FULL-TIME: Brisbane 28 def Souths 18
Successful.
Against some fatiguing defence. Latrell Mitchell burns the defence for a 50 metre individual try.
Walsh's kick goes dead.
Mitchell manhandled by Riki!
SIX AGAIN SOUTHS: Regrip by Brisbane.
Ilias recovers for Souths.
Walsh kicks it !
Mariner put the icing on the cake with a Phil Blake-esque chip and chase over the top of Alex Johnston to cross for the Broncos to put the exclamation point on a dominant second half.
VIDEO REF SOUTHS: Sutton has NO TRY - looking for interference. Johnston knocked on and it'll be red lights.
Souths taken on the last. Needed some more desperation.
Walters is taken short.
6 MORE BRISBANE: Ruck infringement.
Reynolds is OFF!
Ilias puts it down.
Souths will get another set. Walters getting ready to come on for Adam Reynolds according to Ben Te'o.
Souths shift and they put it down.
Walsh adds the extras and it's 22-12.
Reynolds down with what looks like a lower leg injury.
MAKE A SHOOTING STARS MEME OUT OF THAT ONE! Walsh ran it on the last down the left finding Cobbo who found Arthars before kicking back in field. Mitchell mistimed the footy and Walsh was there to pick it up and cross for his second of the contest.
Reynolds limping with trainer.
That new obstruction rule on kick chasers presents a real challenge. No doubt a crackdown needed but runners are going to find ways to get around it!!
PENALTY SOUTHS: Obstructing kick pressure.
PICKED OFF! Alex Johnston picks off Walsh!
6 MORE BRISBANE: Inside 10m
Souths just struggling with 5th tackle options.
Payne Haas coming back on
Brisbane complete their set after points.
No good!
Brisbane capitalised on some possession down the Rabbitohs end of the field. Walsh created some lovely second phase out to the left and Arthars finished off in the corner to retake the lead.
SIX MORE BRISBANE: Slow peel.
Nice link work from Fletcher Baker finding Walsh who grubbers and they'll get a repeat set.
This game is absolutely bonkers. Kick is played at and Cobbo runs down field with a full set to play with. Now Brisbane on the attack.
Reynolds kick is played at and Walker sprints away. He gets a suspect pass away to Mitchell and Souths on the attack. The pass in question looked off the ground!
Murray puts it down. Piakura gets some redemption for the poor read before.
Trell locks us up at 12.
Off the back of a flop in the ruck from Billy Walters. Havili turned provider this time with a lovely short pass to Davvy Moale who crashed over next to the posts.
PENALTY SOUTHS: Flop by Billy Walters.
Trell converts.
After gifting possession away in the first half like it was a closing down sale. South Sydney crash over first to start the second half with a determined effort by Siliva Havili.
Jesse Arthars fails to take possession of the bomb! Great chance for the Rabbitohs.
KICKOFF! Sutton's whistle blows and we're underway for the second 40. Thankfully, Souths played as bad a first half as we've seen in a while. Let's hope the errors aren't around for a while longer.
HALF-TIME: Brisbane 12 lead Souths 0
Tass bundled into touch! Cobbo has handled his assignment with ease
Hethrington puts it down!
PENALTY BRISBANE: Obstruction with use of blockers.
He copped a high shot but wasn't reportable.
Trell Mitchell down injured.
Souths have B O M B E D IT! Trell and Cody combined so well but they can't finish it.
Davy Moale ON REPORT! Spearing into the legs.
PENALTY SOUTHS: Slow peel
Souths have lost the scrum AGAINST the feed. This game is bonkers.
Staggs broke them open again down the right, he found Mam before he is SMASHED by Latrell Mitchell.
Ben Te'o reporting Payne Haas has gone up the tunnel with a knee.
Reynolds adds a free 2 points.
He's gone! Mitchell made a meal of the kick defusal, Reynolds picks it up and is taken metres short. Cook slows it down deliberately and he is gone for 10!
Walker's grubber had too much on it and was skidding along the surface.
Souths trying to play sideways here.
Kobe Hethrington spills it from the restart run.
Reynolds converts from in front.
YOU ARE KIDDING ME! He got the ball almost from a standing start and Reece Walsh carved Souths open and beats a good 5 defenders including Latrell Mitchell all ends up!
Havilli tries to pop it out the back but he can't hang on.
SIX AGAIN SOUTHS: Ezra Mam was slow to get off the tackled player.
Piakura taken on 5. That was really poor from the home team.
VIDEO REF: Sutton has NO TRY - looking to confirm shoulder to shoulder which it is. Clean possession taken by Ezra Mam and is maintained. He is taken short, was close to a knock on but will be his ball. NO TRY.
SIX AGAIN BRISBANE: Slow peel
Cobbo burns them down the left, a big cover tackle by Tass saves a try but flicks it back to a fortuitous Brendan Piakura.
Reynolds misses.
After the sluggish beginning. Reynolds worked his magic with a clever grubber fooling the Souths edge and a flying Deine Mariner won the race to the ball to cross for the opening try of the contest.
Reynolds again goes for an early chip and he bundles Alex Johnston in touch. Souths challenge and will be an unsuccessful one.
Staggs broke through brilliantly, but on trying to get up he loses it and cops a shiner.
Six more Brisbane: Regrip by Damien Cook.
Cody Walker kicks it out on the full. Good marker pressure from Billy Walters.
Put that in the nomination for worst scrum play of the new rule change era.
Cook's grubber played at and this time Walsh makes the silly error. Very rushed from Brissy early.
PENALTY SOUTHS: Deine Mariner runs behind Billy Walters and that is a killer penalty.
A shallow last tackle kick from Reynolds gives Souths great starting field position. No doubt Brisbane are a fast team, but that was one he'd like back.
Taane Milne is crushed into touch. Brisbane read the situation well.
Souths get 6 more after the Riki charge down.
Referee calls play on - Murray was trying to get a penalty.
TIME OUT: Cameron Murray a little bit groggy.
Walsh got jammed by Cody Walker! He spills possession and Brisbane also guilty on spilling the footy.
PENALTY BRONCOS: Third man in and drives the leg.
Keppie squanders possession in good ball territory. Was their achillies heal last year and it's caused problems early
PENALTY SOUTHS: Pat Carrigan caught DOWNTOWN
KICKOFF! Gerard Sutton's whistle sounds and we're underway for Round 2. Brisbane will get first use of the footy tonight.
Despite Shaq being named on the edge. It's widely expected he'll play as a third middle forward with Cam Murray going onto the edge.
Gerard Sutton is in charge in match number 371. Dave Munro and Tyson Brough are on the touch judges. In the bunker tonight is Adam Gee.
Round 2 of the NRL Telstra Premiership commences from Suncorp Stadium where the two losing sides from Las Vegas go head to head as Brisbane play Souths. Brisbane will be looking to instil the attacking flair that made them such a fun side to watch in 2023. For South Sydney, they will be looking to rebuild their defensive structures especially on the edges tonight. On the team front, Brisbane are 1-17 with Willison being 18th man. For Souths, Gagai is OUT, Taane Milne is his replacement, Shaquai Mitchell starts for Tallis Duncan. Chee Kam is the 18th man.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judges: David Munro, Tyson Brough
Video Referee: Adam Gee
BRISBANE BRONCOS (28)
Tries: Deine Mariner (2), Reece Walsh (2), Jesse Arthars
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (1/3), Reece Walsh (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (18)
Tries: Siliva Havili, Latrell Mitchell, Davvy Moale
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (3/3)