South Sydney are into the 2021 NRL grand final after disposing of Manly 36-16.
Junk time tries as the Rabbitohs partied got Manly closer than the scoreline indicates. Here are your talking points from a big night for the cardinal and myrtle.
Is the Queensland traffic to blame for Manly’s poor night?
Let’s get this one out of the way quick.
No, it wasn’t.
Ashley Klein should have stopped play for Sean Keppie
Manly prop Sean Keppie hit his head badly trying to tackle Souths prop Mark Nicholls and was clearly giving signs of concussion – he fell to the ground stunned, stumbled to his feet then staggered around, even almost falling into a play the ball moments later. It was pretty unnerving stuff. He was in real strife.
WATCH: No one stops play despite Sea Eagle getting knocked into next week
But the game went on for a couple more plays – why? The initial contact happened right in front of referee Ashley Klein, who couldn’t have missed what happened. Where was the Manly trainer? Why didn’t he get the game stopped? Everyone could see Keppie was in dire trouble. He failed his HIA in about 20 seconds after he eventually came from the field.
Was everyone gun shy in light of what happened to Penrith and the media blow-up this week?
Is this all too hard for one referee?
All reasonable questions, I reckon.
A rout wasn’t really a surprise
The first five minutes of this one played out at a good finals intensity, as the teams felt each other out with strong runs and solid hits. Early direction and kicking announced Manly wanted to target rookie Bunnies fullback Blake Taaffe, and Souths would be targeting Manly winger Jason Saab.
Then Morgan Harper made an error, and the Bunnies were away. They were rested, more disciplined and focused on making a grand final after failing at this stage for the last three years. They dominated possession and took their chances.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Manly were eager, but their defensive shape went to water as they scrambled across the middle and made poor choices when Souths took it wide, in particular to their left.
The Sea Eagles tried to commit the same defence they were able to employ last week against the Roosters, but Souths were too fast to move, too strong up the middle and offloaded at a much higher rate.
Errors are magnified a thousandfold in finals
Complain all you want that Tom Trbojevic ran a different line, but if Moses Suli doesn’t run into Adam Reynolds, Manly are in for a 19th minute try and scores are 6-6.
Tom Trbojevic then drops the ball over the line in the 25th minute and Souths make it 18-0 three minutes later, also helped from an error by Haumole Olakau’atu.
A loose pass in the 37th minute by Daly Cherry-Evans is taken to the other end, a minute later Jaxson Paulo is over in the corner, it’s 22-0 and the game is almost cooked.
Manly made nine errors in the first 40 and ended up with 17 for the game, which led to just 42 per cent possession and handed Souths a grand final berth on a platter.
Manly only got 19 sets in the first half, and they only completed 11 of them. That’s horrid.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Things only got worse when play resumed and Manly came out full of energy, only for momentum killer errors by Olakau’atu and a forced pass by Tom Trbojevic to Morgan Harper turning the ball over. That led to a Campbell Graham try, a 26-6 scoreline and the game was done.
There were still warning signs for the Rabbitohs
While they seemed to have the game in hand after ten minutes or so, Manly were still making inroads against the run of play with some swift attack down the left and right.
When the Sea Eagles moved the ball quickly to the outside, they had Bunnies defenders pushing up early and opening gaps, or pushing in and creating a chance to overlap. You can guarantee whoever wins tomorrow’s game between Melbourne and Penrith would have been playing close attention.
If the Sea Eagles didn’t spend the rest of the game making so many errors and bad choices, who knows how things could have gone.
So what’s next?
Manly switch to resort mode, turning their attention to Mad Monday and preseason training in six weeks or so. Their finals campaign may have been two pastings sandwiching a win of their own, but there’s still some good young talent for Des Hasler to work with in that squad.
Tonight is a disappointing loss, but there must be some pride for Manly fans in reaching this point after their diabolical 0-4 start.
South Sydney move to their first grand final since their 2014 premiership, after missing out at the preliminary finals stage three years running.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
They’ll face either a busted-up Penrith, who they beat 16-10 in Week 1, or a fully fit and flying Melbourne, who they have beaten a grand total of five times in 35 goes since the Storm entered the NRL in 1998…
Who would Souths prefer, do you think?
What did you make of the Rabbitohs’ win, Roarers? Did they look like premiership material?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I don't know why Suli is leaving but it has no bearing on the fact that he's a potential match winner. He was devastating the last time he played and he showed what he can do in this game as well. If you don't think that three clean breaks down one side of the field from a team with hardly any ball and on the back foot for most of the game doesn't indicate that the defense was poor, then I disagree. How many breaks do you think there would be if Manly were well on top ? I'll answer that, heaps. I don't care how many people disagree with my views, most of them have a fair amount of thought put into them. Hasler let Cook go from the Dogs, I believe, amongst others so I wouldn't declare that Sulis departure is proof that he's no good.
NorthNarra
Roar Rookie
Too right TB. Suli should have had the situational awareness and the experience to realise that once Tom gets cooking down an edge he will either put his winger, himself or anyone else in support over the try line nine times out of ten. There was no reason to go blasting into the waiting arms of Reynolds, an old and wise stager who had the smarts to instantly splat himself as an obstruction insurance policy.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good explanation I’m happy for defences to get any benefit of the doubt with obstruction calls when attacking teams send players through in front of the ball
Mycall
Roar Rookie
The block plays are what brought confusion to the simple obstruction rule and they haven't been around for 50yrs. Before the block plays (one player running around the back of the lead runner player), decoy runners were players calling the ball on the opposite side of the ruck, or they were the players cut out from a long ball, or the player dummied to on the inside. Only since the block plays do defences and refs have to worry about players running through and interfering with the defensive line. A good block plays only works when the ball player and the lead runner take it right to the defensive line, and often from there, if the attacker tried stopping, it would be in the defensive line so the best option is to get through the line. The added bonus is that they are then also already backing up on the inside of there is a break made.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
storm to win the grand final :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
NorthNarra
Roar Rookie
Storm are packing, along with Manly, for the flight home today. Loving it.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
I still think they're better placed to do it. If not, the video ref
The Barry
Roar Guru
You mean when the game was done and dusted…? Making two breaks when you’re down by 30 doesn’t make you “the potential match winner” :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: honestly at times you just write the opposite to what I do for the sake of it If Suli is such a game breaker why has he barely played this year? Why is Des getting rid of him?
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
That depends on the speed, the brakes and the friction on the surface they are breaking on. :stoked:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah agreed… but when we had refs making subjective calls about whether defenders would have got there and if there was an obstruction, everyone moaned about inconsistency So they came up with a black and white rule, which gives consistency but doesn’t always make sense from a footy perspective It’s one area I have a modicum of sympathy for the NRL…
The Barry
Roar Guru
It’s not just momentum though, players can apply a force to stop Anyway, you’re the physicist - how long does it take a decoy runner travelling at 25 km/h to put the brakes on? Suli made a point of charging at Reynolds long after he was any chance of getting the ball… Forget stopping, what if he tries to step inside Reynolds instead of bowling him over…it’s a low percentage dmb play that led to a try being disallowed and busted any chance Manly had of gaining momentum
Bingo
Roar Rookie
I couldn’t believe all the experts on Fox picked a close game last night. Manly got flogged by Melbourne and then beat an injury riddled Easts. Souths never really had to get out of 3rd gear last night. They played high percentage rugby league and whilst Manly had no luck, I don’t think the game was ever in doubt. Storm will be too strong today.
WBGL
Guest
Agree, Saab has come a long way, but his run when he was pushed out of the sideline and a few of his defensive reads, were very poor. And why is it that Paseka rarely gets the ball at full steam? Paseka in full flight would be very diffcult to stop (as we saw in the Cowboys game), wasted talent.
Tony
Roar Guru
Too kind
WGBL
Guest
Funny you should say that, Thursday night Fox replayed the 2019 Qtr final Manly v Souths when Manly had Korisou and Fainu, speed at the play the ball was miles better. Croker has played well for a guy who has developed into a hooker, tackles well, but needs that speed and guile Koiosou /Fainu have, lets hope we get Fainu back. For 2022, Harper and Saab will need to improve their defensive reads and man-on-man defence, otherwise they will be targeted all year, both contributed to two of Souths tries. As much as Suli is great at running the ball, his defenisve reads are also poor, hence the try he let in last night, running up too fast and picking the wrong player, if Parker had played, I think Souths would have been troubled more defensively. Schuster has alot of potential, but his work rate and game involvement needs to lift. Again, like the Storm game, Many's forwards went missing at crucial times, Keppie being injuried didn't help, Manly need a harder headed front rower I think. Manly will benefit from this year and with alot of young talent in the wings (Cust, Saddler, De Luis, Tuiplotu, Koulua, Ben T) I think 2022 should be better, baring injuries (Chooks did very well all things considered).
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
It has been mate. Almost as enjoyable as your articles. They are learned and interesting; no doubt a reflection of their author.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
It wasn’t a great night but Manly’s propensity to shoot themselves in the foot occasionally has to be remedied. I am certain that this inexperienced side will be much better for this season. Dessie has developed discipline in squads before and he’s got a lot to work with next year
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
ref handles the game around the ball, touchies handle back play, defensive line offside and on passes. they are in the best position.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Klein doesn’t need a break from the game, the game needs a break from him.. a permanent one
Tom G
Roar Rookie
You’re right… a hooker just like the one that’s been stood down for two whole seasons. I have no idea of Fainu’s guilt or innocence, neither does the law until he gets a day in court . But the NRL with their guilty until proven innocent stand down policy has hung him and the club out to dry