The South Sydney Rabbitohs have torn through the North Queensland Cowboys 46-18 after the Cowboys actually led the Bunnies 12-2 within the first 20 minutes but faded away thanks to a Cody Walker performance that featured four try assists, five line break assists and zero errors.
Walker put on a masterclass but both Rabbitohs wingers Alex Johnston and Taane Milne scored hat tricks.
Johnston has scored a double or more in five consecutive games with the recently resigned Rabbitohs winger now leading the race for top try scorer of the year.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Nearly all of the Rabbitohs’ back five ran for over 150 metres with Campbell Graham being the only player in the back line who didn’t run for over 100 metres.
Blake Taaffe made his starting debut at fullback and played the full 80 minutes and crossed over for a try in the first half and ran for 180 metres.
With Damien Cook and Cameron Murray missing due to Origin, I thought the Rabbitohs’ defence would be leaky through the middle but second gamer Peter Mamouzelos and Hame Sele really kept the Bunnies’ defence together through the middle with the two players combing for 64 tackles with only three misses.
Second-row forward Keaon Koloamatangi was once again very consistent with 181 running metres and 95 post-contact metres.
Jaydn Su’A has been on the outer at the Rabbitohs and recently signed with the Dragons, but he came back into the side and his defence was very good.
Myself and many other people have questioned Su’A’s defence after he was caught out multiple times against the Panthers when the Bunnies lost 56-12 but the second-row forward came back in and was strong in defence and put some nice shots on.
Liam Knight and Tom Burgess both ran for around 130 metres and were very good. Both knew their jobs, which was to run hard and gain as many metres as possible and they both succeeded in their jobs.
Benji Marshall came on and played well in his 36 minutes on the field and when Walker left the field in the final ten minutes of the second half, he set up a nice try for Johnston to score.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Adam Reynolds was told by Wayne Bennett to kick the Rabbitohs to victory during halftime and the halfback came out and did exactly that early in the second half.
But once again the way he approaches the line and draws in defenders is really the reason why Walker and the Bunnies’ attack are allowed to do what they do.
His defence was also very good after the Brisbane Broncos-bound halfback made 15 tackles and didn’t miss a single tackle. The Rabbitohs were so dominant, though, that the Cowboys’ four bench players didn’t manage to run for over 50 metres and couldn’t manage 100 metres combined.
Only three Cowboys, in fact, ran for over 100 metres and those players were Jason Taumalolo, Kyle Feldt and Connelly Lemuelu.
Crow
Roar Pro
Yes your correct. Some of the pressure is about who is fit in terms of players and the team in general. If the Bunnies can field a fit and healthy team I agree with your predictions. It’s going to be great.
Fletch
Guest
Will they flop again Hindy?
Cam
Roar Rookie
There was an incident late in the match that backs up that prediction. The cows made a long break down the left touch line, Dearden backed up on the inside and stood in the tackle for an age. No support arrived, most of his team mates were walking or slow jogging behind the play. They have zero effort in them.
Hindy
Guest
Eels will go out in straight sets
Anton
Roar Pro
I think the Bunnies will finish 3rd and earn that second round bye but the Bunnies face the Parramatta Eels in the next few weeks and then the Panthers in round 23. We will truely see how good the Bunnies are during these two games.
Anton
Roar Pro
Personally mate I think Liam Knight was challenge this when he goes to the judiciary. As with South Sydney, their slow starts or their 20* minutes where they just seem to disappear really shows the difference between them and the top two teams this year in the Storm and Penrith who always put in 80 minute performances. Souths take on Penrith in round 23 so we will really see where the Bunnies sit.
Crow
Roar Pro
The Rabbitohs are in great shape. Missing six Origin stars they blew the Cows off the park. Cody Walker was a master class and Johnson is now lead try scorer in the NRL. Bennett is building his side nicely and with a good draw for the coming month is assured a top four berth.
TA
Guest
The Cows won`t win another game this season
steveng
Roar Rookie
Anton, you also forgot to mention that incident with Dearden and Knight that I thought there was nothing in it and its very worrying when the NRL press compares it to that blatant head high that Lemuelu put on our little hooker Mamouzelos that was a fair smack on the jaw. I saw nothing wrong with Knight’s smother on Dearden, he went for Dearden’s chest and it was fair enough but, let's see what these geniuses at the judiciary will do?. All in all the Bunnies did very well even though I thought they started very poorly and it took them 15 to 20min to get started and they still leaked unnecessary points when they shouldn’t of.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Good summary of the game Anton, you would not have thought the Rabbitohs had 5 Origin stars out of the side tonight. Young guns, Taafe and Mamouzelos slotted in well. Cody Walker showed why he is the best 5/8th in the game, adding half-dozen try assists to his name. Reynolds the mid field general, Hame Sele and Koloamatangi awesome effort, hard running all game and Alex Johnston just makes it look so easy. 12 tries in 5 games and 21 for the season. Bennett should be looking to rest up some of the origin players next week v dogs.