CAPTAIN’S KNOCK FROM CAM
How good was Cameron Murray?
The skipper had a hand in everything early on and really set the tempo for a dominant performance.
He had three try assists in the first half, hit hard in defence and completely controlled the middle of the field.
That’s the type of form the Rabbitohs are hoping he can maintain with some huge matches coming up over the next few weeks.
EARLY DOMINANCE PUTS GAME AWAY
The first 20 minutes was as good as it gets from South Sydney.
They completed 14 of 15 sets, held 69% of the ball and didn’t give the Warriors an inch, opening up an 18-0 lead and putting the game away there and then.
That caried on for the rest of the first 40, with 10 players running for 60 or more metres, compared to just three from the Warriors.
Souths finished the half with 67% of the ball, almost 700 more run metres and making the visitors complete 93 more tackles.
That figure ballooned out to an incredible 2100 running metres for the contest, one of the biggest figures we’ve seen this season.
It was as clinical as they’ve been all year.
MIDDLE OPENS IT UP FOR BACKS
The middles were simply sublime, led by the likes of Murray, Damien Cook and Tevita Tatola running rampant.
They did it all in that first 20, and then it was the backs turn to take full advantage to close out the first half.
Latrell Mitchell came out of his shell and was electric in the final 10 minutes, busting through the line to score a try only a few can, and then laying one on for Alex Johnston minutes later.
Outside backs scored the last four tries of the afternoon to emphasise the platform they had to work with.
There’s more chance of winning the Lotto than AJ not scoring in a game in the current form he’s in.
DREAM DEBUT FOR THOMPSON
Young Izaac Thompson had a debut outing to remember with a barnstorming try in the second half.
He showed the strength to power over the top of Reece Walsh and make use of limited space to get across the stripe.
While the try was good, his effort in the 71st minute when the result was already to secure to desperately deny Walsh close to the line was just as spectacular.
A diving effort saved a certain try, and despite going down with cramp, he got back up to make another tackle shortly after.
GOING UP IN 6's
While the goalkicking boots weren’t on last week at Shark Park, Mitchell certainly brought them up to the Sunshine Coast.
He slotted all eight conversions for the afternoon, including some wonder strokes from the touchline.
With the make-up of the top four so tight and the Rabbitohs right in the hunt, every point towards a positive differential is vital.
There’s four games remaining against teams in the race for the finals, so Mitchell’s boot and that big win could prove to come in handy.
