South Sydney Rabbitohs secued back-to-back results for the first time in 2020 in a comfortable 40-12 contest against the New Zealand Warriors tonight at Bankwest stadium.
The Rabbitohs put on a dominant performance to back up their result against the Titans. Latrell Mitchell, Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker all sparkled in the 28-point result as the Rabbitohs ran in seven tries to put the inconsistent performances of the first month behind them.
Once again, Latrell Mitchell showed his all-round skills and looked on a different planet. He had a pair of try-assists in the first half and some strong defense to show the full breadth of his game tonight and earnt the superstar fullback back-to-back Man of the Match awards.
Another bright sign for the Rabbitohs, was the work of the two halves - Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker - both crossed the stripe tonight but it was their work in support including a pair of inventive kicks from Walker, that signalled the Rabbitohs will be challenging at the backend of the season.
For the Warriors, who were in the contest in the first half, will rue some simple errors of judgment plus fortune that were cruel tonight. The Rabbitohs first two tries came from Warriors penalties and a sin-bin to Kodi Nikorima alongside two errant passes in promising attacking positions which denied them points.
Overall, tonight was a step backwards for the Warriors. Their result against the Cowboys might have inspired them but some of the play tonight will keep coach Stephen Kearney up late tonight as they try to get back on the front foot this season with inconsistency starting to creep in from the Warriors after a positive start.
Welcoming back David Fusitu'a, the Warriors were first to strike through the gun winger off a sweep play before Campbell Graham made it 6-6 from a jinking effort. From there, the Rabbitohs piled on three straight tries through Braidon Burns, Reynolds and Alex Johnston to lead 22-6 at the break.
The second half brought much of the same as Walker, Damien Cook and a second to Johnston got them past the 40-point mark as the the Rabbitohs has started to warm up for the season. Warriors did find a late consolation through Agnatius Paasi but that was scant consolation in a bumbling performance from the Warriors.