The preliminary final between the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs promised such a lot– the oldest foes opening another chapter in the Book of Feuds.
The purist would not have been happy. Errors abounded, the Roosters couldn’t even get close to kicking a goal, trying two kickers who seemed clueless at how to find the black spot on the crossbar.
But what a game! Anybody could have won it up until the Roosters scored their third try and iced the game.
Sydney’s win over their cross-town rivals can be boiled down to three key reasons.
1. The Roosters defence was unbreakable
Souths could not muster a significant line break until John Sutton in the last gasp of the game. They defended three sets on their own goal line in the second half without Souths firing a shot, and in the end the Rabbitohs seemed to have no clue what to do next.
2. Cronk went down
When Cooper Cronk was injured, Luke Keary took over organising the attack and kicking with Cronk-like skill. He had a magnificent game.
3. The Manu factor
Joseph Manu outplayed the usually unbeatable Greg Inglis in both attack and defence. Blake Ferguson’s try resulted from Manu taking on three Souths players and slipping the pass for the try.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
But equally there are three reasons the South lost this do-or-die final.
1. The Burgess boys are burnt out
In the most important match of the year none of them fired a shot. This lack of pressure caused the Roosters’ forwards to get on top of their opponents.
2. Damien Cook was blunted
Cook’s passing game deserted him, and he often wildly missed his man at first receiver. His legendary speed from the ruck was not there, and only once near the end of the game did he make some ground from open play. Credit the defence of East’s forwards; Jake Friend totally outplayed him. Is this next years State of Origin match-up?
3. Reynolds was powerless
Usually the Souths’ attack functions only when Adam Reynolds plays and is fit. This time Adam could do nothing. His kicks were caught, the famous Souths backline sweep was ponderous and ineffective and he never broke the line.
Have a great holiday, Souths. You had a good year, but three hard games in three weeks were too much for everybody’s second favourite team.
Next week with Latrell Mitchell and Dylan Napa in the Roosters side will be a match for defending champions Melbourne Storm.
Bring it on.
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