Rabbitohs
13
Match Complete
Dragons
12
| A. Reynolds |  | 79 | ||
| A. Reynolds | | 77 | ||
| 75 |  | Z. Lomax | ||
| A. Reynolds | | 69 | ||
| A. Reynolds | | 59 | ||
| A. Reynolds |  | 57 | ||
| A. Reynolds |  | 55 | ||
| 53 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 37 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 35 | | B. Hunt | ||
| 22 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| A. Reynolds | | 9 |
| 1 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 3 | ||
| 3 | Field Goals | 0 |
A preliminary final berth awaits as the South Sydney Rabbitohs look to put last week’s one-point loss behind them against the rejuvenated St George Illawarra Dragons. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 7:40pm (AEST).
The Rabbitohs pushed defending premiers Melbourne to the final seconds last week, falling 29-28 and would have left AAMI Park frustrated after surrendering a six-point lead with eight minutes remaining.
The real risk for Anthony Seibold’s men this week is that, dejected by falling just short in Melbourne, the Rabbitohs will struggle to get over last Friday’s result and may fall apart if they concede an early lead.
Therefore, a strong start is crucial for restoring confidence in the playing group.
Also critical to Saturday night’s contest is the form of South Sydney’s forward pack. Outside of Cam Murray, the rest of the Rabbitohs’ big men were unable to provide the platform needed for Damien Cook to explode.
While Sam Burgess was certainly trying, errors crept into his game and the 29-year old came out this week to openly express his disappointment with his own performance.
He can’t do it alone though and will need brothers George and Tom Burgess to also stand up as they prepare for a Dragons pack that has rediscovered its mojo.
Paul McGregor’s men were rated next to no chance of upsetting the Broncos last week.
Yet they did just that, thumping Brisbane 48-18. And they did it without Gareth Widdop, Jack de Belin and James Graham, who all failed to last the full eighty minutes.
Widdop has been ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury as is replaced at five-eighth by Kurt Mann. Meanwhile, both de Belin and Graham have been named and are expected to play through the pain as the Dragons look to cause another boilover.
Last week’s dominant performance was built on the back of their forward pack, led by three-try tearaway Tariq Sims.
While the loss of Widdop is a big one, it won’t mean all too much if the Dragons’ big men can roll upfield and give Mann and halfback Ben Hunt the platform needed to pile on the points.
Prediction
South Sydney may have faltered last week but they were still impressive in defeat. If they realise that and can direct their focus solely towards Saturday night’s game, they should be too good.
Rabbitohs by 14.
We are just 15 sleeps away from the biggest day on the rugby league calendar. Join The Roar as we find out who is through to the preliminary finals with live scores and a blog of the Rabbitohs and Dragons match, starting at 7:40pm (AEST).
Game info
Kick-off: 7:40pm (AEST)
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
TV: Live, Fox League, Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, 9Now
Betting: Broncos $1.25, Dragons $4
Overall record: Played 30; Dragons 17 wins, Rabbitohs 13 wins
Last meeting: Rabbitohs won 24-10 at ANZ Stadium in Round 10 earlier this year
Referees: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Alex Johnston 2. Campbell Graham 3. Greg Inglis 4. Dane Gagai 5. Robert Jennings 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. George Burgess 11. John Sutton 12. Angus Crichton 13. Sam Burgess 14. Hymel Hunt 15. Cameron Murray 16. Jason Clark 17. Dean Britt 18. Braidon Burns 19. Mark Nicholls 20. Junior Tatola 21. Connor Tracey
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Matthew Dufty 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Zac Lomax 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Kurt Mann 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Leeson Ah Mau 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jeremy Latimore 15. Hame Sele 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Luciano Leilua 18. Jason Nightingale 19. Jai Field 20. Euan Aitken 21. Jacob Host
steveng
Roar Rookie
You're kidding "blame Ah Mau- at 12-11 with 3 minutes to go there is no excuse for a big prop letting the ball be stripped"? The Dragons wee lucky to be in our 20m and to get that penalty when Frizell stripped the ball off Graham, the refs allowed the stripping of the ball as Graham was just about to make a 'quick play the ball' and that is why Frizell could strip the ball! That is why the Bunnies went for the strip after that. I was very surprised that this was allowed as I'm sure most of the players were too, this has been penalised all year and all of a sudden, G. Sutton allows it but, that is nothing unusual and/or surprising with the refs. All in all, this was a very exciting game and a gruelling game and the Bunnies will have to play 1000% better if they want to beat the Roosters next Saturday. Go the Bunnies!!!
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Geez I remember Sims. Fantastic boot. Put them them over from everywhere. Probably the most valuable player in the Comp in his time
R N
Roar Rookie
Doh!
Glenn
Guest
Saints made a major mistake when they elected a penalty goal kick instead of a tap at 8-2. They had just had 2 or 3 sets and in my view would have strolled over with a quick tap. Souths were totally disorganised at that point. 14-2 would have put Souths away the way they were playing. And Souths had only one forward on the bench, their run on forwards had no impact in the first half and would not have given Souths a platform in the second half to score more than 2 tries. Dont blame Ben Hunt but do blame Ah Mau- at 12-11 with 3 minutes to go there is no excuse for a big prop letting the ball be stripped. It was obvious Souths would try to do it. If we had a fit Widdop and Vaughan for the finals we might have gone even further than we did, but nevertheless the Dragons have had a very good year and the new boys, Lomax, Lealua, Pereirra, Lawrie, Field offer a lot of promise for next year. Can't complain really, just disappointed. All of the pundits who said the Dragons would not make the finals, or win a final, including some well known ones who said they would finish last, will no doubt be back in droves next year, along with all of the second rate referees. Thanks Dragons for a great season, last week at Suncorp will keep the dream alive for another year, no worries.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Poor old Ben Hunt was having the sort of finals series you would hope for from a big name signing but it will be defined by his no kick on the last tackle. I feel sorry for him but there's no hiding from what happened. A ;lot of players looked a fair way below peak form from both sides but Cam Murray has been unreal and Macdonald for Saints was good also. I was thinking I'd been harsh on Kurt Manns abilities earlier in the season as he was going ok but he then threw just about the worst pass I've ever seen. Forward, to no one with nothing on at all. I'm hoping for a Shark x Bunny GF but in the real world the best game will be a Chook x Storm contest it seems, the other teams are running out of steam by the look of it.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Where you been hiding? Everyone has enjoyed the peace this week!!!
Nat
Roar Guru
Nah, his attack can't compensate for his poor D in the middle. He can only be a half so not decent utility.
Nat
Roar Guru
Hahahaha old joke
Nat
Roar Guru
100% jimmmy. Every single player would take that offer but with that he has to take the pressure. Gotta wonder who decided it would take $1m to get him there.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
Bwahahahah
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Great effort from the dragons tonight, except for that last play with the ball, wtf!!! Absolutely gutted but can’t question their effort, they really played their hearts out and for me deserved to win that game but not be. Congrats to the rabbits, especially cam Murray and Adam Reynolds who both had big games and iced the plays that mattered. If you had said to me at the start of the year, hell even 3 weeks ago that we would lose by a point to play in a gf qualifier I would have told you you were dreaming. So close... What a cracking finals series, shows how close the top eight is this year, not just on comp points but in the finals aswell. Dont know who to get behind now we are out - anyone but the storm but I reckon the bunnies will give it a good run.
Danno1
Roar Rookie
I feel for the guy, he was having his best game for a while then that happens. Reminds of the greatest local cricketer l knew, scored hundreds all over the place, wickets every time he bowled. But he got overly intimate with a goat, it was only once, now no one remembers his hundreds or wickets
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You know off the bench I think he is OK, Just never ever as our chief playmaker.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah jimmy I agree, that was real South Sydney spirit, we will have the same spirit next week, better watch out chooks.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Mate I feel sorry for Hunt but he just doesn’t have it , He is paid to be exceptional but he just isn’t . He has blown it too many times for it to be unlucky . But what is supposed to do ? Say ‘ look I’m a 500 grand player and I refuse to work for anymore’. It’s just a sad situation.
Fightfair
Guest
Went further than the broncos dumbcarnt.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
I didn't even pick up on that - pretty good effort.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
They will be better next week. The Storm game was exceptionally draining . They will be OK.
Rob
Guest
I thought his signing would be good for both the Dragons and Ben Hunt. Maybe he’ll get an opportunity to play a GF with the Dragons but he’s not the man you want to go to for a clutch play. Never to wear Maroon IMO.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
He had a very good game. But one bad play .... If that was earlier in the game it would not have mattered