2024 NRL Round 27
South Sydney v Roosters
Friday 30 August 8:00pm,
Sydney Olympic Stadium
Ron Coote Cup – farewell Thomas Burgess & Damien Cook.
Not one, but two other events clashed with Souths’ last game of 2024.
Hard to believe file: Souths did play finals in 2022, did play in the 2021 Grand Final, did lead the competition last year. When your team is looking at 16th place, cooking the barbeque for the St Petri Lutheran Church men’s shed monthly gathering, then attending a school trivia night at your wife’s school easily take priority.
Souths limped to the last round of the home and away season, hoping to farewell two long serving players in a positive way.
Thomas Burgess’ last game for Souths (his 249th – second only to John Sutton) was the end of an era. His brothers Luke, Sam and George all went before him at Redfern.
My great friend Rob Bush and I saw Thomas’ NRL debut in Round 15, 2013 on a gloomy Sunday afternoon at Homebush, after having lunch with Jason Death, Rabbitoh 950, who played 44 of his 201 NRL games for Souths.
Quite an afternoon!
Last week, after a reasonably tight 14-10 score at the break, the Sombrero skipped out to a comfortable 26-10 lead before Souths scored three late tries.
The Ron Coote Cup was comfortably won by the Sydney City Roosters with an aggregate score of 84-34. That aggregate total sums up South Sydney’s defence in 2024. Noted, there is now a stat from ‘NRL physio’ with a list of games lost through injury this year – Souths are on top of that ladder with 213 games, the Warriors a distant second with 140.
As incoming coach Wayne Bennett is quoted about defence in Andrew Webster’s 2023 book ‘The Wolf you feed’:
”Defence – a good line in defence is a sure sign a team is playing for each other and the coach.”
Souths leaked 30+ points for the tenth time this season in this game.
We rusted on South Sydney members can only hope the reasons for these injuries are investigated in a genuine review, unlike the 2023 window dressing process that saw the 2023 mid-season slide continue throughout 2024.
Latrell, who has been given his final warning (again), also missed games through suspension. And who would have ever thought Cameron Murray would be suspended twice in the same season? Give me strength.
Half-time: Roosters 14-10
FULL TIME: Easts 36 d South Sydney 28
Souths points: tries (5) Gray 22’, Walker 33’, Munro 70’, Burgess 73’ Gray 78’, goals: Cook 2, Burgess 1, Hawkins 1.
Souths team list: Gray, Munro, Milne, Kennar, Gagai, Cody,Hawkins, Burgess, Cook, Moale, Koloamatangi, Host, Duncan. bench: Mamouzelos, Le Blanc, Keppie, Havili
Penalties: Sydney Roosters 9-7
Crowd: 19, 674
“Highlights”:
NRL 2024 | Rabbitohs v Roosters | Match Highlights (youtube.com)
Press conference:
Souths look to next year after poor season | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League (youtube.com)
R.I.T.V. Player of the year points:
3 – Cook, 2 – Burgess, 1 – Gray
FINAL SCORES:
Murray 20, Cook & Gray 17, Wighton 16, Koloamatangi 12, Moale 11, Burgess 9, Duncan 8, Latrell 7, Arrow 5, Gagai 4, Hawkins & Munro 3, Havili & Cody 2, Myers, S Mitchell and Milne 1.
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK:
The Redeemer Lutheran School trivia night meant the sharing some outstanding local produce – including at our table, a 2004 Rockford Basket press Shiraz. Superb!
There were also members of the Kalleske family at the table – Kalleske Wines at Greenock have been crafting outstanding wine since 1853.
My contribution: from a wonderful cellar door at Marananga: Two Hands Gnarly Dudes 2022 Shiraz
2023 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz – Two Hands 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
To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRL click HERE.
To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRLW click HERE.
To see the details for State of Origin in 2024 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
You made the right choices, RITV. I made the mistake of watching the Broncos v Storm – should have watched ‘Gardening Australia’ instead perhaps. See you next week!
Admittedly I’ve only been a South’s tragic since 2000. But this year felt strangely comforting. As if returning to a norm, after a decade of generally making the preliminary final, coming third or even second.
Looks like you need some form of distraction (or therapy) Russel. Come to our book launch on Sunday the 22nd and just around the corner from you. IJH will be there, and then joined by JTH at a soiree at our place after the launch. Pizza to follow. All Almanackers welcome, especially if you enjoy (and bring along) wines of the calibre that Russel drinks. Hopefully will see you soon! (2-4pm Langmeil Church Hall, Tanunda. Sunday September 22nd. RSVP to [email protected] ALL welcome)