Round 15: Thursday 11 June
South Sydney v Brisbane
Sydney Olympic Stadium, 7:50pm
For Jai – Rabbitoh 1166
The day after Neale Daniher’s State funeral, both the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney honoured Jai Arrow in Thursday night football at Homebush Bay.
South Sydney wore white playing kit to honour Jai while the Broncos honoured him with his Broncos playing number 222 on their kit.
Neither team went into this fixture with great recent form, however the game was effectively over at half-time with the home team dominating 30-0 against the twelfth placed Brisbane side.
Following this Thursday’s fixture at Sydney Olympic Stadium, South Sydney have their third and final bye for the season before the long run for home starts: eleven rounds with no break.
South Sydney now sits eighth on the ladder and, in a Prop by the Sea-type statistic, South Sydney has defeated both 2025 grand finalists by the same score this season: 48-6.
The next six weeks will determine 2026 for the club with the following games:
Parramatta (with Latrell’s possible return), followed by Penrith (away), Newcastle (home), Canberra (away), Melbourne (home) and Cronulla-Sutherland (away).
Consistency has been South Sydney’s biggest issue in 2026. Will Cody step up again as he did against the lowly Broncos, when South Sydney will need to lift for Penrith, Newcastle and other sterner opposition?
The Clive Churchiill-George Piggins-Jai Arrow inspirational moment:
Jai Arrow ringing the bell pre match. Not a dry eye in the house.
The Rampling brothers-Les Davidon-Ian Roberts defensive play:
Lachlan Hubner’s 80m chase off Adam Reynolds in the first half. Hubner, the ‘never say die’ lad from Rockhampton, ran down Reynolds as Jye Gray was on his bike from the other side of the field.
The Bob McCarthy intercept best attacking moment:
In a long list, Ashton Ward’s clever kick for Alex Johnston’s try late in the game. South Sydney have lacked a consistent kicking game since Adam Reynolds left for Red Hill. We may have finally solved that issue.
Runner up: The St Peters Lutheran College, Indooroopilly Old Scholar (2020) John Radel’s try on debut. After elusive lead up work from Jayden (Bud) Sullivan, in a moment of sheer joy, Radel dived over beside the posts. An NRL debut at 23 years of age for the farmer’s son from Taroom, via the Queensland Cup in both Mackay and Brisbane.
St Peters Lutheran College Head of College, Tim Kotzur, a lover of sport on many levels if ever there was one, praised John’s ‘Plus Ultra’ (‘Ever Higher’) attitude in a congratulatory Instagram post.
Full time: South Sydney 48 d Brisbane 6
South Sydney team list: Gray, Johnston, Siegwalt, Duncan, Kosi, Cody (capt.), Ward, Tatola, Smith, Koloamatangi, Fifita, Aitken, Murray, Hubner, bench: Humphreys, Sullivan, John Radel (debut #1221), Le Blanc
South Sydney points: tries: (8) Kosi 12’, Johnston 14’, Fifita 22’, Johnston 28’, Humphreys 39’, Johnston 65’, Radel 71’, Johnston 73’
Goals: Siegwalt 8/8
Half time: South Sydney 30-0
Penalties: South Sydney 3-2
Six agains: South Sydney 3-1
Highlights:
Souths put on masterclass after emotional scenes for Jai Arrow ? | Rabbitohs Press Conference
Press conference:
NRL Highlights: Rabbitohs vs Broncos – Round 15 | NRL on Nine
Crowd: 12, 784
Referee: Adam Gee
Rabbit in the Vineyard player of the year points:
3 Cody, 2 David Fifita,1 John Radel.
Progressive: 14: Cameron Murray, 12: Tallis Duncan, 11: Latrell, 10: Jye Gray, 4: Cody, 3: Talanoa Penitani, Latrell Siegwalt, Matt Dufty, Peter Mamouzelos, David Fifita, 2: Lachlan Hubner, Alex Johnston, Jack Wighton, 1: Keon Koloamatangi, John Radel
Honour roll: 2023-2024 Cameron Murray, 2025 Jye Gray
South Sydney full weekend results:
Women’s premiership: South Sydney 18 d Cronulla-Sutherland 12
NSW Cup round 14: South Sydney 34 d Manly 24
Jersey Flegg Cup: South Sydney 46 d Manly 12
Barossa Valley Red Wine of the Week
Sigurd 2023 Barossa red blend: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvedre, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon
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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Russel Hansen
Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country.
He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder.
He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters.
Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
RITV, Tim Kotzur was a sports addict back in his schoolboy days when I have the privilege of teaching him. Glad to hear nothing’s changed on that score.
What did you think of the Rabbitohs’ white kit? Didn’t do much for some waistlines!