2026 NRL – RITV: A reality check for South Sydney

 

 

 

Round 18: Friday 3 July
Penrith v South Sydney      
Parramatta Stadium, 7:50pm 

 

A reality check for South Sydney, another road trip to Melbourne and the tale of two apologies …

 

After good wins against the Broncos and Parramatta, South Sydney were back at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night to play an away game against our second nemesis team (after the Melbourne Storm).

I will never build a bridge over the disappointment of the 2021 Grand Final: 3 October, South Sydney v Penrith at Lang Park.

Penrith 14, South Sydney 12.

The beginning of the Panthers’ dynasty.

A romantic afternoon and evening out in Brisbane for Mrs Hansen and I, Heidi’s only NRL experience, as we sat only a few rows behind the South Sydney ‘WAGS’. When Stephen Crichton sprinted past us to score that decisive intercept try, I felt Heidi’s hand on my knee as she uttered the words, “I’m sorry, dear”. My head was in my hands. Crichton had intercepted a pass meant for Alex Johnston, scoring a vital try.

There was also a ‘sorry’ on Friday night, this apology coming from the stand-in South Sydney captain, Cody.

In his 238th NRL game, Cody was sin binned for kicking out at an opponent.

Rookie South Sydney winger Dayne Jennings scored his first NRL try later in the game, after having the try he has ‘scored’ in the movement taken back, thanks to Cody’s unnecessary act.

Having arrived in Melbourne after the all-day drive from South Australia during the first half, I did not see Cody’s sin binning live.

I did feel some irony: the young man I coach, who is a member of the Australian 4 x 100m relay squad for the world championships (U/20) Kelechi Ekwomadu, and I had driven from the Barossa Valley to Melbourne for a Saturday relay training session.

We drove over 1500km, for more than 18 hours, to train for three hours in preparation for the World Championships. The team levy for an Australian (junior) athletics team is several thousand dollars. That is the landscape in the world sport of athletics to represent your country as a junior.  That is not a complaint, nor a swipe at the administration of athletics. We all are aware of the scenario.

Yet, I slumped into the longue at my accommodation, tuned into the half-time discussion, with the topic amongst the panel being: “Cody Walker’s sin binning” …

Give me strength!

As a coach, I ask myself: Cody Walker debuted in 2016, when 2014 premiership coach Michael Maguire was still at the helm at South Sydney – following ‘Madge’, Cody has been ‘coached’ by Anthony Siebold, Wayne Bennett, Jason Demetriou, Ben Hornby, and now, to quote Roy Masters, the ‘skinny coach’ (Wayne Bennett) again – have any of these coaches sat Cody down and had the difficult conversation? ‘Cody, be better, or go and introduce yourself to the reserve grade (NSW cup) coach, and you can return to the NRL side when your temperament issues have been addressed.’

As my first Head of (HPE) Department at St Peters Lutheran College, Indooroopilly, who was also my first coaching mentor, (the now) Professor Cliff Mallett OAM, would quote: actions speak louder than words.

Cody’s suspension means he will not play in the home game against the high-flying Newcastle Knights on Sunday, for his great friend Jai Arrow’s 31st birthday celebration.

Well done to the NRL for raising money for Jai and his family as he fights ‘the beast’, MND.

And the relay training session on Saturday was very worthwhile. ‘Leave no stone unturned’ is the theme as we lead into the world championships next month.

 

Full time: Penrith 34 d South Sydney 14

South Sydney team list: Gray, Jennings, Siegwalt, Wighton, Kosi, Cody, Ward, Tatola, Smith, Koloamatangi, Fifita, Duncan, Hubner, bench: Humphreys, Aitken, Le Blanc, Dufty, Sullivan

South Sydney points: tries: (3) Kosi 24’, Jennings 39’, Kosi 47’, Siegwalt 76’. Goals: Siegwalt 1/3

Half time: Penrith 12-10

Penalties:  4 all

Six agains: South Sydney 6 – Parramatta 3

Sin bin: Cody 11’, Cogger (Penrith) 76’

 

Highlights:

NRL 2026 | Panthers v Rabbitohs | Match Highlights | Round 18

 

Press conference:

Cody responds to Brain Snap ?? + Wayne is ‘OVER’ the Bunker… | Rabbitohs Press Conference

 

Crowd: 15, 163

 

Referee:  Adam Gee

 

Rabbit in the Vineyard player of the year points:

3 Keon Koloamatangi, 2 Dayne Jennings,1 Jye Gray.

Progressive: 15: Tallis Duncan, 14: Cameron Murray, 11: Latrell & Jye Gray, 6: Cody, 4: Keon Koloamatangi, 3: Talanoa Penitani, Latrell Siegwalt, Matt Dufty, Peter Mamouzelos, David Fifita, 2: Dayne Jennings, Lachlan Hubner, Alex Johnston, Jack Wighton, 1: Brandon Smith, John Radel

Honour roll: 2023-2024 Cameron Murray, 2025 Jye Gray

 

South Sydney full weekend results:

NSW Women’s premiership, round 4: Penrith 38 d South Sydney 6

NSW Cup round 18: Penrith 34 d South Sydney 32

Jersey Flegg Cup: South Sydney 42 d Penrith 24

 

Barossa Valley Red Wine of the Week

 

Kies 2022 Barossa Shiraz

 

Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen

 

 

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