NRL Match Review: Rabbitohs vs Roosters RD27

South Sydney have suffered a defeat at the hands of their archrivals the Sydney Roosters, going down 36-6 on Friday night at Allianz Stadium in what was their final outing for the season.

While the Rabbitohs were competitive in the first half, it was not enough to get the chocolates in the end as the Roosters came out and scored four unanswered tries in the second half to seal the result.

Jye Gray was a standout performer for the Rabbitohs, as he has been in recent weeks, running for a team high of 200 metres and setting up South Sydney’s only try.

Keaon Koloamatangi too was immense in the middle, playing 80 minutes in the front row, running for 196m and making 39 tackles.

It wasn’t enough to sway the result though, with tries to Daniel Tupou, Connor Watson, Angus Crichton and a hat-trick to Mark Nawaqanitawase proving too much for the Red and Green to overcome.

The Roosters were first to find their way to the line, with an offload from Robert Toia putting Mark Nawaqanitawase into enough space to dive over in the right corner to open the scoring.

The home side had the bulk of the attacking opportunities early on, and South Sydney scrambled well to keep them out several times before Nawaqanitawase broke through for his second of the game with a similar effort 15 minutes later.

The Rabbitohs opened their account in the 24th minute thanks to a brilliant long-range effort from Jye Gray to set up Ashton Ward for the first try of his young NRL career.

Gray got the ball off Ward out the back of shape, using his speed and power to get past Sam Walker and bust into the backfield.

He then put a move on Tedesco at the back, before summing it up perfectly with a pass to Ward, who followed his fullback all the way upfield in support like any good five-eighth should, planting the ball down in the in-goal for South Sydney’s first score of the game.

The momentum of the game began to shift off the back of Cameron Murray, Cody Walker and Brandon Smith all entering the fray in quick succession. Forcing several errors, six again calls and repeat sets, the Rabbitohs enjoyed a glut of possession leading up to halftime.

Although they came close on several occasions – including in the dying seconds of the half when Alex Johnston came within inches of scoring – the Rabbitohs were unable to bag a second try before the break, and went into halftime down 10-6.

The second half started in difficult fashion for the Red and Green, with Jamie Humphreys sin-binned for a hip drop on Siua Wong in the 41st minute.

The Roosters promptly took advantage of the extra space on the field, spreading the ball wide to Daniel Tupou in the next set who scored in the left corner to put his side ahead 16-6 after the successful conversion from Sam Walker.

The Tri Colours continued their ascendency with the one-man advantage, as James Tedesco and Toia combined to set up Conor Watson for a try in the 45th minute.

Jamie Humphreys eventually returned to the field to get his side back to 13-on-13. But this wouldn’t halt the home side’s momentum, as Nawaqanitawase scored his third try of the game in the 52nd minute, leaping high for a Sam Walker kick to plant the ball near the sideline.

Angus Crichton was next to score, combining with Tupou and Tedesco on the left to give his side a 36-6 lead after 64 minutes.

This would be the final scoring play of the game, sealing the 30-point defeat for the Rabbitohs.

Match Snapshot

• The Roosters drew first blood through Mark Nawaqanitawase in the 4th minute.
• Nawaqanitawase crossed for his second try of the game in the 20th minute.
• Jye Gray set Ashton Ward up for South Sydney’s first try of the game in the 24th minute.
• This was the final scoring play of the half, with South Sydney going to the break down 10-6.
• Jamie Humphreys was sent to the sin bin in the 41st minute of the match for a hip drop on Siua Wong.
• The Roosters scored their third try through Daniel Tupou in the 43rd minute.
• Connor Watson was next to cross just two minutes later to give the Roosters a 24-6 lead.
• Nawaqanitawase completed his hat-trick in the 52nd minute.
• Angus Crichton bagged a try off a Tedesco flick pass in the 64th minute for the final try of the game, sealing the result at 36-6.

Play of the Game

Tonight’s Play of the Game goes to South Sydney’s first try of the game – a combined long-range effort from Jye Gray and Ashton Ward in the 24th minute. The Rabbitohs spread the ball to Gray on the right edge early in the set, with the illusive fullback getting through an attempted tackle from Sam Walker to bust into the clear. With some fancy footwork to beat opposition fullback James Tedesco, Gray then unloaded to Ward in support at the perfect time, as he took the ball the final 10m to the in-goal for a try.