Isaiah Tass' individual brilliance has overshadowed the successful return from injury from Latrell Mitchell as South Sydney defeated a resilient Tigers side by 32-18.
It was a frantic start to the contest, with Wests' first kick going back to them after a charge down ricocheted in their direction and it appeared that luck would be going their way. However, John Bateman's pass was intercepted by Alex Johnston. The flyer ran the best part of 70 metres to cross for the opening try of the contest just outsprinting the clutches of Jahreem Bula. Latrell Mitchell converted in his first game back from a lengthy injury layoff.
After a shaky start. The Tigers capitalised on South Sydney's errors and it got them their first try. A clever grubber from Luke Brooks was spilt by Cody Walker before classy hooker Apisai Koroisau collected the scraps to level the scores. The Tigers skipper added the extras from in front of the posts to level the scores.
South Sydney eventually got the memo that they couldn't drop the ball and capitalised on some second-phase play in the middle. Fresh off a Taane Milne line-break, they shifted to the left where Mitchell found Johnston who got a magic pass to Isaiah Tass to cross in the left corner. Mitchell was unable to convert from the sideline and it remained a 4-point game.
Four minutes later, Souths crossed for their third when Tass shrugged off a would-be attempt of tackle from David Nofoaluma. He linked up with Johnston who continued his catch and pass ways crossing having to do minimal work for his second. Mitchell struggled to get his kick right from touch and it was 14-6.
Some poor discipline came back to bite the Tigers with the home side having to repel several sets on their own line. Souths made them pay when Lachlan Ilias delivered a clever kick for Keaon Koloamatangi to cross. Mitchell converted that one and the result soon blew out. The rest of the first half saw both sides have scoring chances, but for one reason or another the final pass went astray and it remained 20-6 at the half.
The Tigers played some enterprising footy to start the second half with Brooks, Bula and Koroisau combining before the captain delivered a clever grubber for Isaiah Papali'i to dive on the loose ball to score for the home side. Brooks kicked with Koroisau in pain after setting up the try. He got it from touch and it's 20-12. Wests should've extended their lead when Junior Tupou broke away but he ignored the support to go on his own, his pass back inside was put down by Koroisau and 4 points were off the table.
Wests were creating chances but execution left them short. Starford To'a split them this time, he kicked in-field and it was caught in the slip by Ilias. He was then crunched by Koroisau and he lost the ball. From that scrum, Koroisau turned provided to Fonua Pole and he charged his way over from point-blank range, the Tigers were coming back to get the Rabbitohs and the captain's conversion reduced the gap to just 2 points.
However, a Kolomamatangi line-break gave Souths some field position and eventually pressure took its toll on the last-place Tigers. After repeated possession down the Tigers' end. The left edge of Souths combined to send Johnston over in the left corner for his hattrick and try 184 for his illustrious career. With limited time to go, Cam Murray split the Tigers' defence and sold Bula a dummy back to Concord with a sensational individual try to seal the 32-18 verdict.