2025 NRL Round 15
South Sydney v Canterbury-Bankstown
Sunday 15 June, 4pm, Sydney Olympic Stadium
The Mortimer-McCarthy Cup
South Sydney slumped to their third consecutive loss to sit 14th on the NRL ladder
After coach Bennett replaced Sean Keppie on the bench, handing Ryan Gray his NRL debut, Canterbury raced to an early lead.
The first placed Canterbury took the early ascendency to lead 18-0 after 30 minutes, before the players left the field due to lightning. This last occurred in an NRL match on Anzac Day 2015.
Upon resumption Alex Johnston out leapt the Bulldogs defenders for his 202nd NRL try.
After the shortened half time break, and with the aid of a succession of penalties, Souths scored through Tallis Duncan.
Souths were back in the contest at various times in the second half in what was an unusual game in some respects – both teams scoring four tries. Top of the table Canterbury always had an answer, and Souths continued to make errors at crucial moments. A lost ball from stand in captain Jack Wighton was a real momentum changer late in the second half. A good team like the Bulldogs make the opposition pay for their mistakes, and this was 1st v 12th after all …
The Rampling Brothers-Les Davidson-Ian Roberts defender of the match:
Jye Gray, the early leader in the 2025 Dally M player of the year, back in the team at fullback, again played above his weight in both attack and defence.
The Clive Churchill-George Piggins-Mario Fenech most inspirational moment:
The video of debutant Ryan Gray finding his grandmother in the grandstand was stirring stuff. Grandma looked immensely proud. Congratulations South Sydney player 1209.
The Phil Blake chip n chase best attacking moment
Isaiah Tass chipped over the top from a scrum for Tyrone Munro to race through and score in the 78th minute. Phil Blake himself would have approved!
South Sydney now moves on to play Melbourne on Saturday night, followed by the high-flying Dolphins in Brisbane, then Manly-Warringah.
Three more injuries came out of this match: Rabbit in the Vineyard Player of the Year leader Jye Gray will be out for eight weeks with a broken thumb, Keon Koloamatangi has an eye socket injury, and one of Wayne’s favourites, Jayden ‘Bud’ Sullivan, has joined the ‘Jack Wighton-Cody club’ with a calf injury.
Full time: Canterbury-Bankstown 24 defeated South Sydney 18
South Sydney’s points:
Tries (4): Johnston 38’, Duncan 56’, Wighton 71’, Munro 78’, goals: Humphreys 1/4
Half time: Canterbury 18-4
Penalties: South Sydney 11-4
Referee: Adam Gee
Attendance: 23,871
South Sydney team list:
Jye Gray, Johnston, Wighton (capt.), Tass, Munro, Sullivan, Humphreys, Arrow, Havili, Koloamatangi, Aikten, Duncan, Hubner, bench: Moale, Le Blanc, Tatola, Ryan Gray (debut: SSFC player 1209)
Highlights:
2025 NRL Match Highlights | Rabbitohs v Bulldogs | Round 15
Press conference:
“Maybe the rain should have come earlier” ? | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League
SOUTH SYDNEY FULL WEEKEND RESULTS
NSW Cup: South Sydney 36 d Canterbury 22
Jersey Flegg Cup: Canterbury 34 d South Sydney 30
RABBIT IN THE VINEYARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS:
3- Tallis Duncan. 2 – Keon Koloamatangi, 1 – Alex Johnston
PROGRESSIVE POTY POINTS:
17 Jye Gray, 16 – Keon Koloamatangi & Jamie Humphreys, 9 Lachlan Hubner, 7 – Campbell Graham, 6 – Tallis Duncan, 5 – Latrell, 4 – Alex Johnston, 3 – Jack Wighton, Jai Arrow, 2 – Sean Keppie, 1 – Euan Aitken, Davvy Moale, Peter Mamouzelos, Cody.
NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray
BAROSSA RED WINE OF THE WEEK
A significant entry:
1993 Irvine Merlot
My father-in-law is a ‘Baron of the Barossa’. On Sunday afternoon Mrs Hansen and I accompanied him to Jim Irvine’s memorial service at Levrier Wines, the cellar door of Jim’s daughter, Jo.
Jim was a giant of the wine industry, the ‘King of Merlot’.
After the speeches, 1993 Irvine Merlot was shared.
A special moment for a special man.
A privilege to attend, and to see only the second half of the South Sydney-Canterbury game live was a reasonable compromise!
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
Read more from Rabbit in the Vineyard HERE.
To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRL click HERE.
To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRLW click HERE.
To see the details for State of Origin in 2025 click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.
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
- More Posts
Leave a Comment