Round 8
Melbourne Storm v South Sydney
Friday 25 April
AAMI Park, Melbourne
The most lop-sided rivalry in the NRL continued on Anzac Day in Melbourne when the purple team chalked up their twentieth straight home win over Souths.
The challenges continue to grow for Wayne Bennett, as Souths slumped to their third consecutive loss, subsequently lost more players to injury, as well as Latrell’s unavailability for Magic Round due to suspension.
The half-time score of ten-all gave Souths supporters some hope, however a litany of errors from the visitors in the second half paved the way for yet another Storm victory – from the kick off, which went over the sideline, gifting Melbourne possession and field position, to Latrell being sin binned for a high shot on the dynamic Storm player Sua Fa’alongo. Earlier in the game, Fa’alongo had run rings around Souths’ defence to score, following Papenhuyzen’s similar effort.
The try that turned the game would be a moment rookie winger Bayleigh Bentley-Hope would not want to see too often on replay. Boom Storm second rower Eliesa Katoa scored a try off a kick by simply contesting the ball, whilst the Souths winger’s effort was not of NRL standard.
From there, the game had an eerie inevitability about it as a contest. One of the great rugby league names, Wishart, as in the former Illawarra Steelers and New South Wales goal-kicking winger, Rod … Tyran Wishart, the son of Rod, then put the game to bed with a try in the 65th minute.
Jack Wighton then scored his second try for Souths late in the game, after great lead up work from the dynamo Jye Gray, however the Storm were not going to crumble in the last ten minutes of the contest, even playing a man down with Papenhuyzen first to the hot water after his sin binning, following a Storm captain’s challenge.
Wighton played superbly in a beaten side, however once again Souths gained little ascendency through the middle, Latrell’s kicking game, when he was on the field, was typical Latrell: inconsistent and, too often, the Storm were able to make easy metres through the middle of the field.
I am not getting any younger but hope to one day witness Souths breaking their Melbourne drought.
This game illustrated the gap between Souths and the top four teams. Yes, Souths have an exceedingly high number of injuries again this season, however the player depth is not as it should be.
The top teams have a ‘next man up’ mentality, while Souths are struggling in this area. Souths lack on field direction and leadership, including both a long and short kicking game capable of forcing repeat sets.
Wayne Bennett has coached a record number of games in rugby league. He is apparently desperate to be the first coach to win NRL premierships at three different clubs. There is a long, long way to go with this current team to be a potential top eight team, let alone make an impact in September.
What will be the response in Magic Round versus another struggling team, the Newcastle Knights?
Full time: Melbourne 24 d South Sydney 16
Souths line up: Latrell, Bentley-Hape, Wighton, Graham, Gray, Sullivan, Keppie, Memouzelos, Tetola, Koloamatangi, Aitken, Arrow. Bench: Havili, Moale, Duncan, Dodd.
Souths points: tries: Wighton 15’, Bentley-Hape 31’, Wighton76’, goals: 2/3
Half time: 10 all
Sin bin: Latrell 49’, Papenhuyzen 71’
Crowd: 26, 010
Highlights:
NRL Match Highlights 2025 | Storm v Rabbitohs | Round 8
Press conference:
Hornby shares funny reason why Wayne Bennett is a no-show at Presser | NRL on Nine
Rabbit in the Vineyard Player of the Year points:
3 Jack Wighton
2 Jye Gray
1 Tallis Duncan
2025 PROGRESSIVE:
16 – Jye Gray, 8 – Jamie Humphreys, 5 – Campbell Graham, 3 Jack Wighton, Jai Arrow, Lachlan Hubner & Keon Koloamatangi, 2 – Sean Keppie, 1 – Tallis Duncan, DavvyMoale, Peter Mamouzelos, Cody & Latrell.
NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray
BAROSSA RED WINE OF THE WEEK
A very difficult choice this week, given 2025 Barossa Vintage Festival.
We spent a great day at the Stockwell Hotel, featuring eight Northern Barossa winemakers, including Tomfoolery winemaker Ben Chipman.
What a magnificent drop Ben’s Black & Blue Shiraz is!
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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I went to Melbourne in hope yet again, and came home without a win, yet again.
Good report, Russel, I too had some hope at HT but a few schoolboy errors meant Souths didn’t have a hope in the second half.
I don’t think I’ve been to all 20 losses, but definitely more than 15 of them. Trouble is, I have to keep going now because I’m NOT going to miss the first win, whenever it may be.
brilliant, Mark! I have only seen one of the 20 losses live, the golden point loss in 2022
the win in Melbourne WILL happen .. soon! we live in HOPE
I have a great Midnight Oil story for you – thanks to a surgeon who did a great job just before Easter when I had minor ‘old man’ (hernia) surgery – I won’t go into the details here now!