Scintillating Souths seal finals berth

South Sydney have shown off their premiership credentials today, thrashing Wests 32 points to 6 in front of 29,863 fans at ANZ Stadium.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, it was a clash between two sides with contrasting form guides, with Souths eyeing second spot while Wests were looking to put distance between them and the pack.

The Rabbitohs looked like a side, hungry for a return to glory but were forced to defend early doors when Wests made a few visits to their twenty metre zone but were repelled on each occasion.

Souths would counter attack with John Sutton playing like a world beater, busting through the line at will. It was Nathan Peats who is deputising for Isaac Luke who would open the scoring with a dart from dummyhalf.

He doubled the dose in the 26th minute with the same play to give South Sydney a 14-0 lead after soaking up the early pressure. With their tails up, John Sutton burst through again sending Merritt away for a 20 point lead at halftime.

Attitude would be the only thing standing between Souths and a large scoreline but they dispelled that when they were called on to defend their line. They created a wall and it was Tiger proof.

This attitude was rewarded when Jason Clark got the ball and was determined to cross the stripe. He just kept pumping the legs and got the result he wanted, so did Souths, making it 26-0.

It wouldn't be a Rabbitohs game without Adam Reynolds being involved. He went down the short side and weaved his way past the defense, holding the ball up for Dylan Farrell to add his name to the scoresheet.

Reynolds made no mistake all day with his conversions, nailing all six just adding to his case for rookie of the year.

Tigers got a consolation when halves partners Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall combined for the latter to cross from a grubber kick. The game petered out from the 60th minute and Souths ran out comfortable winners, 32-6.

South Sydney now have second spot to themselves and will go on the road next week to face the resurgent Gold Coast. Wests Tigers meanwhile are in a dogfight for eighth spot and face Parramatta.

Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32 defeated Wests Tigers 6
National Rugby League - Round 21 - Sunday July 29, 2012 3:00pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Referee: Tony Archer and Brett Suttor
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Paul Holland and Ricky MacFarlane
Crowd: 29,863
Halftime: South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 Wests Tigers 0

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - John Sutton
2 Points - Adam Reynolds (5 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
1 Point - Sam Burgess

South Sydney Rabbitohs (32)
Tries: Nathan Merritt, Jason Clark, Dylan Farrell, Nathan Peats (2)
Field Goals: Adam Reynolds (0/1)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

Wests Tigers (6)
Tries: Benji Marshall
Conversions: Benji Marshall (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome rugby league fans, to a cloudy ANZ Stadium where the Olympic cauldron is lit and so is the competition for spots in the top eight. This afternoon, we have South Sydney hosting Wests Tigers who have been hit heavily by injury. Souths have their own concerns though, with fullback Greg Inglis out along with Isaac Luke who is still suspended.
In the Toyota Cup curtain-raiser, Souths have withstood an early onslaught from Wests which produced 20 points in as many minutes to win 36-30.
TEAM CHANGES

South Sydney: They have no changes to their line-up announced on Tuesday.

Wests: Tim Moltzen is out and joins Chris Lawrence, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Curtis Sironen on the injured list. Tim Simona goes to fullback in jersey #25, Beau Ryan goes to the centres and Marika Koroibete will DEBUT on the wing in #23.

As reported earlier this week, Benji Marshall goes to five eighth with Robbie Farah in the halves, putting Masada Iosefa to hooker. Wests bench now reads Moors, Bell, Cashmere and Humble.
If you want to keep updated on all the news happening in rugby league, follow @LeagueUnlimited and use the hashtag #NRLsouwst to discuss this afternoon's game.
Tigers have hit the field and are followed shortly by South Sydney.
1 min: KICK-OFF! South Sydney will take the first set.
6 min: After a safe start.. Souths concede the first penalty, for holding down too long.
11 min: Tigers have been the dominant side in the opening ten minutes, having a few looks at the Rabbitohs line but no tries thus far.
12 min: Marshall uses the short kick early in the count and it bounces past Hunt who has to take it dead. Dropout.
15 min: Reynolds kicks it early in the count and forces an errors from the youngster... wait it will be a penalty, attacking the kicker by Gareth Ellis.
VIDEO REFEREE: Checking if Nathan Peats has scored from dummy-half, checking grounding and Farah not square.
18 min: TRY
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Nathan Peats goes himself on last, finds a slack marker and dives over! Reynolds from out wide, makes no mistake.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0
20 min: Tigers had all the momentum but it's swung now. Souths earn a penalty from a Blair strip.
22 min: PENALTY GOAL
Souths weirdly opt for the penalty goal. Reynolds slots it.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 8-0
23 min: MCQUEEN has busted them! He's almost into the clear from a Sutton pass but Ryan rounds him up. Tigers concede the penalty though, for being offside.
24 min: Another penalty against the Tigers.
VIDEO REFEREE: Peats might have a brace early. Checking grounding.
26 min: TRY
All the penalties have tolled on the Tigers. Peats fooled everyone, going himself again.. getting it down between Ryan's legs for the four pointer. From right in front, Reynolds again is perfect.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 14-0
30 min: Six more as it's touched by the Rabbitohs winger. Tigers right on the attack.
31 min: Marshall puts in a high bouncing grubber to trap Hunt. Another set coming for the Tigers.
32 min: Tigers run it on last.. Marshall to Simona to Koroibete who juggles it and knocks it on.
34 min: TRY
John Sutton takes it to the line, bursts through and only has Beau Ryan to beat, draws him and sends Nathan Merrit away for a TRY. Reynolds again from in front, converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-0
36 min: Souths are bursting through at will here. Dave Taylor is through the line, offloads and Reynolds is almost there. Peats goes himself on last but is caught.
38 min: Blake Ayshford with a strong tackle to deny Souths. Their FIRST error, just before halftime.
40 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
Why not..Reynolds on last just before halftime, tries a field goal but it is wide. HALFTIME.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-0
41 min: Here come the two sides for the second half. Will the Rabbitohs run riot again? or can the Tigers stage a comeback.
Reynolds puts boot to ball and we're back underway!
44 min: Taylor with a run more suited to a train, gets the forward momentum going for Souths. Next, Sam Burgess is almost into the hole but he's dropped it.
45 min: Souths are slowing it down and are duly penalised.
46 min: Now a penalty for a facial. Tigers are on the 10 metre line.
46 min: Tigers just can't get anything going.. Utai coming back on the inside, spills it.
48 min: Souths throwing it like a hot potato and it's INTERCEPTED. Tigers have thrown it right back to them.
49 min: Sloppy end to an entertaining set, Dave Taylor puts it cross for the winger but it's too wide.
50 min: Matt Utai is struggling with Matt King holding on, like a bad smell.. penalty for the strip.
52 min: Tigers are repelled again and Dave Taylor is in the clear.. LOOK OUT! He's tackled though.
58 min: TRY
Shortside play, to Reynolds who weaves in and out to confuse the winger, holding it up long enough for Farrell to come up in support to score! Reynolds makes no mistake at all.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-0
59 min: Penalty against the Tigers, holding down too long.
61 min: TRY
The offloads and strong runs are killing the Tigers. They are just waiting for fulltime here. Jason Clark goes for another strong run and keeps pumping until he slams it down over the tryline. Reynolds makes it six from six.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-0
63 min: A knock on by Jason Clark. Tigers have a chance to restore some pride.
65 min: A good spell of possession for the Tigers here with a six again plus a penalty.
66 min: Tigers are going nowhere but sideways there is no way to get through. They will get another set though, because Everingham touched the ball going into touch.
VIDEO REFEREE: Checking onside, for a Marshall try.
68 min: TRY
There wasn't a way through using the hands, so let's try feet and it works! Marshall swoops on a Farah grubber to score. Marshall quickly converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-6
69 min: Marshall tries to spark something on last.. runs but caught.
71 min: Marshall tries a kick for his winger, hits a Souths player and cleaned up by Souths.
73 min: Marshall goes the width of the field in a sideways direction. He tries to find Simona but it goes over the sideline.
74 min: Knock on Taylor.
76 min: Utai keeps struggling and it works, earning a strip penalty.
VIDEO REFEREE: Checking obstruction and put down. Ryan could have a try.
77 min: NO TRY! Michael Croker was obstructed by Robbie Farah.
78 min: Rabbits try a trick shot to give the fans a grandstand finish but it's held. Changeover.
79 min: Knock on by Dave Taylor. All just going through the motions now.
79 min: Knock on by Dave Taylor. All just going through the motions now.
79 min: That sums up their afternoon.. Marshall goes for a kick for Koroibete, it goes out on the full.
79 min: Merritt feeds the scrum but it GOES AGAINST THE FEED!
80 min: Marshall kicks it again for Simona but it's dropped. FULLTIME. A dominant display by Souths.