heading towards the finals was the Rabbitohs defense, which put pressure on the Titans to earn their limited opportunities and held them scoreless for 65 minutes.
The Rabbitohs wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with Latrell Mitchell crossing for his 10th try of the season within the first 5 minutes of the match. The Rabbitohs took advantage of a centre field scrum following an error from Tino Fa'asuamaleaui working the ball away from the Titans try line, and Damien Cook turned Latrell inside creating enough space for him to power over the try line, and the Rabbitohs were away.
The match became an arm wrestle for the next 15 minutes with both sides struggling to complete their sets and capitalize on their opportunities. The Rabbitohs breached the Titans' try line twice on consecutive sets only to be disallowed by the bunker on both occasions, and the Titans had a chance to hit back only for Beau Fermor to kick the ball dead handing the Rabbitohs a 7 tackle set.
As has been the story for most of the season, the breakthrough came from the Rabbitohs left edge with Josh Mansour on the back of a signature sweeping play initiated by Cam Murray at first receiver and with Cody Walker supplying the last pass.
The Rabbitohs had better luck the next time the bunker was involved with Adam Reynolds picking up a four-pointer in unusual fashion. Keaon Koloamatangi contested a ball in the air knocking it back into his own head before the Rabbitohs halfback picked up the loose pill to cross under the post.
Reynolds added to his three conversions a few minutes later with a penalty goal to make the scores 20 points to 0, but the Rabbitohs weren't done scoring points for the half with Braidon Burns crossing for his first four-pointer of the season since returning from a knee injury completing a Cody Walker line break to make the score 24 to nil at the break.
Burns went back to back early in the second half with Cody Walker picking up another try assist in the process with his 34th on the year, and with the successful conversion, the Rabbitohs became the first team in history to score 30 points in 8 consecutive games.
The Titans crossed for their first points of the match after 65 minutes with Corey Thompson crossing after some neat play down the Titans left edge following a repeat set. Jaxson Paulo ensured that the Titans didn't make it back-to-back scores a few minutes later chasing down David Peachy who looked destined to score.
Latrell Mitchell put one on a platter for Josh Mansour with a step, a fend, and a flick pass to find the winger untouched for his second, becoming the most prolific point-scoring side in Rabbitohs history and set up a showdown with the second place Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium next Friday night.
