South Sydney v Canterbury-Bankstown
Good Friday ,29 March
Sydney Olympic Stadium.
THE BLAKE TAAFFE CUP
For the first time since Round 24, 2023, 12th August 2023, to be exact, Souths are back in the NRL winner’s circle!
Certainly, this was a game that will fall comfortably into the ‘a win is a win is a win’ category, alongside the ‘we will take the points’ category, and certainly not into the all-time great Souths-Dogs clashes file, headlined by both the 2014 and 1967 Grand Finals.
Big name recruit Jack Wighton scored a double after Tom Burgess crashed over earlier.
Canterbury had their noses in front at half time, 12-10, before Wighton scored his second try.
The Dogs scored late, however Souths managed a narrow win to move off the bottom of the ladder.
The Bulldogs’ off-season recruit, South Sydney 2021 Grand Final fullback Blake Taaffe, had a solid game. Some will criticise a dropped ball in the second half, however he was his usual dynamic self, running hard and looking to be a support runner.
Regular readers know how highly I rate Taaffe. He is not a superstar, not a headline grabber, however he squeezes every drop out of the orange each week and, for that, the young man has my respect.
The Mario Fenech-George Piggins inspirational play (er): Jack Wighton, in his second game for his new club, added energy, starch in defence, and more options in attack.
A clear winner of the three points in the Rabbit in the Vineyard player of the year race.
The Phil Blake chip’n’chase best attacking play: Wighton to Johnston, with Jack then backing up his winger to score a 70m try.
The Rampling brothers-Les Davidson-Charlie Frith tackle of the match: Wightonwas certainly a contender, however, a spectacular collision between the rock solid Shaquai Mitchell and Jacob Preston deserves mention here. Preston will now miss time due to a broken jaw while big Shaq will miss the Warriors clash due to concussion protocols.
FULL TIME: South Sydney 20, d Canterbury-Bankstown 16
Souths line up: L Mitchell, Johnston, Wighton, Tass, Milne, Walker, Hawkins, Tetola, Cook, Burgess, Koloamatangi, Host, Murray (capt.). Res: Chee Kam, Duncan, S Mitchell, Moale.
Souths points: tries: Burgess 9’, Wighton 13’ & 44’. Goals: Mitchell 4/5.
Crowd: 35,275.
R.I.T.V. player of the year points: 3 – Wighton, 2 – Burgess, 1 -Shaquai Mitchell
2024 Progressive P.O.T.Y. points:
Murray 7, Wighton, Koloamatangi & Cook 3, Burgess & Havili 2, Moale, Gagai, Hawkins, S Mitchell 1.
2023 inaugural winner: Cameron Murray
2023: Pie of the year winner: ‘The Angaston’ (C&M Bakery)
Highlights:
NRL Highlights: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs – Round 4 | NRL on Nine (youtube.com)
Coach press conference:
Demetriou still under fire despite first win | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League (youtube.com)
Round 5: Saturday 6 April: South Sydney (1 win-3 losses, -60, 16th) v NZ Warriors (2 wins-2 losses, +8, 10th) 3pm, Sydney Olympic Stadium.
Round 6: v Sharks (H); Round 7: bye; Round 8: v Storm (A); Round 9: v Penrith (H)
Barossa Valley red wine of the week:
Alkina 2023 Night Sky GSM (47% Grenache, 40% Shiraz, 13% Mataro)
Enjoyed at the wonderful Alkina cellar door on Easter Saturday afternoon. Call it a celebratory sip! We will certainly be returning to this wonderful cellar door on the outskirts of the lovely village of Greenock.
Alkina Wine Estates – Homepage
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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It was only a little hop last week, RITV, but at least it was in the right direction. Will it be a case of ‘from little things, big things grow’? A hop becomes a leap, then a bound and, before you know it, you’re Superman! (It’s good to dream.)
Looking forward to your article this week.
Cheers!
Karl … there is not a lot more to say, lead 4-0, lost 4-34, back to the bottom of the ladder.
Stand by for mention of not one, but two Barossa Reds!!
A great read, Russ! (Hello from the Deep North!) Is it wrong of me to have enjoyed the comment on The Rampling brothers-Les Davidson-Charlie Frith tackle of the match? I hope Preston and big Shaq are both OK!
Cheers
J