2025 NRL Round 14
Canberra v South Sydney
Sunday 8 June, 2pm, Bruce Stadium*
Déjà vu all over again: another 38-minute performance
For the second consecutive week, South Sydney gave up a lead against a top four side.
After leading against the might of the Warriors last week at home, for 38 minutes this round, Souths looked like spoiling Josh Papali’i’s record 319th game for the Raiders after scoring the first two tries of the fixture.
Again, Souths allowed their opposition to score on the stroke of half time. Canberra took this momentum into the second half, punishing the Rabbitohs’ errors to run away with a convincing win.
Souths did not score a point in the second half.
Cody, in his return from a calf injury, trudged up the tunnel with a groin injury. At 35 years of age, and a Wayne Bennett favourite, there is much speculation around the resigning of the aging play maker.
On the weekend Redfern local Adam Reynolds celebrated 300 NRL games, sadly as halfback for the Broncos, not on field in Canberra for his junior club, South Sydney, towering Raider’s prop Josh Papali’i celebrated a record 319 games for the ‘green machine’. ‘Big Papa’ even converted his second try, to the delight of the Raiders faithful in the Antarctic conditions in the national capital.
Note: 231 of Reynolds’ 300 NRL games were for South Sydney, 2012-2021.
The Clive Churchill-Mario Fenech-Adam Reynolds inspirational play/player:
Keon Koloamatangi continues to impress playing as a front rower. His work in defence, and with the ball in attack has been a shining light recently, alongside teammates who could to well to follow his example.
Keon is part of the extended NSW Origin squad for game two in Perth next week.
The Rampling brothers-Charlie Frith-Ian Roberts tackle of the week:
One of South Sydney’s top two players this season as first choice halfback, Jamie Humphreys, who inexplicably started on the bench as cover for the starting hooker, produced a try saving tackle on the rampaging Raiders prop Joseph Tapine, metres from the try line.
The Phil Blake chip n chase best attacking moment:
Alex Johnston, the former student of Endeavour Sports High School, scored his 201st try in the NRL.
Ken Irvine’s record of 212 tries is within reach.
South Sydney now sits in 12th position on the ladder, points difference of minus 82, with a series of tough games to come: Canterbury-Bankstown (1st), Melbourne (4th) and the Dolphins (7th) in Brisbane. The only positive is the venue for the Storm fixture (that being Sydney Olympic Park, not AAIM Park, Melbourne).
Latrell is on Origin duty, meaning Jye Gray, who was leading the Dally M medal count earlier in the season, returns to the NRL for the clash with the top of the table Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, after a stint in NSW Cup … another mind-boggling selection. Jye in reserve grade: needing to improve match fitness, apparently.
Full time: Canberra 36 defeated South Sydney 12
South Sydney team list: Latrell, Johnston, Wighton, Munro, Tass, Cody (Capt.), Sullivan, Arrow, Havili, Koloamatangi, Aitken, Duncan, Hubner, bench: Humphreys, Keppie, Le Blanc, Tetola.
South Sydney’s points: tries (2) Koloamatangi 4’, Johnston 14’, goals: conversions Latrell 1/2, penalties: Latrell 1/1
Half time: South Sydney 12-6
Penalties 2 all
Six again calls: Canberra 6, South Sydney 2
Referee: Todd Smith
Crowd 19, 438
HIGHLIGHTS:
2025 NRL Match Highlights | Raiders v Rabbitohs | Round 14
PRESS CONFERENCE: (Ben Hornby, assistant coach)
No Wayne – Hornby endorses Keon for NSW ? | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League
RABBIT IN THE VINEYARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
3 – Keon Koloamatangi, 2 – Lachlan Hubner, 1 – Alex Johnston
Progressive points:
17 – Jye Gray, 14 – Keon Koloamatangi & Jamie Humphreys, 9 Lachlan Hubner, 7 – Campbell Graham, 5 – Latrell, 3 – Alex Johnston, Tallis Duncan, Jack Wighton, Jai Arrow, 2 – Sean Keppie, 1 – Euan Aitken, Davvy Moale, Peter Mamouzelos, Cody.
NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray
SOUTH SYDNEY FULL WEEKEND RESULTS:
NSW Cup: South Sydney 24 defeated Canberra 14
Jersey Flegg Cup: Canberra 38 defeated South Sydney 22
*Bruce Stadium, Canberra:
Perhaps a little-known fact: the Raiders home ground was the venue for the (athletics) World Cup in 1985.
The current women’s 400m world record was set on a windy Canberra afternoon in October 1985, by Marita Koch of the GDR.
The East German powered around the track in 47.60 seconds, with Australian Debbie Flintoff-King, famous for her gutsy 400m hurdles win in the 1988 Soul Olympics, a distant 6th in 51.57 seconds.
400m world record, Bruce Stadium, Canberra
1985 IAAF World Cup Women’s 400m 06.10.1985 Canberra (AUS) 47.60 Marita Koch GDR WR
W 400m – Marita Koch – 47.60 – Canberra (Aus) – 1985 – World Record
BAROSSA RED WINE OF THE WEEK
Atze’s Corner: yet another wonderful Barossa Cellar Door, highly recommended for a Saturday afternoon platter and a red, or two!
Atze’s Corner ‘Mob’ 2022 Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Montepulciano
Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the (injured – for the season) 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 (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
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