South Sydney Defeat St George Illawarra in Wollongong Thriller

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have notched up their second win from two games to start season 2025.

It was an incredible effort from the Rabbitohs, who trailed by 12 with just 26 minutes to go, and had to overcome match-ending injuries to Tallis Duncan and Jai Arrow.

However, late tries to Cody Walker and Sean Keppie saw South Sydney get back into the game, while a 75th minute field goal from halfback Jamie Humphreys sealed the 25-24 victory.

South Sydney were first to score thanks to a penalty try to Jye Gray. Gray put a well-weighted grubber kick through the Dragons defence line, which found its way to the ingoal off a Tyrell Sloan ricochet.

Gray looked odds on to get to the loose ball first, before getting held back by former Rabbitoh Lachlan Ilias, with the Bunker ruling that Gray would have scored if not for Ilias’s illegal play.

The Dragons hit back just three minutes later, with Sloan scoring in the right corner off a Clint Gutherson cut-out ball.

The game then settled into a grind, with both sides going set for set for set for the next ten minutes.

The low error count allowed fatigue to set in, with Peter Mamouzelos taking advantage of the tired Dragons’ pack with a crafty dummy half try from close range to further extend the Rabbitohs’ lead.

The Dragons scored next in the 23rd minute, with Sloan bagging his second for the match off another right-side shift through the hands.

The home side then crossed the stripe for a third time, as Kyle Flannagan cleaned up the scraps off an Ilias chip kick to plant the ball under the posts.

With Valentine Holmes slotting the ensuing conversion in what was the final scoring play of the first half, South Sydney would find themselves trailing 14-12, with plenty of work to do to claw their way back in the second stanza.

The Red and Green did not get the start to the second half they were after, with the Dragons picking up where they left off in the first half thanks to another try to Flanagan.

Things then went from bad to worse for South Sydney, with both Jai Arrow and Tallis Duncan departing the field due to an HIA and a hamstring complaint respectively.

St George Illawarra were able to take advantage of South Sydney being below full strength, with Christian Tuipolotu crossing in the 51st minute.

With the Dragons on the ascendency, South Sydney skipper Cody Walker put his hand up as the man to get his side back into the game, when a Dragons error gifted the Rabbitohs a golden opportunity to attack.

Walker took the chance with both hands, producing a beautiful dummy and run which saw him slice through two former South Sydney teammates in Ilias and Jaydn Su’a in what would have been a very satisfying try for the veteran.

The Rabbitohs would then draw back level with ten minutes to go through Sean Keppie, who crashed over next to the posts from close range thanks to some more enterprising dummy half play from Mamouzelos.

The Cardinal and Myrtle would regain the lead for the first time since the 31st minute, with Jamie Humphreys slotting a field goal with five minutes left in the match.

This would prove to be enough for South Sydney, who successfully defended their line from a desperate St George Illawarra in the remaining five minutes of the game, to seal the result, as well as a 2-0 start to season 2025.

Match Snapshot

• South Sydney scored first with a penalty try to Jye Gray in the 8th minute
• St George Illawarra hit back promptly through Tyrell Sloan
• The Rabbitohs scored their second try of the game thanks to some crafty dummy half play from Peter Mamouzelos in the 20th minute
• The Dragons finished the half with back-to-back tries, with Sloan bagging his second in the 23rd minute, while Kyle Flannagan also crossed in the 31st minute to see South Sydney trail 14-12 at the break
• Flanagan crossed for his second in the 45th minute
• Christian Tuipolotu further extended the Dragons’ lead with a try in the 51st minute
• Cody Walker got the Rabbitohs back into the game with a very handy solo try in the 54th minute
• A Jamie Humphreys field goal put South Sydney ahead 25-24 with five minutes to go

Play of the Game

Today's play of the game goes to Cody Walker's try in the 54th minute. With the Dragons up by 12 and seemingly headed towards victory, the South Sydney captain stood up tall with a beautiful solo effort to get his side back into the game. It wound up being a crucial play from Walker, turning the momentum of the game and setting the Rabbitohs up for a famous win.

What’s Next?

Chasing three straight wins to start the season, South Sydney will travel to Shark Park to take on the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks next Saturday afternoon at 3pm (AEDT).