South Sydney have set up a final round blockbuster to decide the NRL minor premiership after overcoming an almighty scare to down Wests Tigers 32-18 on Friday night.
The Rabbitohs will host arch-rivals Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium next Friday with the winner to finish the regular season in top spot – an epic entree ahead of a tantalising finals series.
It was a scenario which seemed a long way off when the Bunnies trailed 18-0 after just 14 minutes – the Tigers running in three tries while Englishman Sam Burgess spent ten minutes off the field for what seemed a harsh sin-binning.
He repaid his teammates with a powerful second-half try to lock things up at 18-all early in the second half – brother Luke completing a memorable night for the family with his first NRL try in the dying stages.
What shaped as a night of celebration as the four Burgess brothers took the field together for the first time – matching a feat not accomplished in 103 years – threatened to turn into a nightmare during the unexpected early onslaught.
Sam Burgess – in his first game back from a two-game suspension for his infamous squirrel grip on Melbourne’s Will Chambers – was binned in just the fourth minute after laying down too long on James Tedesco after a long break.
By the time he ran back on after serving his time, Ben Murdoch-Masila was scoring the Tigers’ third try in seven minutes.
A loss could have left the Bunnies struggling to hold onto second spot – but two tries before the break, including a late Dylan Farrell four-pointer after Lote Tuqiri had an airswing at cleaning up an Adam Reynolds kick, invited the visitors back into the contest.
While they were made to work for it – as evidenced by the fact Reynolds had to kick a 41 metres penalty goal to give them their first lead in the 66th minute – a Souths win always seemed likely from there.
And so it proved to be as Nathan Merritt and Luke Burgess crossed late, the latter’s try sending mother Julie – sitting in owner Russell Crowe’s private box – into hysterics.
It set up another special moment for the four brothers as Sam joined the other three on the field for the final minutes – one special set featuring five Burgess hit-ups.
Sam Burgess was still scratching his head over the sin-binning after the contest, but it failed to spoil a special night
“It’s certainly disappointing to get ten minutes,” Burgess said.
“I didn’t say a word. I’m a bit confused.
“Madge (coach Michael Maguire) got us all out there at the same time which was a pretty cool moment, it’s going to be one that we’ll remember for a while, we certainly enjoyed that.”
Maguire admitted it was now all before his troops with the minor premiership on the line.
“It’s a great opportunity for the club, the players and another important game,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere and have that finals feel.
“The boys want to be able to add a little bit of that history along the way.”
It wasn’t the Sydney send off Benji Marshall wanted in his 200th and penultimate game for the club, but he did give the fans something to savour spending 45 minutes on the ground after the game thanking his fans.
Pest
Guest
Oh congrats you've fixed ya lisp ,,,, Public Heath system rocks
john badseed
Guest
obviously takes more than 40 years to learn some humility
Jim
Guest
Of course. Actually the rabbits are such a dud team , without the help of the refs and the media and the nrl all at the behest of an unheard of alliance between the illuminati the masons and zionists, they'd be lucky to get the wooden spoon. Have you ever actually watched a game of footy, papa curt ?
Papa Curt
Guest
Souths won off the back of possession given by the large number of penalties.
timmy
Guest
Its hard to accept the Bunnies are going to win the GF.
aaron
Guest
flamethrower who would show the games on tv
timmy
Guest
Its always easy for losers to blame the Ref's.
aaron
Guest
well said
aaron
Guest
tigers can only score when souths were down to 12 men so how would they have won if they won the penalties souths were to classy
Jim
Guest
Checking twitter while at the footy pest. Or at home with your fousands of dollars worth of "merchandise" ?
Pest
Guest
T T T T T T T I M M Y
Shag On A Rock
Guest
Tigers got one penalty in the last 77 minutes of the game. If Tigers won the penalties 9-2 like Souths did, Tigers would have easily won the game.
Shag On A Rock
Guest
The refs always looks after Souths. Now be sick.
Bluebag
Guest
Tigers played really well and fully tested one of the comp's best teams. Souths responded to the challenge and toughed out a win. It was simply a real good game of footy. Tigers have promise for next year, Bunnies are hoping for something this season
chris
Guest
Another knew the NRL employed a script writer from 'Home and Away'.
timmy
Guest
Hey Pest , You need to grow up mate.
timmy
Guest
Smart move by Souths to sit back and let the Tigers run out of puff. Ref's did their best to help the Tigers but the Bunnies are a GF team in the making. Bunnies were just to much for the Tigers to handle.
aaron
Guest
the tigers only scored when souths were down to 12 men I am sick of people always saying the refs look after souths jealous perhaps
Terry
Guest
79:30 mark, Matt Bell is tackled by all 4 brothers at once and not surprisingly is driven back and loses the ball..... that's gotta hurt. Little bit of history for him though i guess.
Pest
Guest
Hurts having to wait 42 years to achieve the ultimate, hurts when the "pride of the league " is booted out, ha ha , wouldn't be smiling yet girlies , nothin archived to date , what have you won , home and away , big deal after next week the chooks will bash you that hard poor greggie won't be walkn , By the way your taxes are promised to improve Brookie , LNP and ALP are throwing YOUR $$$$ at us ,,, thanks girls