The South Sydney Rabbitohs have overcome an error-riddled and ill-disciplined first half to beat a spirited Newcastle Knights team 24-18 in Newcastle.
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Final score
Newcastle Knights 18
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24
The Newcastle Knights host the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 3 of the 2017 NRL premiership. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:30pm (AEDT).
For the first time since Round 7 last year, the Knights will go into the match on the back of a win, after their victory at home over the Titans last week.
Souths also had their first win of the season last week, against Manly.
Both teams lost in the opening round – the Knights went down in a close match against the Warriors in New Zealand, while Souths were well beaten by the Tigers at ANZ Stadium.
Neither side has any injury concerns from last week and could go into the match with unchanged line-ups, with the Bunnies favourites.
The Rabbitohs’ new look spine of Alex Johnston, Cody Walker, Adam Reynolds, Robbie Farah and Damien Cook combined well last week, especially in the last 20 minutes, and Johnston scored two tries. Farah will be playing his 250th NRL game this week.
For the Knights, popular winger Nathan Ross will be looking to continue his good form after scoring two tries against the Titans last week.
Former Sea Eagle Jamie Buhrer already appears to have had a positive influence, both on and off the field since joining Newcastle this season.
Prediction
Souths should be too strong, but Newcastle will be competitive for most of the match.
Rabbitohs by 10.
Join The Roar from 4:30pm (AEDT) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
The eye
Guest
and,who said it..JT says that and the ref would apologize..
Alex L
Roar Rookie
That was an easy use of the bin for the refs. It's not hard to use the bin when the games over. I'll be amazed if they use it when it actually matters based on the Thursday game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on this afternoon’s coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Good point!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report Souths 24 Newcastle 18 Souths have overcome an error riddled and ill-disciplined first half to beat a spirited Knights team 24-18 in Newcastle. The Rabbitohs trailed 12-10 at halftime after they had scored the first two tries of the match. They completed just 45% of their sets in the first half and conceded far too many silly penalties. Newcastle looked to be in trouble when Alex Johnston and John Sutton scored tries to take Souths out to an early 10-nil lead. The turning point in the half came when George Burgess made an error off the restart and then threw an elbow at Mitch Barnett in frustration. That saw him put on report as well as earning himself 10 minutes in the sin bin. It’s likely he’ll face suspension for his brain explosion in the coming weeks. Soon after, Trent Hodkinson and Peter Mata’utia scored to put the Knights back in the match. George Burgess had a chance to redeem himself on half-time, but he was ruled to lose control of the ball when trying to score a try that would have taken Souths into the sheds with the lead. In the second half, Souths pinned the Knights in the in goal from the kick-off. From the ensuing dropout set, Cody Walker put a deft grubber over for Bryson Goodwin to score. Adam Reynolds threw a great ball to put winger Braidon Burns over soon after, and Souths were in front 22-12. Trent Hodkinson was sin binned with 10 minutes to go for back chat, but the Knights showed plenty of heart in fighting all the way to the final hooter. A try and a brilliant sideline conversion from Brock Lamb reduced the margin to 24-18, but Souths hung on to take the two points. Both sides will be unhappy with their ball handling throughout the match, but the Newcastle fans will once again be happy with the effort shown by their rebuilding team.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Its about time the refs used the sin bin!!! But of course it always has to happen after a scandalous big game like the one between the Storm and the Broncos, to whom these rules never apply!!!
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Back in the "good ol' days" we would accept what the ref said and move on. A couple back chatted in the old days but nowhere near what it is like now.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and its victory for Souths! Newcastle 18 Souths 24
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79’ Newcastle cough up the ball trying to throw it around. Souths back in possession and should be able to close it out. Newcastle 18 Souths 24
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Great grubber kick from Jamie Buhrer and a great chase and grounding by Sio. Brock Lamb converts from the sideline with Hodkinson being in the sin bin! There’s still hope for the Knights! Newcastle 18 Souths 24
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ Green light! Try! Newcastle 16 Souths 24 Kick to come.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ Try Newcastle !! (Ken Sio) – pending bunker review.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I think he said "you cost us the game".
John Coomer
Roar Guru
76’ Newcastle pin Souths in the in goal to earn a restart set. Great defensive work by Mitch Barnett. Newcastle 12 Souths 24
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Yes, ridiculous.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
74’ Newcastle defence just hangs on in the restart set. Now back in possession. Newcastle 12 Souths 24
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I think it would depend on what he said.
Jeff Davis
Guest
Apparently a blatant forearm to the head and talking back to the ref are equal offenses. What a joke
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Perhaps just a safe use of the bin given the game is over. Cynic in me says it'll be used in a stat.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
72’ Reynolds slots the easy penalty. Newcastle 12 Souths 24