South Sydney Rabbitohs outclass Wests Tigers

The South Sydney Rabbitohs marched on with a classy 32 points to 10 victory over the Wests Tigers on Friday night at ANZ Stadium.

Doubles to youngsters Alex Johnston and Kyle Turner, supported by one for Nathan Merritt continued a solid run of form with Souths winning their last 4, and 6 of their last 7 games.

Johnston kick started the night for Souths with a 13th minute try after Sutton's kick found Luke who could give a short pass to Johnston for a simple finish in the corner. Kyle Turner joined the party with a 28th minute minute try as he sliced through a broken Tigers defensive line after a scrum win. Souths headed into the break with a solid 12-0 lead with the Tigers struggling to create changes against a big, physical Souths forward pack. Mick Potter would've been disappointed with his side's lack of ball control giving a strong team like Souths too many opportunities. 

Tigers started off the 2nd half well with Richards kick off to begin the half finding Turner who was forced into touch. A few plays later Blake Austin forced his way over from close range in the 42nd minute to get the Tigers on the board. The men in orange would've been immensely disappointed as just a few minutes later, some dodgy defense allowed Alex Johnston to scoot 60 metres away from would be tacklers to score under the posts for his 2nd try of the night on the 44th minute. 

Souths increased their lead in the 52nd minute when Merritt linked up with Burgess with Merritt offloading for Burgess for Burgess to return the favour and Merritt could dart away to extend Souths lead. Tigers gave themselves a sniff when Tedesco scored a great solo try in the 61st minute after a Brooke kick was knocked back by Simona and 'Teddy' kicked the ball ahead for himself to score. Tigers weren't able to find the line again. Adam Reynolds increased the lead on the 71st minute after Pat Richards inexplicably kicked the ball out on the full from a drop out. Kyle Turner grabbed his 2nd for the night on the 77th minute to put icing on a Souths cake after some good lead up play from Luke to set him up in the corner that brought us to our final 32-10 scoreline.

Souths coach Michael Maguire would be mostly happy with his side's effort, but ball control would definitely be something to work on. Tigers coach Mick Potter would probably want his side to control the ball better, complete their sets, and look for better 5th tackle options. Both teams will now have a break with a guaranteed 2 points next week with the bye. The bye looks to have come at a good time for the Tigers, while the bye may halt Souths momentum. 

Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 20,721
Halftime Score: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 Wests Tigers 0

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Sam Burgess
2 points - Adam Reynolds
1 point - James Tedesco

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (32)
Tries: Alex Johnston (2), Kyle Turner (2), Nathan Merritt
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

WESTS TIGERS (10)
Tries: Blake Austin, James Tedesco
Conversions: Pat Richards (1/2)

UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Martin Taupau makes an unforced error.
Taupau knocks on, on the first play! Rabbitohs in great field position early in this one.

UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Joe Picker makes an unforced error.
Picker knocks on from a high Sutton pass.

3: Merritt denies Richards in the corner after great lead up play involving Brooks and Lawrence.

4: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Ben Lowe makes an unforced error.
Ben Lowe knocks on in the tackle after strong Tigers defense.

5: Brooks puts in a grubber on the last for Merritt to plant in-goal. Drop out for the Tigers.

6: Brooks grubber bounces high and Turner does very well to gather it and he is tackled in goal. Another drop out for Tigers.

7: PENALTY TIGERS. Tyrrell holding down in the play the ball.

8: Oh Patty Richards! Brooks pass scraps past Sironen and Richards drops the ball over the line!

10: Charge down! Picker has the ball just 10m out from the Tigers line. Now a penalty for Souths. They have a full set on the Tigers line.

11: Reynolds pass is intercepted by Brooks who just can't hang onto the ball.

13: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Sutton's crossfield kick is allowed to bounce by the Tigers and the ball bounces into the arms of Luke who gives Johnston a simple task to plant the ball in the corner.

14: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds nails his conversion from the sideline.

15: Souths go the length of the field with Reynolds grubber fielded by Richards to bring back.

16: Penalty Rabbitohs. Blair penalized for being too long in the tackle.

17: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
George Burgess makes an unforced error.
Burgess knocks on after an attacking Souths set.

21: Both teams trading completed sets with Brooks kick finding touch 10m out from the Rabbitohs line. A breather for both teams after a high tempo first 20 minutes at ANZ.

22: Luke has the ball stripped and Merritt can dive on it for six more tackles.

22: Penalty Souths. Luani holding down the play the ball.

23: Reynolds kick is knocked back for Merritt to regather and give to Luke who gives to Auva'a who is tackled just a centremetre short of the line.

25: A promising set from Souths ends with Merritt finding a gap but in the process of trying to offload the ball he loses it.

25: Blair is penalized for a high shot on Luke.

26: Great set from Souths see them go close in one corner with good defense from Tedesco. Next play, Auva'a has the ball trying to find the corner, but he is forced over the touch line by determined Tigers defense.

27: Not good play there by the Tigers. Lawrence is forced into touch by strong Souths defense.

28: Sam Burgess has stayed after getting a shot from Sue.

28: Reynolds tries a cheeky chip over to the corner, but Richards just gets there ahead of Johnston and the ball goes out into touch.

28: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Kyle Turner. Kick to come.
Souths win the scrum feed and Turner strolls through a huge gap from Sutton's pass.

30: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds converts simply from in front of the big sticks.

33: Brooks kicks high for Thompson to take, but he's tackled on the last.

33: Austin knocks on from an attempted intercept.

35: Reynolds grubbers for himself for Anasta to dive in.

35: Tigers once again are forced over the touch line with Simona picked up and dragged over. Enthusiastic Souths defense.

36: Sutton's short ball to Burgess is knocked on.

37: Penalty Tigers: One of the Burgesses is penalized.

38: Brooks kicks to the corner for Turner to knock on. Six more for the Tigers.

39: Brooks kicks on tackle three for himself, but Luke can clean it up.

40: Rabbitohs with a controlled half outplaying the Tigers and they lead by two converted tries at the break.

40: Pat Richards gets us back underway.

40: The short kick off works! Turner dragged into touch.

42: Penalty Tigers. Souths markers not square.

42: Austin looks to have scored here. Video referee assistance needed.

42: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Blake Austin. Kick to come.
Austin forces his way over from close range. Tigers reduce the deficit.

43: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Richards converts.

44: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Johnston has gone straight through! He races away 60m to score under the posts. Poor defense there.

45: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Simple conversion for Reynolds from in front.

49: Both teams trading sets now with the frantic start petering out a little bit.

50: A high bomb is knocked on by Merritt. Good attacking set opportunity here for the Tigers.

51: Oh what a terrible mistake there. Lawrence knocks on from Austin's pass on the first tackle.

52: Penalty Souths. Blair penalized for a hand in the ruck.

52: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Nathan Merritt. Kick to come.
Merritt adds 1 more try to his ever increasing tally after he offloads for Burgess, and he offloads back for Merritt to duck under a tackle and slide over the line.

54: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds makes no mistake with the conversion.

56: Halatau runs into the hip of Burgess and he stays down. Let's hope he's alright.

57: Knock on Souths. Tigers change over.

57: Another penalty here for Tigers. George Burgess holding down in the tackle.

59: Lawrence knocks on from Brooks pass just 5m out from Souths line. Another attacking opportunity lost for the men in orange.

60: Tedesco makes a fantastic break for the Tigers he goes from his 20m line to Souths 20m line!

61: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by James Tedesco. Kick to come.
Brooks goes high and the ball is knocked on by Tuqiri with the help of Simona who knocks it back and Tedesco kicks the ball ahead for himself and plants the ball just before the dead ball line.

62: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Richards hits the post!

63: Penalty Souths. Tigers players inside the 10.

65: Knock on Souths. Tom Burgess loses the ball in tough Tigers defense.

66: Austin's high bomb goes way too deep and bounces over the dead ball line.

67: Oh so close for Souths. Koroisau finds space and he offloads for Merritt but his pass finds the ground for a Tiger to pounce on.

68: Richards finds space down the wing for the ball to be knocked back by Reynolds. Now Turner has knocked on.

69: A promising set for the Tigers ends in disappointment with Austin knocking on.

70: Penalty Souths. Galloway and Luani holding down in the tackle.

71: Reynolds grubber is gathered by Simona but he is tackled in goal.

71: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Penalty goal attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds kicks in straight through the sticks from right in front after Richards kicked the ball out on the full from the drop out.

75: Reynolds kick finds touch 10m out from the Tigers line. Game drawing to its inevitable conclusion.

76: Brooks tries a chip, but the ball is caught well by a Burgess brother.

76: Tom Burgess now knocks on from a tough, flat pass.

77: Tigers now knock it on with Souths now looking to put icing on the cake. Penalty Souths now after a high shot on Luke by Tedesco.

77: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Kyle Turner. Kick to come.
Turner now has a double after some tired Tigers defense crumbles for the fifth time tonight.

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds converts well from just inside the touch line.

80: Souths run away with it in the end outclassing the Tigers 32-10