Tigers account for
paltry Bunnies

Round 12
South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 v Wests Tigers 44
at Telstra Stadium
Referees: Paul Simpkins

Match Summary:
The Wests Tigers have obliterated a winless South Sydney Rabbitohs by 44-4 at Rugby League Headquarters in Homebush.

The game began innocently enough, with a few early exchanges resulting in some positive plays for Souths who were searching for their first victory of the season. Given Wests? inconsistent form of late combined with a disappointing loss last week, this game was seen by many as a potential upset in the making.

But any thoughts of a boilover quickly evaporated when the Tigers began scoring points at will, rapidly pushing Souths out of the contest.

Halves Benji Marshall and Scott Prince lead the way for the visitors with a devastating break by Marshall instigating the first try to rookie winger Taniela Tuiaki in the 12th minute. Prince broke through six minutes later with a good solo try to push the lead out to 12-0 and put the Bunnies on notice.

They tried hard for the remainder of the half but dropped balls and missed tackles were destroying their chances of getting on the board, with some sloppy finishing by the Tigers effectively keeping them in the game.

Prince added his second on the stroke of halftime and with the conversion by NSW fullback Brett Hodgson the Tigers held a strong lead going into the break.

Things continued in the same fashion throughout the second half, with tries to Hodgson (44th minute), Heighington (52nd), Collis (61st), Farah (69th) and Prince who completed his hat-trick with 9 minutes remaining.

A late try to capable winger Nathan Merritt will serve as little consolation to the home side as they slump to their 11th defeat of the season and their worst loss since Round 16 against the Storm last year (48-6 at Olympic Park).

What can you say about this team? As he tries to guide them towards their first win of the year, coach Shaun McRae must feel as though he?s milking a he-goat into a sieve. Their defence certainly had more holes today than that simple kitchen utensil and it won?t be getting any easier for him next week as they head to the Nation?s Capital to take on a Canberra Raiders outfit fresh from knocking over the Cowboys last night.

Surely his tenure at Redfern must come into question after such a poor start to the year and at this critical stage as they attempt to rebuild the club. They would be looking to enter the player and purchase a number of quality players to bolster the first grade squad but that is unlikely given their position at the bottom of the ladder.

For the Tigers I?m sure they?ll be happy that they won and remain in touch with the competition leaders, but I wouldn?t expect them to be doing any cartwheels around the dressing sheds. It?s good that they managed to invigorate their playmakers in Marshall, Prince and Farah who have been a bit below-par recently. They face North Queensland at Telstra next week in the second Grand Final replay of the year, and it should serve as a good indication of where they are placed. The only negative for them today would have been letting the Rabbitohs in for a try.


Scorers:
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 4
Tries: Nathan Merritt
Wests Tigers: 44
Tries: Dean Collis, Robert Farah, Chris Heighington, Brett Hodgson, Scott Prince(3), Taniela Tuiaki
Goals: Brett Hodgson 5/7, Taniela Tuiaki 1/1

By the Clock:
Cool but sunny day at Telstra Stadium. Plenty of pressure on the Rabbitohs to break through for their first victory of the year. Likewise the Tigers are looking to make up for a disappointing loss to the Warriors last week.

1 min: NEWS And we're underway in the first half through the Tigers.

5 min: NEWS The Rabbitohs enjoying some early possession here and finding some holes in the Tigers defence. They'll need to convert it into points.

12 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Wests open the scoring for the day with a solid try to young winger Taniela Tuiaki who made his debut last week after a sensational break from Benji Marshall. Hodgson adds the extras and the Tigers hold the lead early.
Tigers 6-0

18 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Tigers halfback Scotty Prince keeps the momentum going with a solo try to push the Tigers further in front. Hodgson adds the extras and the Tigers are looking good.
Tigers 12-0

25 min: NEWS Possession has moved well back into the control of the Tigers and they are making plenty of metres into the Rabbitohs defence.

30 min: NEWS The Rabbitohs are dropping off plenty of tackles and having to do plenty more work with and without the ball than the Tigers.

38 min: NEWS The Tigers are dominating the game but are unable to put the Bunnies away at the moment. They're making good yards and holding onto the ball but can't cross the stripe. This is more or less keeping Souths in the game 2 converted tries adrift.

40 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Prince breaks the Bunnies apart again in the dying stages of the first half to ram home the advantage for the visitors who are looking very comfortable with this lead now. Hodgson converts and this is a very good lead for the Tigers.
Tigers 18-0

40 min: NEWS Halftime: The Tigers are dominating now and leading well following that late try. Same old story for Souths though as they continue to turn the ball over and fall off tackles. We have seen them score quick tries and mount comebacks early in the second half, but this looks too much for them.

41 min: NEWS The Bunnies kick off to start the second half with plenty of work to be done.

44 min: TRY Wests Tigers
The Tigers begin the second half well with Hodgson backing up to score a good try and push the Bunnies out of touch. He can't convert but the visitors hold a strong lead.
Tigers 22-0

52 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Forward Chris Heighington gets in on the action with a strong barging run close to the line. Souths are hopeless at the moment, making things easier for the Tigers. Hodgson adds the extras.
Tigers 28-0

60 min: NEWS A quarter of the game remaining and the Tigers are very much in control. It will be a relieving victory for them after last week's loss and they will keep in touch with the competition leaders.

61 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Dean Collis continues the carnage out at Homebush with another try. The Rabbits are full of holes. Hodgson fails to convert but it won't make much difference.
Tigers 32-0

69 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Up-and-coming hooker Robbie Farah burrows over for another meat pie. Hodgson converts and things are looking ugly.
Tigers 38-0

71 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Halfback Prince caps off a hat-trick as the Tigers are running riot and throwing the ball around like mad. Tuiaki has a crack at goal-kicking and puts it over.
Tigers 44-0

79 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Rabbitohs winger Nathan Merritt grabs a consolation try for teh Bunnies. He fails to convert.
Tigers 44-4

80 min: NEWS The Tigers run-out 40-point winners against a woeful Rabbitohs outfit.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Scott Prince
2 - Brett Hodgson
1 - Robert Farah
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