South Sydney Rabbitohs secured a 20-16 victory over the Wests Tigers in a recent match held in Gosford on Saturday. The game saw Wests Tigers' halves Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi exit the field due to injuries in the final quarter, with both players anticipated to undergo scans.
Match Overview
The South Sydney Rabbitohs established an early 12-0 lead within the first eight minutes of the game, with tries scored by Jye Gray and Jack Wighton on the right edge. Despite trailing, the Wests Tigers recovered to lead 14-12 by halftime. The Rabbitohs regained the lead in the second half, ultimately securing a four-point victory.
First Half Events
After conceding two early tries, the Wests Tigers responded with a try from Samuela Fainu, assisted by Api Koroisau. Heamasi Makasini then scored following a fumble by Moala Graham-Taufa.
An eight-point try was awarded to Makasini after high contact from Latrell Mitchell, which resulted in Mitchell being placed on report. This sequence dramatically shifted the score from 0-12 to a 14-12 lead for the Tigers at the break. During the first half, South Sydney's defense notably repelled 26 consecutive Tigers play-the-balls on their try line, spanning seven sets.
Second Half Developments
South Sydney regained the lead in the 53rd minute when Alex Johnston scored, set up by Latrell Mitchell after a Jamie Humphreys kick. Doueihi then leveled the scores at 16-all in the 60th minute with his second penalty goal of the game.
Alex Johnston then scored the decisive match-winning try following a Cody Walker grubber kick, which Jeral Skelton failed to field. This try occurred after Luai's exit from the field. Johnston also made a critical defensive play late in the game, recovering a Doueihi grubber with two minutes remaining.
Player Injuries
Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai left the field in the 67th minute with a knee injury. At the time of his withdrawal, the scores were tied at 16-all. Adam Doueihi sustained a right hamstring injury in the 78th minute while pursuing the ball. Both players were injured while chasing their own kicks and are expected to undergo scans.
Key Player Contributions and Statistics
Individual Contributions:- Alex Johnston (South Sydney): Scored the match-winning try and assisted in regaining the lead for South Sydney. He also made a crucial defensive play late in the game.
- Jye Gray (South Sydney): Named Player of the Match, recording one try and one try assist, alongside multiple last-ditch tackles.
- Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney): Assisted in a try and was placed on report for high contact on Heamasi Makasini, which resulted in an eight-point try.
- Heamasi Makasini (Wests Tigers): Scored an eight-point try but also made an early dropped ball that contributed to an opposing try.
- This marked South Sydney's 10th victory in 12 games against the Wests Tigers since 2020.
- The Wests Tigers recorded four linebreaks to South Sydney's three, held 53% possession, and completed 45 tackles in the opposition 20-meter zone compared to South Sydney's 16.