South Sydney v NQ Cowboys
Optus Stadium, Perth
Saturday 12 April
The penultimate day of the Australian athletics championships coincided with the NRL Round 6 fixture between Souths and the Cowboys at the shiny Optus Stadium.
During the week, local newspaper coverage was (approximately) 85% AFL, AFL and AFL, along with some (15%) very good athletics coverage of Gout Gout, and many other deserving track and field athletes.
The NRL double-header (Manly played Cronulla in the early game, 1pm Perth time) received far less coverage than the national athletics championships.
Athletics in Australia is certainly on the rise. I left the national championships for a couple of hours and missed the build-up (the running of the all-important 100m semi-finals) before the finals of both the men’s and women’s events at 7pm. Bruce McAvaney later stated: “I don’t think we have ever seen a better night (of domestic athletics) in Australia”.
Optus Stadium has a capacity of 60,000. On a warm afternoon, the vast expanses were just over half full. The voice of athletics (Bruce) would not have been overly inspired by this NRL fixture …
Still, I was looking forward to seeing Souths play live for the first time since Round 19 last year at Redcliffe, a 28-36 loss to the Dolphins in game where we seemed to lack a serious goal-kicking option. Move on RITV, move on!
Fair to say this game won’t be remembered as a classic either. However, I did enjoy the Cowboys’ early tactic of opening the scoring with a penalty goal. “Take the two (points)!” – one of the great old rugby league calls from the terraces. Could have been at the Oakey Bears, or Kingaroy Red Ants back in the day!
Latrell, playing in the halves due to Cody’s hamstring injury, again showed why he needs to be in the ‘front line’ when he conjured a skilful offload for the Scottish international, another of Wayne’s former Dolphins, Euan Aitken’s first try in Souths colours.
The Ian Roberts-Rampling brothers – Charlie Frith defender of the match:
Sean Keppie was first into the showers, sin binned in the dying minutes of the game (77th minute) however, not long before he received his marching orders, Keppie put a huge hit on his Cowboys opponent when the contest was still somewhat in the balance.
The Clive Churchill – George Piggins-Mario Fenech inspirational player:
Jai Arrow, fatherhood during the week, followed by his usual tough contribution to the cause on the field. As always, Arrow plays above his weight, battling through injury.
The Phil Blake ‘chip n chase’ best attacking play:
Jye Gray – with the old fashioned ‘wrap around’ try. The current Dally M player of the year leader popped the ball to Latrell, who attracted plenty of defensive attention. Gray then wrapped around the back of Latrell, as he would have done umpteen times on the rugby field at The Southport School, and deservedly scored near the posts. The good, old fashioned ‘wrap’!
Much in the same vein as the North Queensland boys ‘taking the two points’ from 15m out to open the scoring. I do love ‘old fashioned!’
The bunker played its controversial part, with a hip drop tackle that wasn’t, however Souths made too many errors, several leading to the Cowboys scoring.
Souths next two games, versus the undefeated Bulldogs and then the Storm, in Melbourne, where Souths are yet to taste victory (Melbourne did enter the competition in 1998) will require better defence, and far fewer errors.
More challenges for Wayne Bennett’s men.
I did make it back to the national athletics championships for both 100m finals. Both were top shelf. Kudos to the gold medallists Torrie Lewis (St Peters Lutheran College Senior 2022) and Olympic semi-finalist, Rohan Browning.
Full time: NQ Cowboys 24 d South Sydney 12
Souths points: Tries (3) Aitken 22’, Arrow 44’, Gray 72’. goals: Latrell (2/3),
Souths team list: Gray, Johnston, Euan Aitken (Souths debut – number 1207), Tass, Latrell (captain), Sullivan, Keppie, Mamouzelos, Tetola, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Hubner. Bench: Le Blanc, Havili, Duncan, Moale.
Crowd: 31, 347
2025 RABBIT IN THE VINEYARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS:
3 points: Jye Gray
2 points: Jai Arrow
1 point: Peter Mamouzelos
2025 PROGRESSIVE:
12 – Jye Gray, 8 – Jamie Humphreys, 3 Jai Arrow, Lachlan Hubner & Keon Koloamatangi, 2 Campbell Graham and Sean Keppie, 1 – Peter Mamouzelos, Cody & Latrell.
NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray
HIGHLIGHTS:
NRL Match Highlights 2025 | Rabbitohs v Cowboys | Round 6
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Bennett’s take on Jack Wighton’s controversial hip-drop tackle call | Rabbitohs Press Conference
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK
Kies, the cellar door across the road from Barossa Park, the AFL Gather Round venue.
A well-travelled bottle of 2023 New Kids on the Block Grenache
Kies at Scarborough Beach, WA
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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Jye Gray is proving to be undroppable! I saw him play in the NSW Cup at North Sydney last year or the year before. He’s got a great footy brain, excellent spatial awareness and a very good tackling technique as well as being fearless. A classic case of the size of the fight in the dog as opposed to the size of the dog in the fight.
Such tradition RITV: ‘Take the two’ and a wrap around try. Any hint of ‘Get’em on-side’?