NRL 2025, Round 2: Rabbit in the Vineyard – Souths go back to back!

 

NRL Round 2
Illawarra-St George v South Sydney
Wollongong
Saturday 15 March 2025, 3.00pm

Souths are undefeated after two rounds of the 2025 NRL season following what some experts described as an improbable win over Illawarra-St George at Wollongong Stadium last Saturday. With back-to-back tries for the coach’s son, Kyle Flanagan, the Dragons extended their half-time lead to ten points, the home team scoring five tries to four in the process.

Bayley Bentley-Hape debuted at age 25, complete with a large contingent of family and friends supporting him from the glorious hill at picturesque Wollongong.

After trailing 12-24, many of the Dragons points coming from quick shifts around Souths’ ‘compressed defence’, the visitors found something deep in the resilience tank to storm home, with the muscular Manly recruit Jamie Humphreys slotting the winning field goal in the 75th minute.

The Ian Roberts-Rampling brothers-Charlie Frith defender of the match:

Well played, Sean Keppie! To say I have been critical of Keppie since his arrival at Souths from Manly would be an understatement. His discipline and ball control certainly needed attention. Keppie made 40 tackles last Saturday, several of those were big hits at crucial times in the match.

Credit where credit is due! Let’s hope for consistency now.

 

The Clive Churchill-George Piggins-Mario Fenech inspirational player:

Not for the first time: Jye Gray, who, frankly, does not deserve to move aside for the NSW and Australian centre Latrell, when the big name has recovered from his latest injury setback (the famous Latrell hamstring …).

Gray’s work rate and energy are exceptional.

 

The Phil Blake ‘chip n chase’ best attacking play:  

After a relatively quiet game in Round 1, hooker Peter Mamouzelos scored a great try out of dummy-half.

With Damien Cook now playing for the ‘Red V’, young Pistol Pete was far more involved this week, providing Jye Gray-type energy at times.

Andrew Ferguson, of The Rugby League Project and League Unlimited fame tweeted: “Mamouzelos dives through a (the Dragons fullback) Gutherson hologram to score a classic rake try”

 

Full time: South Sydney 25 d Illawarra-St George 24

Souths points: Tries Gray 8’, Keppie 70’, Mamouzelos 20’, Walker 54’, goals: Humpreys (4/4), field goal.

Half time: Illawarra-St George 14-12

Penalties: Dragons 4-3

Referee: Ashley (Calvin) Klein

Crowd: 16,111

Souths team list: Gray, Tass, Myers, Graham, BayleighBentley-Hape (NRL debut – Rabbitoh #1205, Cody (capt.), Humphreys, Keppie, Mamouzelos, Moale, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Hubner. Bench: Sullivan, Havili, Duncan, Tetola

 

2025 RABBIT IN THE VINEYARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS:

3 points: Jamie Humphreys
2 points: Sean Keppie
1 point: Jye Gray

2025 PROGRESSIVE:

6 – Jamie Humphreys, 2 Campbell Graham and Sean Keppie, 1 – Jye Gray and Lachlan Hubner

NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

NRL Highlights: Dragons v Rabbitohs – Round 2 | NRL on Nine

 

PRESS CONFERENCE:

Wayne Bennett’s cheeky dig at ex-Socceroos coach: NRL Presser | NRL on Nine

 

Barossa red wine of the week:  

Again, from the wonderful First Drop Cellar Door here in downtown Nuriootpa:

2022 Mother’s Milk Shiraz

Mother’s Milk – First Drop Wines

 

 

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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