By Stephen Fenech from Tech Guide.
GLORY, GLORY TO SOUTH SYDNEY!!! That was an absolute blockbuster of a game with more emotion and aggression than the last four Origin series put together. There is never a shortage of passion when Souths take on the Roosters but this time our entire season was on the line. Souths weathered everything, and I mean everything, the Roosters could throw at us. And it was our amazing defence and Latrell’s magic goal-kicking boots that proved the difference.
It was a historic game for the fact there was a record seven sin-bins which were all for high tackles. Souths were down to 11 men at one point with both Milne and Rooster Radley visiting the sin-bin twice each. The game was played at a hundred miles an hour. You could tell from the kick off, the Roosters were going stop at nothing to derail Souths. It wasn’t hard to see these grubby tactics and dog shots like elbows in the face with the player on the ground and blatant swings that, if they had of connected, would have taken someone’s head off. Cheap shots, all of them. And referee Ashley Klein was so far out of his depth trying to maintain control he might as well take up a career as a submarine. In the first half he was referring the game like he had an eight-leg multi with seven Roosters anytime try scorers.
Latrell was constantly being niggled and targeted. Rooster grub Waerea-Hargreaves clearly connected to Latrell’s head in the first half, but this cheating ref saw nothing in it even though a shaken Latrell took a knee and the replay showed the hit clearer than the big nose on my face. Yet inexplicably he gave the Roosters plenty of six-agains to help their field position despite them constantly laying all over us when we had the ball. I’m still trying to work out what these decisions were for.
But Souths weren’t rattled – they showed remarkable maturity to keep their eye on the prize. Souths drew first blood with an Alex Johnston try down the left side and Latrell slotted the conversion from the sideline. In fact Latrell did not miss a single conversion – with most from the sideline. Five out of five! And after every goal he kicked he held out his arms to the dickhead Roosters supporters who were booing him all game – I think he was telling them “how do you like them apples!!!!” Funny enough you didn’t hear Souths fans booking former players Luke Keary and Angus Crichton. Even as players names were being called out before kick-off, the Roosters’ boos were for our two proud indigenous fellas Latrell and Cody were so loud they nearly took the roof off the stadium. But that’s OK – Latrell and Cody had the last laugh as they were waving the Roosters goodbye as they walked off the field for the last time in 2022 to start their Mad Monday celebrations.
A couple of generous penalties put the Roosters right in our territory and they converted these chances to two tries – one for Topou who caught us short in the corner and a marshmallow-soft try to Crichton. But Sam Walker couldn’t convert despite one being close to the posts. But they still had an 8-4 lead and this was all happening while Radley was cooling his heels – and his fists – in the sin-bin after rabbit-punching Milne as they were wrestling in back-play. But not long after Milne connected high in a tackle and not long after Tom Burgess who had barely spent time on the field, also clipped Lodge. In Tom’s case, his initial contact was on the ball but ref Klein, who by now needed a snorkel because he was in above his head, gave them both a 10-minute rest.
But do you think only having 11 men would deter Souths? Not on your life. They rolled their sleeves up and got on with the job to the point where Latrell made a nice charge down the left edge to score. His conversion put us back in the lead at 12-8. Souths were unlucky not be awarded a second try when Koloamatangi was ruled to have knocked on near the Roosters line – the replay showed two Roosters players clearing raking at the ball. Should have been six again and a try to Souths. Klein, and the idiots running the bunker, at this point should have just made a booking to see an optometrist.
Injury-wise, it was a costly first half to the Roosters with Tedesco and Crichton failing their HIAs and Topou re-injuring his groin. That cut them deep in the same way losing Cam Murray in the first 30 seconds hurt Souths the week before.
Incredibly, the second half had just as much spite as the first. But I was proud of the way Souths just stood strong shoulder to shoulder in defence. Early on Roosters had a lot more ball and were planted in our half. But in one of our first trips into their side of the field in the second half, Alex Johnston struck again. And five minutes later Jai Arrow pounced on a perfectly weighted Cody Walker kick to score and take our lead to 24-8. There was no way Souths were going to be run down from here. A few minutes later Nat Butcher got a lucky bounce of a kick to bring the Roosters back in to the game – but Souths still had control and held it till the full-time siren and even added a try to exciting rookie Tass to bring us to the 30-14 final scoreline.
When the fulltime siren sounded there were euphoric scenes in the stands among fans who were celebrating, me included, like we’d won the comp as well as ended the Roosters season. That added to the sweetness of the victory. Every player in a red and green jersey gave 110 per cent. To a man you could see the commitment in their defence right till the final tackle of the game. Cam Murray had a great captain’s game and led by example with the ball and in defence and was even battling with ref Klein for all his idiotic decisions. And Campbell Graham made yards every time he touched the ball and his defence was also top shelf – he shut down a few Roosters backline movements in their tracks. Pure class.
Those sin bins and players on report could prove costly with Tom Burgess and Milne possibly facing suspensions. On the injury front, I noticed Cook came off early with a shoulder knock but I believe he’ll be OK for next week. Speaking of next week, we take on the Sharks at Allianz Stadium once again on Saturday night at 8pm. The Sharks lost a marathon game after extra time and golden point to the Cowboys at home. And think that’s shaken them. After disposing of the Roosters, Souths will definitely have the Sharks’ measure. One step closer to premiership glory. Let’s go Rabbitohs!!!
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