Women Victorious, Men Outgunned by Panthers

It was a mixed weekend for the South Sydney Rabbitohs Pathways sides, with the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership team kicking off their season in style with a thrilling two-point win over the Magpies, while both the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup teams went down to the Penrith Panthers at Parker Street Reserve.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ NSW Cup open men’s team mounted a late comeback but fell short to the Penrith Panthers, going down 30-points-to-26 at Parker Street Reserve in Penrith.

Both teams scored five tries a-piece with all of Penrith’s 30 points coming in the first half, leading 30-16 at the break.

Late tries to prop Tayson Fakaosi and winger Declan Casey gave the Rabbitohs a sniff of victory, but is was not to be on this occasion.

Casey, Fullback Ammaron Gudgeon, centre Carson Kaho, five-eighth Lewis Dodd, prop Tim Johannssen, lock Shaquai Mitchell, second rowers Thomas Fletcher and Henry O’Kane and hooker Peter Mamouzelos were rated the Rabbitohs’ best on the night.

Penrith Panthers 30 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 26 (Declan Casey, Ashton Ward, Shaquai Mitchell, Tayson Fakaosi, Declan Casey tries; Ashton Ward 3 goals)

The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Jersey Flegg Cup under 21s men’s team fell to the Penrith Panthers, 46 points to 18, at Parker Street Reserve in Penrith on Friday night.

The Panthers led 24-nil at the half time break, scoring eight-tries-to-three in the end to seal a dominant win.

Hooker Yehya Ayache scored a double for South Sydney, but it was not enough to get the Rabbitohs over the line in round 18.

Ayache, fullback Charlie Poynton, winger Bailey Trew, prop Nazareth Taua, back rower Caelis Samuel and lock Devante Mihinui were the Rabbitohs’ best on field.

Penrith Panthers 46 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 18 (Yehya Ayache 2, Daniel Wright tries; Charlie Poynton 3 goals)

The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership team opened their 2025 campaign with a thrilling 22-20 victory over the Magpies at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on Friday night.

In a tough and physical contest, the Rabbitohs showed great resilience after falling behind 10-0 in the opening 15 minutes. Souths responded with three unanswered tries before the break — to centre Rebecca O’Brien, five-eighth Kiara McGregor, and hooker Rebecca Riley — to take a 16-10 lead into half-time.

The Magpies hit back in the second half to level the scores, but the Rabbitohs sealed the result in the 61st minute when Seli Mailangi crossed following a powerful line break from McGregor.

It was a real team performance from the Red and Green, with several players standing tall in key moments.

Rebecca O’Brien had a standout performance in the centres, scoring the first try, carrying strongly throughout, and delivering a rock-solid defensive display. Hannah Kalland was immense in the middle, playing the full 70 minutes at lock and contributing heavily in both attack and defence. Also among the Rabbitohs’ best were McGregor, Mailangi, fullback Kiana Rae and Riley in a gutsy team-first effort to kick off the season.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 defeated Magpies 20 (Rebecca O’Brien, Kiara McGregor, Rebecca Riley, Seli Mailangi tries; Kiara McGregor 3 goals)