The NYC Rabbitohs have finished up with a 16-16 draw in their Round 17 clash this afternoon (Sunday) against the Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium.
The NYC Rabbitohs started the game off strong kicking off and claiming possession by forcing a knock on in the first minute.
The Rabbitohs put on a great performance both in attack and defence in the opening minutes, forcing their way into the Panthers danger zone and holding the Panthers from a try holding their player up in goal.
And the Rabbitohs were soon rewarded through a sturdy display of teamwork. A swift backline play with a pass out wide saw Jalen Reweti stretch out towards the try line and score the first try for the afternoon. Dean Hawkins slotted the conversion straight through the uprights and the Rabbitohs had a six point to zero lead with nine minutes down.
The next 20 minutes of play saw an even effort across the field but the Panthers were the next to add points to the board. After a couple of attempts at the Rabbitohs try line they made their way over through hooker Ray Maroun. Halfback Dean Blore successfully kicked the conversion and the scores were level six points all.
But the Rabbitohs wouldn’t let the Panthers have them for long and a quick movement from Dylan O’Connor saw him step through two defenders and over to bring the Rabbitohs back into the lead. The conversion was no good but the Rabbitohs led 10 points to six with a couple of minutes left in the first half.
The Panthers were quick to catch up in the second half, firing out their second try four minutes into the half. Blore took the Panthers into the lead for the first time in the match 12 points to 10 with a successful shot at goal.
But the Rabbitohs got their hands on the lead once again with Mawene Hiroti slamming the ball down over the try line in the 50th minute. Hawkins made up for his missed conversion nailing the kick and the Rabbitohs took a small lead 16 points to 12.
With only a few minutes remaining in the game, the Panthers side powered up and a strong push got them over the line to level the scores 16 points all. A missed conversion locked the scores and the fight was on with two minutes left on the clock.
No more points were to be scored and the game would finish up with a draw 16-all.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 (Jalen Reweti, Dylan O’Connor, Mawene Hiroti tries; Dean Hawkins 2 goals)
Penrith Panthers 16 (Ray Maroun, Daniel Brown, Brian Too tries; Dean Blore 2 goals)
