South Sydney (17th) v Penrith (3rd)
Sydney Olympic Stadium
Thursday, 2 May
As Ben Hornby took the keys for the first time as interim coach, Souths members and supporters were reminded, painfully, of how big the fall has been.
In the ANZAC round last year, Souths beat Penrith on the bell, 20-18, with Cody setting up a match winning 78th minute try for Isaiah Tass. 2021 Grand Final nemesis Stephen Crichton scored a hat-trick for the Riff in that game.
To the present: Thursday night football – made for TV – not for those driving home from athletics coaching.
The ABC listen app was again great company as I drove from the Salisbury athletics track to Nuriootpa. Listening to the first half was a better scenario than watching the points pile up after half-time!
Souths lead early, 12-0. Penrith had a player in the bin and, during that time, tries to Thompson and Hawkins created an unexpected scoreline.
Unfortunately, Jai Arrow was then sin binned in the 17th minute.
During those ten minutes, Penrith scored twice to level things up before scoring a third try for the half, to lead 18-12 at half-time.
Penrith went on to dominate the second half, scoring four more tries, including a much replayed and commented about try from the 20m tap following a Cody kick over the dead ball line.
NSW Origin fullback aspirant Dylan Edwards was at his energetic best whilst, sadly, Souths were the opposite, leading to the inevitable ‘Souths are unfit, not playing for the jumper, attitude is poor.’
Difficult to argue against any of those points.
Mario Fenech-George Piggins-Clive Churchill inspirational play(er): ‘The Bloke’ listed promising young prop Davvy Moale as a ‘shining light’.
Phil Blake chin n chase best attacking moment: from a very short, short list in a seven tries to two drubbing – Cody’s grubber for Hawkins’ try.
Hawkins then left the field with a quadricep injury, after injuring himself in the act of kicking off.
Rampling brothers-Les Davidson-Charlie Frith best tackle: again, not awarded this week. David Furner, as the new defence coach, is surely the busiest man in the NRL!
Blake Taaffe watch: Rabbitoh 1171, now plying his trade for the Bulldogs, played fullback in their 22-16 win in over the Tigers. The Bulldogs currently sit in 8th place (4-4).
Souths line up: Gray, Tass, Wighton, Chee Kam, Tu’itupou Thompson, Walker, Hawkins, Moale, Cook, Arrow, Koloamatangi, Host, Murray (capt.) bench: Mamouzelos, Havili, Burgess, Keppie
Souths points: Tries Tu’itupou Thompson 7’, Hawkins 9’. Goals: Hawkins 2/2.
Sin bin: Arrow 17’, Host 68’
Half-time: Penrith 18-12
Crowd: 8,155
2024 RITV player of the year points:
3 Wighton, 2 Moale, 1 Arrow.
Progressive points:
Murray 11, Wighton 9, Burgess 5, Gray, Moale, Koloamatangi, Hawkins, Cook 3, Havili, Gagai 2, Arrow, S Mitchell, Milne 1.
Souths remain 17th on the ladder with a for and against of minus 166, one win for the season, and now move on to play the Dragons at Kogarah this Saturday.
Six Origin players in the line-up, including Cody as captain in Cam Murray’s absence, along with English international Tom Burgess.
Cody, the incumbent NSW Origin 5/8th, Man of the Match in Game Three last season, plays his 200th NRL game.
Rabbitohs v Panthers – Round 9, 2024 | NRL.com
Press conference:
Post Demetriou era starts with BIG loss | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League – YouTube
Barossa Valley red wine of the week:
Cimicky 2021 Autograph Basket Pressed Barossa Shiraz.
In a word: outstanding!
Cimicky Wines – Discover the unparalleled excellence of Cimicky 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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About Russel Hansen
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 at all levels from school to international, most recently coaching a lad (100m personal best 10.34secs) to the Australian U/20 4x100m relay squad for the 2022 world U/20 championships. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
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Rabbit, the bookies have the Dragons as firm favourites. I’m not sure why because they struggle to score too many points. Maybe they’re counting on Souths’ leaky defence. My gut feeling is that the Bunnies will break through this weekend. I hope that doesn’t jinx them! Have a spare bottle of Comity on hand just in case.
Hoping for some Charity, to Shield us from the Saints.
Ian, I admire your courage to tip Souths … we were ‘in’ the contest for a while, in the context of 2024 …
Cody, in his 200th NRL game, was solid, however, still a long. long way from Origin man of the match form.
My fear, with Bennett’s imminent return, is that Cody, as a 35 year old with a dodgy calf in 2025, will be seen as the 5/8th to lead us to the promised land. it has not happened to this point, and it is not going to happen anytime in the future …