Afternoon delight for rampaging Rabbitohs

South Sydney have consolidated their second position on the ladder, with a ruthless 50-10 victory over the Newcastle Knights in front of 11,570 fans at Barlow Park, Cairns. 

For a competition that spouts the competitive nature of all it's participants, it was mostly one way traffic in Cairns today. South Sydney put their foot on the Knights throat in the 14th minute and didn't let up for the entire contest including a perfect 21 of 21 completion rate in the first half in which they amassed 28 points. 

Despite missing Sam Burgess and Ben Te'o through injury and suspension respectively, the forwards marched on for the Rabbitohs even earning a position on the scoresheet. Tom Burgess and Chris McQueen with simple efforts from close range late in the half, that typified the game-plan, roll on, stick to your plans and scoring points.

The Rabbitohs boost one of the more thrilling and explosive back-lines in the NRL with the two lesser lights taking center stage in the first half. Lote Tuiqiri was energized by the Cairns air, turned back the clock, taking kick returns at speed and showing his experience, sliding in for a try in the 22nd minute. 

Besides Tuiqiri and captain Greg Inglis, who got himself on the score-sheet just after the break, to make his captaincy debut a touch more memorable, it was the youngsters show at Barlow Park. Walker, Johnston and Auva'a will be three names to etch into the notebook for future representative honours. 

Johnston has created a reputation as a finisher in only a dozen NRL games. The winger scored two doubles in his previous two outings before adding a hat-trick this afternoon, reminding the Knights the reparations for any side, that can't complete their sets against the Rabbitohs. His first two tries came from simple Knights handling errors including a long range effort before a scrum play, straight from their Redfern base, completed the trifecta. 

Dylan Waker who ended the day in the halves after the early exit of Adam Reynolds, added another highlight to his burgeoning reel in the NRL over the last few years. He was a constant nuisance for a bewildered Knights outfit plus was involved in a try of the season candidate from a superb McQueen through ball. 

Last but not least, Kirisome Auva'a opened the scoring in the opening quarter where the centre displayed some fleet-footed skills of his own before combining with partner Dylan Walker to latch onto his brace and a comprehensive win for the South Sydney side. 

For Newcastle, who are eliminated from finals contention, officially now, had a bright patch when the Rabbitohs took a power nap just after the resumption. Jake Mamo with an effort that is becoming typical for wingers in the corner and a burrowing effort from Adam Clydsdale gave the Knights something from their trip to Northern Queensland. 

Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 50 Newcastle Knights 10
Venue: Barlow Park
Crowd: 11570
Halftime Score: South Sydney Rabbitohs 26 Newcastle Knights 0

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Issac Luke
2 points - Alex Johnston
1 point - Adam Reynolds

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (50)
Tries: Kirisome Auva'a (2), Lote Tuqiri, Thomas Burgess, Dylan Walker, Chris McQueen, Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston (3)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/9), Issac Luke (0/1)
Penalty Goals:

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (10)
Tries: Jake Mamo, Adam Clydsdale
Field Goals:
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (1/2)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

TEAM CHANGES:

SOU: There has been more shuffling than a cashier's deck, for the Rabbitohs. Starting at the back, Lote Tuiqiri comes in for Bryson Goodwin and the expected change in the halves, Luke Keary coming in for the injured John Sutton. The forwards sees Ben Lowe and Joe Picker start for Ben Te'o and Sam Burgess respectively. The bench now reads Clark, T. Burgess, L. Burgess and McQueen.

NEW: One change through injury for the Knights, Kade Snowden is OUT with David Fa'alogo starting now. Joseph Tapine comes onto the vacant bench spot. The other change is cosmetic, as Travis Waddell starts for Adam Clydsdale.

Welcome to Cairns for this afternoon's clash - South Sydney taking their home game on the road, against the Newcastle Knights. Both teams are coming off wins last weekend, with Newcastle knocking off the Roosters and Souths piling the misery on Canberra, at home. This afternoon is a game that Souths, will want to win, to keep their two point gap on the chasing pack in third and fourth. Join us at 3:00PM AEST for LIVE coverage.

Both teams are out onto the field here at Cairns. Knights out first, to a smattering of applause. Next out - the home side, who get a generous hand from the Cairns locals, at Barlow Park.

1: KICK-OFF! Newcastle with first use.

5: First PENALTY of the afternoon to the Knights.

12: A solid opening here. Minimal errors and field possession.

12: PENALTY Souths - Knights offside.

14: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Kirisome Auva'a. Kick to come.
The soft penalty brings the Knights downfall. Luke centered the ball with his run. Keary next tackle, takes it left to Auva'a who just jinks, steps and gets it down in the corner.

15: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Adam Reynolds who had an ordinary night with the boot last weekend, has a hard opportunity to start off. It wasn't one for the highlight reel.

20: The Rabbitohs engineer something on last tackle there, as Reynolds took it down the shortside before getting it back and chipping, into the hands of Willie Mason! who was doing clean-up.

22: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Lote Tuqiri. Kick to come.
The Cairns air seems to agree with the aging winger. He started this set with a catch on the full, bringing it to halfway. Now he finished it, being on the end of the backline movement.

23: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Can the out of sorts Reynolds sort out his kicking? Nope, he hooked it again.

27: PENALTY Souths - Knights markers weren't square after Dylan Walker recovered the ball.

28: Now, a strip PENALTY against the Knights. Souths right on the attack now.

29: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Thomas Burgess. Kick to come.
A burrowing effort.. from Tom Burgess, he juuust got it on the line, maybe.. ref has called it though.

30: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
You could hear the sigh of relief from Reynolds, as he has an attempt from in front. He duly makes it 1/3.

35: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Walker. Kick to come.
A lovely chipped assist from Chris McQueen there, a start for the Socceroos beckons? Reynolds chipped it firstly for himself, missed it, McQueen kicked it and Walker just pounced on the half volley.

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds with another easy one, puts it over.

38: 40/20 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Adam Reynolds kicks a 40/20.
Whoops, Mata'utia loses his bearings and allows the Reynolds kick to go out for a 40/20.

39: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Chris McQueen. Kick to come.
Chris McQueen - gone from football superstar to inspector gadget. Luke to Keary to the onrushing McQueen who stretches out for the fifth Rabbitohs try.

40: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
He's found his kicking boots! Reynolds boots his third in a row.

40: HALFTIME :: It's been a mauling from the Rabbitohs in the first half.

40: We're back for the second half here. Can Newcastle salvage something? or will the Rabbitohs run away with it.

41: Souths with first use. Here we go!

41: PENALTY Souths - we continue where we left off.

43: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Greg Inglis. Kick to come.
Captain Inglis has a try! Keary to McQueen to Inglis who has the easy run to the line.

44: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Adam Reynolds makes it 32-nil.

45: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Greg Inglis makes an unforced error.
It took 45 minutes before South Sydney made an error.

46: Followed by a PENALTY for Newcastle. Can they get on the board?

47: Another PENALTY for Newcastle. Quick tap and it's another PENALTY. Inside the ten.

48: Tyrone Roberts playing the possession game, earning the Knights a repeat set.

49: VIDEO REFEREE: Has Mamo added his name to the wingers honour board?

49: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Jake Mamo. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! The offload opened things up for the Knights, as Mamo took flight to cross in the corner.

50: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley unsuccessful.
Gidley misses.

51: Rabbitohs clocking off slightly? Walker kicks out on the full!

52: VIDEO REFEREE: Adam Clydsdale might have scored, checking the burrow?

53: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Adam Clydsdale. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Clydsdale is deemed to have had enough control. He must have grip like Shaq to keep control of that.

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Gidley converts the second.

56: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Chanel Mata'utia dropped the ball and the Rabbitohs nerve center made him pay. They went left and the hot potato hands, saw Alex Johnston score untouched.

58: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds hooks it right.

59: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Issac Luke makes an unforced error.
Issac Luke makes Souths second error of the contest.

61: Some desperation play on the last from Newcastle earns the repeat set.

62: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Two errors from the Knights, two tries to Alex Johnston. The winger just on point after the Beau Scott was dropped and took the offload, going the rest of the way.

63: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
It's from in front and Reynolds adds the two.

65: A pinpoint kick from Adam Reynolds trapped Mamo, needing to take that in-play before he was driven back. Dropout.

66: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Ben Lowe makes an unforced error.
Ben Lowe goes without the ball. It's just getting a bit sloppy from the Rabbitohs here.

69: Alex Johnston pinged for tackling the player in the air.

72: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Jake Mamo makes an unforced error.
Points for trying Newcastle. They attempted a backline sweep from their own end and it went through Mamo's hands.

73: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Once again, it was simple play. From the scrum, it was shoveled wide to guess who? Alex Johnston who has a hat-trick.

74: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
A touchline conversion for Reynolds, who puts it against the post.

75: VIDEO REFEREE :: Checking onside and obstruction, Auva'a the scorer.

75: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Kirisome Auva'a. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Nothing wrong there, Roberts made the bad read, so Walker went through the line, chipped for Auva'a who regathered, scoring and getting the half century.

76: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Issac Luke unsuccessful.
Issac Luke taking duties from the early subbed Reynolds. Can he make it 1/1 from the sideline? Nope, he struck it well though.

77: PENALTY Souths - well milked Lote.

80: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Kirisome Auva'a makes an unforced error.
Rabbitohs looking for some icing for a delicious winning cake. Auva'a spills it.

80: FULLTIME :: Afternoon delight for the rampaging Rabbitohs.