Canberra v South Sydney
Canberra Stadium
Sunday 28/7/24, 6:15pm
I switched over from the Olympics for this …
Prior to this fixture, Souths’ finals hopes had regressed from slim to feint, to pretty much ‘miracle required’.
After ten minutes in Canberra, it was obvious – the Raiders had come to play – Souths for whatever reason, were not playing like their season was (somehow?) on the line.
The Raiders had a simple game plan: to hit Souths weaker right side in defence – run at the stand-in captain and former goal kicker, Cody, as well as Michael Chee Kam.
Chee Kam had a forgettable night, along with several of his teammates.
The Raiders scored two converted tries within the first twelve minutes. Souths, on the other hand, looked like they were still on the team bus.
Apart from aiming at the suspect right side, Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty peppered Souths back three with towering kicks.
Alex Johnston, the prolific try-scoring winger ruptured his Achillies tendon in the first half to rub more salt into the wound.
24-8 at half-time possibly flattered Souths. The Fox League commentators described Cody’s 39th minute try as ‘keeping Souths in the game’. I saw the comments as a ploy to stop Souths fans turning back to the Olympics coverage.
The second half was more of Canberra playing like a team wanting to push for finals, Souths struggling to stay in the contest, and this rusted-on Bunnies member looking forward to the fulltime hooter and a return to the action in Paris.
One of the more forgettable moments in the second half saw Canberra hoist two kicks in the same movement. Both times Souths failed to attack the high ball, resulting in yet another Raiders try.
Young forward Tallis Duncan scored his first try of the season and made 47 tackles. Duncan featured in the ‘Bloke in the Bar’ shining lights list during the week. In another questionable selection decision, this week Duncan has been demoted from the starting side to the bench.
Souths scored three unconverted tries. Damien Cook was the preferred goal-kicker in this match.
We look forward to the debut of Fletcher Myers this week, a goal-kicking winger who will replace Alex Johnston, yet another player added to the long-term injured list.
I hope Wayne arrives at Redfern (Maroubra) with a very strong wheelbarrow. He certainly has a big job in front of him.
Souths play on Saturday night at Shark Park. The athletics program will be underway in Paris … Cronulla-Sutherland v Souths may be an ABC listen app scenario this week.
Full Time: Canberra 32 d Souths 12
Souths points: tries (3) Milne 30’, Cody 39’, Duncan 60. Goals: Cook 0/3
Souths line up: Gray, Johnston, Milne, Chee Kam, Gagai, Wighton, Cody, Moale, Cook, Keppie, Host, Duncan, Koloamatangi, bench: Mamouzelos, Havili, Burgess, Le Blanc.
Crowd: 12,114
Half-time: Canberra 24-8.
(Canberra) Highlights:
Raiders v Rabbitohs – Round 21, 2024 | NRL.com
Press Conference:
Hornby confident Souths can improve | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League – YouTube
R.I.T.V. Player of the Year:
3 – Jye Gray, 2- Tallis Duncan, 1 – Davvy Moale
Progressive:
Wighton 14, Cook & Koloamatangi 12, Murray 11, Burgess & Gray 9, Duncan 8, Latrell 7, Cook 6, Arrow 5, Moale, Gagai and Latrell 4, Hawkins, 3 Havili, Cody 2, S Mitchell and Milne 1.
BAROSSA RED WINE OF THE WEEK
St Hallett Eden Valley 2022 Garden of Eden Shiraz
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 (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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