The South Sydney Rabbitohs have their eyes set on the one that counts following a 26-16 loss to the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
With both sides already set to meet next week in an elimination final, it was merely a case of who would host the blockbuster finals encounter.
Despite being down to 16 men from virtually the opening whistle, the visitors held solid and gave themselves a puncher’s chance late in the contest, largely through the exploits of winger Taane Milne.
Down 26-6 and with half an hour to play, Milne quite literally turned nothing into one of the most extraordinary plays we’ve seen, and a genuine try of the year contender.
Forced to walk the tightrope on the touchline, the winger somehow kept his feet in for two strides, evading the cover defence from the Roosters defenders, and planted the ball over the line for a try.
It would be the first of a double for Milne, who later on finished off a superb long-range effort that saw the Rabbitohs go from one end of the field to the other to set up a grandstand finish.
With a home semi-final on the line, things could not have started worse for the men in the red and green, with captain Cameron Murray taken from the field in just the second play of the game.
A head knock saw him stumble from an attempted tackle on Kevin Naiqama, with a failed HIA ruling him out for the rest of the night and leaving a big hole that only he can fill.
Soon after the home side was able to strike first through former Rabbitoh Angus Crichton, before a chance to equalise was denied by the Bunker.
A backline movement was finished off by Keaon Koloamatangi beating a handful of defenders to power his way to the line, only to be deemed an obstruction for what appeared to be a defensive decision.
A penalty goal and another try saw the Roosters push out their lead to 14-0 after 21 minutes before Souths finally hit back.
They were deep in enemy territory and attacking the line, when a perfectly timed grubber from Latrell Mitchell found an opening in goal, with Peter Mamouzelos getting on the end of it to touch down for a much-needed try.
The task was made much harder with tries on opposite ends of the half-time break stretching the lead right out to 20 points.
Milne’s magic play helped inspire some confidence on the 50-minute mark, and his second after the sin-binning of Mitchell gave some hope, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to overcome the arch enemy.
The two sides are set to meet again next weekend in what is sure to be another packed house at Allianz Stadium in an elimination final blockbuster.
