The Late Mail: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
2 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
SOUTH Sydney have come up with an Anzac Day great escape with a heartstopping 28-26 victory over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Five days after the Tigers-Eels classic on Easter Monday, 44,122 fans were treated to an end-to-end spectacle which ended in controversial circumstances following a Sam Burgess charge down.
With the scores locked at 26-all Burgess charged down Broncos halfback Ben Hunt's attempted field goal before racing 30 metres down field. Hunt then chased down the Rabbitohs enforcer with the collision jolting the ball loose.
Unfortunately for the Broncos and their fans referee Gavin Badger ruled it was a two-man strip which allowed halfback Adam Reynolds the opportunity to land a 35-metre penalty goal with 90 seconds left on the clock to put the visitors back in front and into seventh position on the NRL ladder.
Broncos captain Corey Parker was lost for words after the game.
"I'm not sure what we can or can't say but it is disappointing," he told Channel Nine.
Coach Anthony Griffin refused to blame the controversial decision for his teams demise.
"We are finding ways to lose in most ridiculous ways," he said.
The Rabbitohs exploded out of the blocks to race out to an early 14-0 lead before the Broncos created a comeback of their own to take a 16-14 lead to the break.
The highlight of the first half was Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis racing 90 metres to score a brilliant solo try.
Broncos fullback Ben Barba attempted to chip over the top and create something but the ball bounced perfectly for Inglis who evaded numerous attempted tackles.
The home side extended their lead early in the second half when hooker Andrew McCullough dummied and burrowed under Sam Burgess who was slow to cover at marker.
Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds provided the class over the final stages of the match with his kicking game forcing several dropouts which contributed to tiring the Broncos defence.
He said the win was due to the platform of the players up front after the Broncos surged back into the game by scoring 22 unanswered points of their own.
"That's (the win) just all the hard work from the forwards.
"They (Brisbane) came back at us which we knew they would and then we gave ourselves a chance to win the game."
BRISBANE BRONCOS (26)
Tries: Andrew McCullough (2), Lachlan Maranta, Matt Gillett, Jack Reed
Field Goals:
Conversions: Corey Parker (1/3), Ben Hunt (2/2)
Penalty Goals:
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (28)
Tries: Apisai Koroisau, Alex Johnston, Greg Inglis, George Burgess, Kirisome Auva'a
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)
LATE MAIL: Brisbane Broncos - Josh Hoffman has been ruled OUT, Justin Hodges has been given the 5/8th duties. Lachlan Maranta shifts to centre in Hodges' place.
Good evening footy fans and welcome to Suncorp Stadium for the final match of a bumper Anzac Day edition of the Telstra Premiership. I trust you've all had a yarn and shouted a digger a beer and are now going to settle in for the night.
As reported during the week Nathan Merritt has been dropped by Rabbitohs coach Michael McGuire. He's replaced by debutante Alex Johnston in the only change to the side named on Tuesday.
South Sydney are led out onto Suncorp led by John Sutton. They'll stand on their 40m line alongside the Broncos ahead of the Anzac Day service in the leadup to kickoff.
We're about ready to get underway here in Brisbane. The Broncos will have first use.
We're underway!
1: Broncos through the first set and Inglis with the ball.
2: Te'o charges into the Broncos defence and comes up with the error. A bit of push and shove follows.
4: Barba's bomb is a little pointless and bounces into touch. Souths scrum.
6: Sutton says lets get out of here and puts boot to ball.
7: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible South Sydney try.
7: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Apisai Koroisau. Kick to come.
Korisau opens the scoring after some brilliant leadup work by Inglis.
8: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds converts the try after the Broncos defence fell off Inglis who set up his hooker to score alongside the posts.
10: Maranta knocks on just a few metres from his own line. Souths on the attack.
11: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Souths try.
11: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
The debutante scores the first try in his career after Reynolds chipped over the up-and-in defence of the Broncos.
12: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds hooks the conversion to the left of the posts. No goal.
14: Rabbitohs run the ball on the last and Barba scoops up the ball on the 30m line.
15: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Greg Inglis. Kick to come.
Inglis scores an absolutely sensational try! Barba chipped over the top before the Souths fullback scooped up the ball and raced 90 metres, brushing away Brisbane defenders like flies.
15: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds pushes the sideline conversion across the posts. No goal.
19: Inglis is called out of the play luckily for the Broncos. Barba takes the bomb.
19: Copley comes up with an error for the Broncos and the red and greens will go on the attack again.
21: Koroisau finds Luke Burgess charging onto a pass under the posts but he puts it down. If he holds it he scores. Broncos scrum.
23: Hunt's kick goes dead. 20m restart. Broncos kicking game awful at this stage.
24: PENALTY Rabbitohs. Koroisau finds McCullough offside.
25: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Rabbitohs try.
25: No Try. Walker is ruled to have knocked on chasing Reynolds kick into the in-goal.
26: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Brisbane try.
26: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Andrew McCullough. Kick to come.
McCullough scores a much needed Brisbane try. The home side ran the ball on the last and Copley kicked ahead before Inglis knocked on. McCullough then scooped up the free ball to score out wide.
27: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker pushes the conversion attempt from out near the western touchline to the right of the posts. No goal.
28: PENALTY Broncos. Koroisau doesn't roll out of the ruck and Hodges milks it well.
29: PENALTY Broncos. Luke Burgess with his hand on the ball.
30: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Brisbane try.
30: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Kick to come.
The Broncos go back-to-back through Maranta and they're back in the game! Hodges fired a perfect cutout pass to his winger who crossed in the corner, forcing the ball ... just.
31: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Parker comes up with a gem from the sideline. Game on folks!
32: Double kick from the Broncos and Goodwin gets possession for the Rabbits but Maranta grasses him in-goal. Rabbits dropout.
34: Granville tries to force a pass out the back but Inglis gets a hand to it. Broncos scrum 10m from the Rabbits line.
35: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Broncos try.
35: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Matt Gillett. Kick to come.
Gillett has out wrestled four South Sydney defenders on their line to bang the ball down and we're all locked up!
36: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Ben Hunt successful.
Hunt pilots the ball over the black dot to put the home side in front for the first time tonight.
37: Hunt plays it smart and dribbles the ball into touch. Souths scrum 15m from their own line.
40: Hunt kicks back towards the posts but Inglis is aware of the danger and picks it up.
40: Barba is thrown into touch and the Rabbitohs try to quickly pack the scrum but the siren sounds.
40: Halftime at Suncorp and after trailing 14-0 the Broncos lead 16-14.
41: The Broncos get us underway for the second stanza and it promises to be a beauty.
41: Barba juggles Reynolds' kick on his own line. Backwards, no drama.
42: PENALTY Broncos. Hunt goes to the air and Oates has the ball stolen in a two-man tackle. Early chance for the home side.
43: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Andrew McCullough. Kick to come.
McCullough dives over ad scores the easiest of tries to extend the lead. It's a typical dummy from the Brisbane hooker and the Rabbits defence fell for it.
44: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Ben Hunt successful.
Hunt puts the home side out by more than a converted try early in the second half.
46: The Rabbitohs knock on and the Broncos have possession near halfway.
47: Hodges tries to throw a pass on the inside as he goes towards the sideline. Rabbitohs ball.
48: Barba calmly takes the bomb on his own line and heads up field.
48: PENALTY Broncos. Turner ruled to have come in below the knees.
50: Goodwin latches onto an errant pass from the Broncos and the Rabbitohs go on the attack 50m down field.
51: PENALTY Rabbitohs. Broncos offside.
51: PENALTY Rabbitohs. Two man strip from Glenn.
51: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by George Burgess. Kick to come.
Big George ducks under an average attempted tackle from McCullough to cross alongside the posts.
52: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds converts the Burgess try to close the gap to two.
54: Reynolds stabs a kick towards the goal-line but Barba picks up the ball.
56: Burgess grubbers into the in-goal and Johnston tries to flick a miraculous pass from the first row of the grandstand which goes forward.
58: Great set from the Broncos. They go 90m and Souths work the ball off their own line.
59: McCullough chips over the top and appears to be taken out before it looks like Inglis knocked on but the referees thought otherwise.
62: Sutton kicks into the in-goal to force a repeat set.
63: Reynolds kicks into the in-goal with a perfectly weighted grubber. Broncos dropout.
64: Outstanding goal line defence from the Broncos repels three successive sets. Could have won the game there. They work the ball up field.
65: Hunt runs the ball on the last and they get caught in possession through McGuire.
65: Sutton knocks on after the ball spews out of the grasp of McQueen.
67: PENALTY Broncos. Hannant has the ball stolen by Burgess as he went to play it.
68: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Broncos try.
68: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Jack Reed. Kick to come.
Jack Reed scores the try for the Broncos off a perfect Ben Hunt grubber as the home side kick clear again with 12 to go.
69: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker pushes the conversion across the face. No goal.
70: Hannant comes up with the mistake as the Broncos work the ball up field. Rabbitohs back on the attack.
71: Reynolds kicks for Walker back under the posts but Hunt is there to bat it dead. Brisbane dropout.
72: The Rabbitohs throw the ball away and then Copley loses it but then McQueen gets possession back. Souths back on the attack!
73: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Rabbitohs try.
73: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Kirisome Auva'a. Kick to come.
Auva'a scores out wide for the Rabbits after we checked for obstruction. Reynolds with a chance to lock us up!
74: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds adds the two from alongside the posts. We're all square.
75: Sutton put boot to ball and Vidot has possession 20m from his own line.
76: Scrappy play from the Broncos with a lot of hail mary plays but they give the ball back right on the Rabbitohs line. Not a bad outcome.
77: Burgess loses the ball in a big hit from Alex Glenn. Broncos 40m out. Full set of six.
78: Burgess charges the field goal down before the Rabbitohs get a penalty for a strip!
78: Hunt is ruled to have stripped the ball which would seem to be an incorrect call. Reynolds with the penalty attempt.
78: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Penalty goal attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds pilots the ball between the uprights to put the Rabbits back in front!
80: Kickoff finds touch! Broncos scrum with 46 seconds left on the clock.
80: Vidot is bundled into touch with 10 seconds left on the clock just a metre short of the line. Heartbreak for the Broncos.