2023 NRL Round 3: Roosters 20, Rabbitohs 18

The Sydney Roosters have won a battle with the South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-18 to write another chapter in their intense rivalry.

Result

Sydney Roosters 20
Tries: Brandon Smith (33), Daniel Tupou (37), Jaxson Paulo (46, 66)
Goals: Sam Walker (38, 47)

South Sydney Rabbitohs 18
Tries: Keaon Koloamatangi (8), Alex Johnston (13), Izaac Thompson (78)
Goals: Latrell Mitchell (9, 40, 79)
Field Goal:

Report

Another highly anticipated Roosters and Rabbitohs clash began with a bang. The early high intensity contact resulted in Rabbitohs forward Hame Sele getting a concussion in the first minute. Shaking off the loss of Sele, the Rabbitohs set the tempo early. Keaon Koloamatangi broke through a tackle to score the game’s opening try inside 10 minutes. Fending off the Roosters attack, the Rabbitohs scored again. This time a Latrell Mitchell cut-out pass put Alex Johnston over for a try.

Trailing by 10 points, the Roosters desperately fought to wrestle back the momentum. The intensity of the contact remained high from the Rabbitohs, which made it difficult for the Roosters to find any rhythm. Making matters worse, Victor Radley left the field for a HIA. Despite losing Radley, the Roosters finally got on the board when Brandon Smith broke through to score. With the Rabbitohs on the back foot, the Roosters struck again to even the scores when Daniel Tupou scored off a Luke Keary kick.

However, the Rabbitohs edged back ahead with a penalty goal right on the stroke of halftime.

The second half started at a frantic pace, with Campbell Graham making a long break. The Roosters scrambling defence was up to the task and held the Rabbitohs at bay. Turning defence into attack, the Roosters hit the lead when Nat Butcher setup a try for Jaxson Paulo. For the next 20 minutes the two sides battled back and forth, trading sets and errors as fatigue began to set in.

The errors continued to be rampant and desperation defence was the only thing holding the margin at four points. Eventually the Roosters took a step towards victory when Jaxson Paulo scored his second try. In the last five minutes, a scuffle ensued when Joey Manu hit Isaiah Tass late and high. The result was two sin-bins, one for Manu and other for Michael Chee-Kam. The Rabbitohs managed to score one final try through Izaac Thompson, but they ultimately fell short. The Roosters holding on to record an intense 20-18 win.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS

3 – James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
2 – Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
1 – Nat Butcher (Sydney Roosters)