We all know it is the biggest rivalry in the NRL. South Sydney and their fierce local rivals the Roosters both had a shot at a minor premiership, and knew that a premiership tilt could be built off the back of this hotly contested affair.
A tremendous Thursday night crowd at SFS and millions of television footy lovers built it up to be the biggest spectacle of the season so far, and the match blew open shortly into the second half with one of the tries of the season. Simple but telling.
To read more Brian Smith, outside The Roar, check out his website SmithySpeaks.
We viewers came back from that compulsory ad-at-a-try to Ray ‘Rabbits’ Warren talking to ‘Freddie’ Fittler about biscuits. Apparently ‘Fred’ and Ray have a thing for ‘Fred’s’ desire and ability to suss out a spare biscuit. It’s of great amusement to them obviously. What I felt great about was that they both wanted to share it with me and you in such detail.
Not!
In case you missed it here is what happened before the sensational play that led to Anthony Minichiello scoring an awesome team try for the Roosters.
The unsung front rower in the defending premiers’ pack, Isaac Liu, took a tough carry in his own half on a yardage set by running the good line, short off the dummy half. It was a tougher than usual play as he was confronted by Sam Burgess, marauding from first marker coming out at him to hit from side on. From the front he was faced with Ben Lowe at A – first defender off the ruck on that open side. Lowe may not be as physically scary as Burgess but it was not going to be an easy task. This scenario often ends as mince-meat for opponents of the Rabbits’ famed middle defenders.
Instead Liu, who rarely rates a mention by many more than just the equally famed Channel Nine team, blew it all away. In just a few seconds he capitalised on what his team mates had set up for him over the previous 45 minutes.
He smashed his way through that double contact, left both defenders on the ground behind him, bounced to his feet, before other defenders could get to the scene of this attacking atrocity.
Down and up before any defender could rectify the speed of the play the ball, Isaac Liu had performed with courage, skill and awareness that most other NRL players dream about.
He cracked the team with the best defence in the comp, winning the battle in the middle against the game’s best wrestlers with sheer power based on timing, catch, footwork, foot speed and technique to get the ball back into play.
Others apparently didn’t rate what happened in those few seconds. Sonny Bill Williams and Pearce certainly did, as they recognised the winning of that ruck perfectly as did the dummy half who got the ball to them precisely as they raced over the advantage line as the rest of the fractured Rabbits tried to regain their line to make amends.
They had no chance, as the Roosters skipper arrived right on cue for the inside pass to celebrate game 299 for his only club.
This was just one of approximately 300 plays in this exciting footy match. Plenty of them had real quality about them. The last 15 minutes, when we were listening to what could occur if a, b and c did x, y and z, Souths put together a great fightback. In fact they almost snatched it. But that’s another story missed.
The Roosters looked great for most of this contest. THe Rabbitohs will be looking closely at what didn’t work early, but what did later as they prepare for next week.
The rest of us apparently can look forward to more of the same. Working it out for ourselves as usual, trying to cut through to the footy match. It really could have been far more enjoyable.
Like the Rabbits we can tell ourselves, may be next time. South’s chances are far better than ours I reckon what do you think?
Dr Yes
Guest
The sin-binning wasn't just dumb-luck to the Roosters. It was a Rabbitohs response to Roosters play. Chooks were on top for a period, and Pearce was tackled a couple of metres out early in the tackle count, with passing options, as South's attempted to reset their line. Good odds to score. Auuva's professional foul was an attempt to prevent that. Sure they took advantage of 12 men, but they were also out-playing the full Bunnies team.
Chris morrison
Guest
No sour grapes Muzz, the decision to sin bin was made no worries. Like I said Roosters were good enough to take full advantage of the extra man. I am merely pointing out the fact that as soon as the Kisrosome came back on the field and it was back to 13vs13 Souths steamrolled through the roosters and scored 3 very quick tries. It was the fact that it was 13vs13 that Souths got on top. Not Roosters taking their foot off the pedal.
Muzz
Guest
We opened you up before the sin binning.Points were coming regardless of how many men you had on the field. Just sour grapes from the corner that's made choking an art form.
Chris morrison
Guest
Muzz I think you need a muzzle. Roosters didn't take their foot off the pedal, Souths player just came back on the field making it an even playing field 13vs13. As soon as that happened roosters lost their advantage that they took full advantage of (to their absolute credit) but when they lost the extra man advantage Souths steamrolled them and scored 3 tries in very quick succession.
Muzz
Guest
Who's bragging Steve? Did you see me on the live Blog post game Bragging?You got beaten last night by a better team and had we not taken our foot of the throat it could of been embarrassing for the Bunnies. When looking at the Roosters position on the ladder and their for and against just remember what all the experts have been saying about the hangover that comes with being premiers.Going alright considering the "hangover" "Discrepancies?" - I had SportsEars on during the game and heard Isaac Luke call for the ball before Tupou past it to him. Not only is this illegal and should of been a penalty but also poor form. The Bunnies have a good roster Steve but a trainer as a coach.
steveng
Guest
The Roosters (615) for points only outscored the Rabbits (585) for by 30 points that's nothing to brag about Muzz! But have a look at the Roosters (385) against points in comparison to the Rabbits (361) against points so really there is only 6 points between them and my credibility is pretty sound when they will meet again when the Rabbits wont let the Roosters get off the spit or the charcoals that easy like they did on Thursday night where they gave them 10 minutes with 12 men, a forward pass for a try and all the other discrepancies that the Roosters got away with.
Elma Dudd
Guest
Booooom!!!
Elma Dudd
Guest
Mini put out to pasture? ,,,seriously Casper the way hes playing this year he could get a contract anywhere.
Muzz
Guest
You lost all credibility with your comment last night steve re the Roosters attack - "Their attack leaves lots to be desired" What team has scored the most points this year, Steve?
steveng
Guest
He wasn't that good he dropped the ball and some parts of his game he did look like he was very overwhelmed by the big boys of Souths.
steveng
Guest
You're spot on Jacksyd and it looked forward and very apparent on the Ch 9 TV coverage too, but guess what? Warren Gould Sterlo never even mentioned it and it was so apparent that it went forward and Gould called it a class try and one of the best he's ever seen and that only A. Minichiello could have scored a try like that, blah blah blah, what allot of bull and after that the show just went on with knock-ons given as tries etc etc
steveng
Guest
What about Brad Fittler? That guy just mumbles and is totally incomprehensible and his bias is not what a commentator should show because it’s so apparent when the Panthers are playing Brad is all over them (I know he's a Panther legend but so are other commentators at 9) and then the Roosters are playing he's just a joke. The channel nine commentary of the NRL is absolutely the worst and as Smithy says "Fred’ and Ray have a thing for ‘Fred’s’ desire and ability to suss out a spare biscuit" it’s just going from the sublime to the ridiculous and we as viewers have no other choices but to either mute the sound and/or listen to the other turtle ninja Ray Hadley or the ABC which if I do they are not synchronised with the Ch9 vision, so what are our choices, I think mute is the best one...lol...the only decent commentator is Sterlo who talks some sense and who is really the only one that is upholding the legendary commentators of league like the great Frank Hyde and Rex Mossop who put commentary of the game way before "BISCUITS" and personal dribble.
Muzz
Guest
Good article Brian. What are your thoughts on young Hastings? Last night looked like his 100th + game.He looked so comfortable and composed.Not one bit overwhelmed on what was, a reasonably big stage.
steveng
Guest
If I was a Roosters fan I wouldn't be so overwhelmed because the Roosters didn't look that convincing to me and it amazes me that everybody is already having them winning back to back premierships? The sin binning was the pivotal part of the game and came at stage in the game when Souths were starting to get into gear and on top, but as usual inconsistencies and the ultimate punishment came for an infringement that was hyped up by the press to the NRL after the Canterbury Souths game where Ennis acted like a pork chop, but sin binning is acceptable if its applied consistently especially when Napa was continually barging in tackles and as usual Waerea-Hargr was head hunting like a New Guinean head hunter and numerous other Roosters were continually infringing in tackles. There were allot of bad infringements overlooked by referee Cecchin and touch judges Turner and Munro were non existent and wondered why they were on the field as they didn't assist Cecchin at all. All in all I thought Souths were awful in the first half but I got allot of heart and encouragement as a long time Souths supporter that they will bounce back and as the saying goes "once bitten twice shy" and Souths will not let the Roosters get on top or be caught out like they were on Thursday nights game. Go the Rabbits and the next one next Sunday night will be a different ball game.
HarryT
Guest
Can they take the Gladiator and Mrs Burgess with them? Please.
Casper
Guest
Roger TS is just biding his time while they let Mini have his last moment in the sun. At a less sentimental club or if they had failed last year, Mini would have been put out to pasture for RTS. When I said 'cue in the rack', they mentally relaxed, whether subconsciously or not I don't know. I was also shocked by that gridiron pass but we can't have those touchies actually having to work for their fees, can we. I felt the Roosters were doing everything a bit quicker than the Rabbitohs for 60 minutes of the game but definitely got the rub of the green with the sin bin having a substantial impact on the outcome. Would the bunnies have been able to rattle up those tries if the game was closer, who knows? My view is that of a neutral so they're not comments from club loyalty or through my kick. Guerra's clumsy effort was on a par with Sam Thaiday's but Napa was definitely out there to cause physical damage, was it under orders? Made me recall the old days before interchange when a guy carrying an injury would set out to take someone with him. Friend will be the big loss if he doesn't get back, as will Ballin for the sea eagles. Take out any dummy half who's played all season & you must disrupt the team's organisation.
HarryT
Guest
Smithy, you are right to highlight the work of Isaac Liu, as now more than ever, finals footy revolves around such contests. These days I sit in awe of the intensity of the collisions and it seems incomprehensible to me how these guys back up week after week. Sam Burgess and James Graham smashed each other last week and yet seven days later Sam is ripping in again fresh as a daisy. Unbelievable.
P.Marlowe
Guest
1 week for Guerra with an early guilty plea - wow. I like the guy but that was a pretty ugly tackle.
Benny
Guest
Get over this most penalised side in the comp business. Has anybody actually looked at the stats this year or are they still going of last year. We are not even in the top 3 penalised sides in the comp. One interesting thing though is that we receive the LEAST amount of penalties in the comp, by far. Thats a pretty telling statistic for anybody who thinks the refs like us
Andrew
Guest
We could a repeat of that match (likely to be in this venue) again, if the Dragon win their final game of the reason. This time, a bye week is at stake, rather than a chance at a minor premiership. Otherwise, the Roosters would defended the minor premiership.