Beanies for Brain Cancer Round
NRL Round 17
Dolphins v South Sydney
Lang Park, Saturday 28 June 2025, 7:50pm
A CRICKET SCORE FOR THE DOLPHINS IN BRISBANE
During a week when the credentials of the Australian cricket team’s top order were justifiably and repeatedly questioned, Wayne Bennett’s previous club, the Dolphins, racked up a cricket score on Saturday night at The Cauldron.
Undoubtedly, a most satisfying win for Wayne’s former assistant coach at the Dolphins Kristian Wolfe.
How things have changed since Round 1, when the weather event that was Cyclone Alfred resulted in the NRL rescheduling the corresponding game from Lang Park to Parramatta Stadium, where South Sydney duly won 16-14, with Tyrone Munro scoring a double.
South Sydney scored first on Saturday night. Latrell found space down the Bunnies’ favoured left side, before managing a miraculous offload to Jack Wighton to score at the Milton Road end, very near where John Sutton scored on debut, as a centre, in Round 17, 2004. [You are a true Rabbitoh, RITV – Ed]
The Dolphins soon clicked into gear. Young gun halfback Katoa repeatedly mesmerised the Souths defence.
Pre-match, the Fox League panel were looking forward to the battle of the fullbacks: Latrell, and the Dolphins speedster, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. It was the ‘Hammer’s’ 100th NRL game. He celebrated in style, scoring four tries.
The aging Cody returned to the South Sydney line up for just his eighth game of 2025, and did some good things in attack, including setting up two tries in as many minutes for young Tallis Duncan. In his comeback from a groin injury, Cody left the field during the second half with a hamstring injury. The very thorough NRL physio (aka Brian Seeney on Twitter) subsequently listed Cody’s 2025 injury woes as: calf, calf, groin, hamstring, hamstring.
There is much comment about the resigning of Cody on a one-year extension for 2026. He will be 36 years of age during the 2026 pre-season. Many experts point to Cody’s age when he debuted (26) however, after 220 NRL games, Father Time may have caught up with the mercurial five-eighth.
The Dolphins were never seriously threatened in this game. At 30-6 at half time, the game was as done as a contest. As South Sydney wallow in 16th position, injuries is the excuse often put forward for the alarming inconsistencies in performance. The Dolphins, like most other clubs, also have injuries to key players, including forwards Tom Gilbert, Thomas Flegler, Max Plath and Daniel Saifiti.
South Sydney’s next opponents are: Manly-Warringah, the bye, Penrith, Cronulla-Sutherland and Brisbane.
The Clive Churchill-George Piggins-Mario Fenech most inspirational player:
Jack Wighton certainly played one of his better games in the cardinal and myrtle, since leaving Canberra in search of a premiership. His former club are sitting pretty on top of the ladder. Wighton moved to five-eighth when Cody left the field.
The Rampling Brothers-Les Davidson-Ian Roberts tackle of the match
Not awarded. [Funny – Ed]
The Phil Blake chip n chase best attacking moment:
The opening try of the match: Latrell creating a try for Jack Wighton with a freakish off load only the players like Latrell can execute.
Full time: Dolphins 50 defeated South Sydney 28
South Sydney team list: Latrell, Johnston, Wighton, Graham, Munro, Cody (capt.), Humphreys, Keppie, Havili, Koloamatangi, Aitken, Duncan, Arrow, bench: Mamouzelos, Hubner, Moale, Tatola.
South Sydney scorers: tries: (4) Wighton 3’, Duncan 52’, 54’, Wighton 65’, Moale 68’, goals: Latrell 4/5
Half time: Dolphins 30-6
Penalties: Dolphins 6-5
Referee: Todd Smith, bunker: Kasey Badger
Attendance: 22, 107
Highlights
2025 NRL Match Highlights | Dolphins v Rabbitohs | Round 17
Press conference
‘Probably Not’: Wayne’s Hammer call for Queensland… | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League
RABBIT IN THE VINEYARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS:
3 – Jack Wighton, 2 – Tallis Duncan, 1 – Davvy Moale
PROGRESSIVE POTY POINTS:
19 – Keon Koloamatangi, 17 – Jye Gray, 11 – Jamie Humphreys, 9 Lachlan Hubner, 8 Tallis Duncan, 7 – Campbell Graham, 6 – Jack Weighton, Alex Johnston & Latrell, 3 – Jai Arrow, 2 – Davvy Moale, Sean Keppie, 1 – Euan Aitken, Peter Mamouzelos, Cody.
NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray
SOUTH SYDNEY FULL WEEKEND RESULTS
NSW Cup: Newtown 42 defeated South Sydney 18
Jersey Flegg Cup: Sharks 40 defeated South Sydney 14
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK
Pindarie 2023 T.S.S. (Tempranillo Sangiovese Shiraz)
In my (unofficial) Barossa ambassador role, I took a great friend and former colleague to the magnificent Pindarie cellar door for lunch. He was suitably impressed with the wine, and the home-made lamb pi
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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