NO MAGIC FOR SOUTHS IN MAGIC ROUND
The celebration of rugby league that is NRL Magic Round was another comprehensive loss for South Sydney.
Random Stats Guy provided a graphic titled ‘NRL Magic Round ladder’ – South Sydney: played five, won four, lost one, points difference +38.
That list of wins even includes a big win over the Melbourne Storm in 2023.
Those numbers took a battering last Saturday afternoon as South Sydney’s passive defence allowed the Newcastle five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe to look like the best since Bobby Fulton and celebrate his 21st birthday with a hat trick of tries.
In comparison, the South Sydney halves combination looked like they’d met for the first time in the sheds pre match. Bennett finally gave the high-priced Englishman Lewis Dodd a longer run. Dodd looks to have a kicking game at least, which is something the former Tigers player Jayden ‘Bud’ Sullivan does not possess.
Souths slumped to their fourth consecutive loss and added hooker Pistol Pete Mamezoulos and the dynamo Jye Gray to the injured list.
South Sydney identity Steve Mavin, famous for his swan-diving tries as well as his part in the Tina Turner promotions back in the 80s, writes a report for his Bunnies TV page. I noted his post-match comment was: “I usually write about each Souths game, today I cannot.”
Mavo, I hear you!
South Sydney fell away very early, conceding three tries. The white hankie was up after 20 minutes.
Newcastle outplayed South Sydney in every facet of the game. In previous weeks, the Knights had been repeatedly [??] Tass scored a late consolation try.
I will leave the summary comment to a great friend Chad Stephenson, former long term Newcastle resident, former Australian relay runner, and Knights old boy, who was at the game:
“Your boys did not turn up.”
Broncos in Sydney on Friday. Latrell back from suspension. Again.
Over to you, Wayne.
A Vintage Festival portent?
FULL TIME: Newcastle 30 defeated South Sydney 4
SOUTH SYDNEY LINE UP:
Gray, Bentley-Hape, Aitken, Graham, Tass, Dodd, Sullivan, Keppie, Mamouzelos, Tetola (capt.), Koloamatangi, Duncan, Arrow. Bench: Le Blanc, Hubner, Moale, Myers
South Sydney points: Try (1) Tass 65’
Half time: Newcastle 18-0
Crowd: 39, 682 (Lang Park)
(Newcastle) highlights
NRL Match Highlights 2025 | Rabbitohs v Knights | Round 9
Press conference:
‘If they want to be paid like first-graders, they’ve got to play like first-graders’ | Fox League
Rabbit in the Vineyard player of the year points:
3 Hubner, 2 Duncan, 1 Gray
Progressive:
17 – Jye Gray, 8 – Jamie Humphreys, 6 – Lachlan Hubner 5 – Campbell Graham, 3 Tallis Duncan, Jack Wighton, Jai Arrow & Keon Koloamatangi, 2 –Sean Keppie, 1 – Davvy Moale, Peter Mamouzelos, Cody & Latrell.
NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK
Continuing with the Marananga theme:
Two Hands Brave Faces 2022 Grenache-Mourvèdre-Shiraz
2023 Brave Faces GMS – 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 (injured – for the season) South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen
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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
I’d love to offer you a glimmer of hope RitV, but in Steve Mavin’s own words ‘I cannot’.As you may recall, at SS Jnrs on 29 March, I was all high praise for SS and the WB effect….but in the words of Buffalo Springfield ‘Something’s happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear….’.
Hey RitV – I strongly suggest the hierarchy invite the incumbent PM to every game. That was an extraordinary turn of events…although I kind of wish that LM didn’t make that final play (not a good look for the player or the game). The game was won, the 80m had rolled around, the game was over – leave it at that…..
Karl: I agree re; Latrell (or, to quote Ian Hauser “bloody Latrell Mitchell!”) in the 80th minute – I was relieved those points were not the difference in the result … not a good look at all
See how Latrell goes for NSW in Origin …
Last year it was Latrell in Origin camp – foot injury – more time out of the NRL – GIVE ME STRENGTH !!