FULL TIME - The Dragons turn on 3 tries in the final 10 minutes but not enough as the Rabbitohs desperately hold on for a 20-16 win
Corey Norman could've done anything in great field position but loses the ball on the last; Souths will hold on
82 seconds, 100m for the Dragons to level things out; Reminder that the Bunnies have kicked just 2/5 tonight
Norman adds the two and we're in for an exciting finish!
Down the right with quick hands, the Dragons create space and Mikaele Ravalawa just goes straight over the top of Blake Taaffe to score.
Corey Norman misses the conversion from wide out after hitting the post
Tyrell Sloan has enough of his fingers on the ball to constitute the grounding in the conrer
Tautau Moga on report for the most blatant shoulder charge you could get
Corey Norman converts from in front
Tyrell Sloan gets over after an error at the back by Taane Milne and Tyrell Sloan is on the spot to clean it up and score
Josh McGuire is given 10 minutes by Matt Cecchin for a forceful swinging arm; McGuire argued that he was falling but contact was forceful
PENALTY SOUTHS: Josh McGuire penalised for a high shot and that is absolutely flush on the jaw of Peter Mamouzelos
STREAKER TIME - Not sure how Matt Cecchin has not ruled six again after the 4th security guard flopped in and stayed in the tackle for a long time
Tariq Sims failed his HIA and is out of the contest - The lip gash would've kept him out anyway had he passed the HIA
Dragons hold on by the skin of their teeth as Souths turn on the flare but can't get over the line despite an excellent between the legs pass from Jacob Host
NO TRY Jaxson Paulo drops the ball trying to ground but Souths get a penalty for an off the ball hit
Six more tackles as the ball was touched by the Dragons and Souths are putting the pressure on the Red V's line
And there's the error that kills moment; Faamusili loses the ball as he goes towards the ground just 43m out from his own line
Both sides going tit for tat with the ball; Dragons picking up some momentum early in the sets
Ouch - Massive head clash between Tariq Sims and Jacob Host; Plenty of blood from the nose and mouth of Sims
Blake Taaffe from right on the left touchline hits the conversion sweetly and splits the uprights
It's a typical Souths play on the left but it's three different names with Ilias, Taafe and Milne all combining as Souths go out the back and Milne gets over
Dragons run it on the last and Tariq Sims last pass goes behind the winger and centre and goes into touch
SECOND HALF IS GO! Dragons need to overturn a 14-0 deficit and don't we know how dangerous that score is in the NRL
40 minutes are done - Souths despite being without key starts have been excellent out there as they lead 14-0 at the break with 3 tries to 0
Daniel Alvaro reaches up to catch a pass that probably wasn't intended for him and knocks it on
Jaxson Paulo loses the ball after Tyrell Sloan is bamboozled by the bounce off the Benji bomb and the slight touch by the desperate Sloan changes the ball flight and Paulo can't take it cleanly
Lachlan Ilias on the ground knocks the ball on after the Dragons tapped the ball backwards; Dragons scrum 10m out from the Souths line
Lachlan Ilias tried the chip and chase and but the bounce just kicks forward and away from the Souths rookie and goes for a 20m restart
Benji Marshall turning back the clock as he nails a 40/20
Blake Taaffe's conversion from the right touchline comes off the upright
Yep.... ok... well that is an odd one to say the least; Campbell Graham on replay looked as if he pushed Mathew Feagai in the back which forced him into Tyrell Sloan but bunker happy with it. Replays don't paint a good look for the bunker
CATASTROPHE AT THE BACK FOR ST GEORGE
PENALTY DRAGONS: Matt Cecchin playing advantage for Souths being offside and after Sloan knocked on, Cecch blows the penalty
Benji Marshall's kick played at by Corey Norman but Norman gets to it and pressure is relieved
PENALTY SOUTHS: Late contact the ruling from Matt Cecchin with Talatau Amone penalised for a late hit
Blake Taaffe pushes the conversion across the face of the uprights
The Dragons look to go right as Corey Norman tried the cut out pass and Gerard Beale makes a simple error and puts it down and Campbell Graham picks it up and goes the other way to score
Blake Taaffe from 30m out converts the penalty goal from in front
PENALTY SOUTHS: Matt Cecchin penalises the Dragons for a high tackle
Corey Norman kicks towards the corner and puts it into touch
NO TRY - Chris Butler in the mobile bunker says that there isn't a clear enough angle to overturn the decision from Matt Cecchin, and on replays there'd be few arguments (Unless it was me and a Panthers game)
BUNKER: Matt Cecchin wants to send up a potential try to Braidon Burns for the Bunnies; But Cecch says NO TRY thinking that Burns bobbled the ball into Mark Nicholls
The ball bounces every which way for Taane Milne but thankfully for him Jack Bird loses it after getting to it first
SIX AGAIN - First set restart of the night from Matt Cecchin goes the way of the Saints for a slow ruck
Blake Taafe's kick from about 10m to the left of the upright drilled straight into the left upright
Lachlan Ilias on debut gets a 4 pointer after his kick in behind is handled as well as Madonna handled American Pie by Mikaele Ravalawa who took 3 or 4 goes at trying to get there but Ilias chases and scores
Nothing really to speak of that exciting at the moment, both sides going through their set of six and kicking upfield
Good opening sets for both sides at getting through their sets thus far
TIME ON! Matt Cecchin for the final time calls time on and we are go on the Sunny Coast - The Rabbitohs are using the ball first
A legend’s NRL career comes to an end tonight with Matt Cecchin’s final match as an NRL referee tonight. Cecchin debuted back in 2001 and has officiated in over 500 matches as an onfield referee, Touch Judge and Video referees. An inspiration to many we salute you Cecch for everything you’ve done on field as a referee and as an inspiration to many in the community.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Touch Judges: Peter Gough, Wyatt Raymond
Video Referee: Chris Butler
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (20)
Tries: Lachlan Ilias, Campbell Graham (2), Taane Milne
Conversions: Blake Taaffe (1/4)
Penalty Goals: Blake Taaffe (1/1)
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (16)
Tries: Tyrell Sloan (2), Mikaele Ravalawa
Conversions: Corey Norman (2/3)