The rejuvenated Wests Tigers travelled to Accor Stadium in search of a third win on the bounce, while the South Sydney Rabbitohs looked to extend their winning run to six – they did so in workman-like fashion against a spirited Tigers team.
Result
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20
Tries: (3) Taane Milne 24th, 72nd; Latrell Mitchell 74th
Goals: (4) Latrell Mitchell 26th, 51st, 73rd, 76th
Wests Tigers 0
Tries: N/A
Goals: N/A
Report
With the weather conditions permitting good rugby, both teams brought a great amount of intensity to start the first half, with neither team giving an inch before Latrell Mitchell kicked into gear 15 minutes in and forced a goal-line drop-out with a well-weighted grubber.
The Rabbitohs couldn’t convert the pressure for the hosts but they made it pay later in the half with Taane Milne scoring in the 24th minute.
Those would be the only points of a hard-fought first half as the Rabbitohs went into the sheds 6-0 up at the break.
The Tigers’ stout defence continued into the second half, and while South Sydney pressed the Tigers’ half in the opening stages, they opted to take the two off a penalty just over 10 minutes in to stretch their lead to eight points.
The Wests Tigers weren’t without their own opportunities either, and pressed the Rabbitohs’ line soon after only for John Bateman to make an error and Wests to lose their subsequent Captain’s Challenge.
South Sydney broke down the right edge with 17 minutes of the half played, with Campbell Graham recording the line break and manufacturing a kick infield to find Lachlan Ilias, who was only fooled by the bounce and Jahream Bula cleared up to return the ball safely once again.
With both sides going hammer and tongs, Jed Cartwright took an unfortunate knock to the head and was ruled out with a Category 1 HIA with half of the second half to play.
The Tigers created a number of opportunities at the back end of the second half but a number of good scrambling defensive efforts would see them held to nothing. Having defended so well themselves throughout, Wests began to tire and were hanging on for the final 15 minutes, though a meek Rabbitohs attack couldn’t convert until 72 minutes played after being gifted good field position from a desperate Tigers attacking error. Latrell Mitchell converted and the hosts led 14-0.
The Tigers attempted a short conversion in chasing the game, but it only gifted the home side another opportunity to score, which culminated in Mitchell crashing over from short range to extend the score to 20 after converting his own try.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
2 – Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs)
1 – Taane Milne (Rabbitohs)
