2026 NRL season
Round 20 Canberra v South Sydney
Saturday 18 July
Canberra Stadium, 3pm
In round 20, it’s de ja vu all over again late in the season. South Sydney coming off a narrow win on Jai Arrow’s birthday, looked like their minds were still at Homebush Bay until half time yesterday (Saturday).
Canberra had a simple plan, run big players at Cody, pressure Fifita, and continually bomb the ‘back three’ – Dufty, Johnston and Graham. Note Jye Gray is not the current South Sydney fullback, apparently due to Dufty’s superior passing game.
Canberra was all over South Sydney in the opening exchanges. Ricky Stuart cops criticism on many levels, however his boys certainly have the wood over the Bunnies, it’s now six straight wins over Souths for the green machine.
Souths were momentarily in the contest after a great try to the young halfback Ashton Ward, however a needless attempted pass from Tevita Tetola resulted in a 90m try to Ethan Strange.
Six tries to one in the first half and it was game over.
South Sydney did comeback in the second half, on the back of captain Cam Murray’s relentless attitude. Alex Johnston can thank his captain for the one-on-one strip in the lead up to his try. The captain then scored next for there to be a glimmer of hope.
Another loose pass led to a long-range Canberra try, and the game was put to bed.
In a word, disappointing.
Canberra 34 d South Sydney 24
South Sydney team list: Dufty, Johnston, Duncan, Wighton, Graham, Cody, Ward, Tatola, Smith, Koloamatangi, Fifita, Aitken, Murray (Capt.) bench: Hubner, Humphreys, Radel, Gray, Le Blanc, Siegwalt
South Sydney points: tries (4) Ward 14’, Johnston 46’, Murray 49’, Cody 65’. Goals: Ward 4/4
Half time: Canberra 28-6
Penalties: Canberra 4-3
Six again: South Sydney 5-1
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
“It is the hope that kills you”: Nick Hornby in Fever Pitch, Ted Lasso, other sources, of course the Bible is full of messages of hope. South Sydney are doing this to their members and other supporters again in 2026.
South Sydney last played finals in 2022. Since 2022, the fruitless seasons have looked this way: 2023 9th, 2024 16th, 2025 14th.
The run home for South Sydney: Melbourne, Cronulla-Sutherland, Parramatta, Canterbury-Bankstown, Warriors, Gold Coast, Eastern Suburbs.
Jye Gray did not get on to the field! Another baffling decision from the South Sydney coaching staff.
I love ABC Grandstand’s Andrew Moore. His take on Jye Gray not being required: “If South Sydney are a better team without Jye Gray, I am not here!”
Onwards and upwards to South Sydney’s nemesis team, the Melbourne Storm: since 1998: played 44, Melbourne wins: 36, South Sydney wins: 8.
Hope.
Rabbit in the Vineyard player of the year points
3 Cam Murray, 2 Ashton Ward ,1 Keon Koloamatangi
Progressive: 18: Tallis Duncan17: Cameron Murray, 11: Latrell & Jye Gray, 7: Keon Koloamatangi, Cody, 4: Matt Dufty, 3: Talanoa Penitani, Latrell Siegwalt, Matt Dufty, Peter Mamouzelos, David Fifita, 2: Ashton Ward, 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 6: South Sydney 22 d Steelers 12
NSW Cup round 20: South Sydney 30 d Canberra 20
Jersey Flegg Cup round 20: Canberra 28 d South Sydney 26
Barossa Valley red wine of the week
2023 Head Roja Tempranillo
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
What is going on with Gray? His form is very good, so it cannot be that. Surely, he is experienced enough now that he is not being given a couple of weeks off as some of the older coaches do with young players when they first enter the NRL. Only Wayne knows, and he is probably not going to enlighten us.