The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ five-match winning streak has come to an end at the hands of the Dolphins in a what was a thrilling contest with plenty of lead changes and momentum swings.
The Rabbitohs performed admirably away from home, and were still in with a shot until very late in the contest.
However, despite a hat-trick to Jacob Gagai and a double to Alex Johnston, the Rabbitohs were unfortunately unable to overcome the QLD-based outfit on their home turf.
The Dolphins were first to get on the board after marching downfield off the back of a questionable penalty against Cody Walker for interference on Tevita Pangai Jnr.
The Dolphins went left midway through the ensuing set, with Jack Bostock crossing half a meter in from touch off a cut-out ball from Trai Fuller.
The Rabbitohs would hit back just four minutes later via a penalty try to Jye Gray.
A late offload from Jai Arrow on tackle five found the turf in front of Gray, who was able to toe the ball into the in-goal and regather to seemingly score.
The play was referred to the Bunker as a “No Try”, with the subsequent investigation revealing that Gray had in fact knocked the ball on.
However, interference off the ball from Fuller on Gray was ruled to have cost Gray a clean shot at regathering the ball, and with no other Dolphin defenders in the immediate vicinity of the play, a penalty try was given.
The Dolphins were next to score, with Pangai Jnr barging over the line from close range in the 19th minute.
However, South Sydney were yet again prompt with their response, with some masterful ball-playing from Cody Walker just three minutes later releasing Jacob Gagai down the sideline to score in the right corner.
The Dolphins would score again through Herbie Farnworth in the 25th minute in what would end up being the final scoring play for the half.
The Redcliffe-based side would go close to scoring on several occasions before the break, but for some fantastic cover defence from the Rabbitohs, with Jye Gray in particular popping up everywhere to make try-saving tackles.
As impressive as the defensive efforts were from South Sydney, it would not be enough to stop the Dolphins going to the break with an 18-10 lead.
It didn’t take the Dolphins long to extend their lead even further, with the halves Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima combining in the 48th minute to jag the Redcliffe-based side’s first try of the second stanza.
Trailing by 14 points, the Rabbitohs were desperate to stay in touch with the scoreboard and keep their hopes of a comeback alive. Fortunately for the Red and Green, a knock on from Fuller trying to gather in a Walker bomb gifted them possession just 10m out from the line.
South Sydney was able to capitalise immediately, with the speed of Gray proving too much for Farnworth to handle off the ensuing scrum. Having beaten Herbie all ends up, it was fairly straightforward from there for Gray to put Gagai over untouched for his second try of the game.
The Rabbitohs managed to score a second straight try just six minutes later, this time to Alex Johnston off a classy tap-on from Jack Wighton, to get themselves to within six points of their opponents.
However, just as a South Sydney comeback was seeming more and more likely, the Dolphins managed to wrestle back momentum, bagging two tries in quick succession to Sean O’Sullivan and Trai Fuller respectively, putting themselves ahead 36-18 with 11 minutes to go.
The 18-point lead with such little time on the clock was always going to be too much for South Sydney to overcome, despite a couple of late consolation tries to Johnston and Gagai, leaving the Rabbitohs trailing 36-28 at fulltime.
Match Snapshot
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Dolphins scored their first try in the fifth minute, with Jack Bostock crossing in the left corner
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South Sydney hit back five minutes later via a penalty try to Jai Gray
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Tevita Pangai Jnr crossed next for the Redcliffe-based side in the 19th minute
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The Rabbitohs hit back quickly once again, with Jacob Gagai scoring out wide just three minutes later off the back of some exquisite ball-playing from Cody Walker
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Dolphins regained the ascendancy off the back of Herbie Farnworth, who beat several South Sydney defenders on his way to the line in the 25th minute
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An Isaiya Katoa grubber kick saw Kodi Nikorima score the first try of the second half, putting the Dolphins ahead 24-10 after 48 minutes
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The Rabbitohs scored off a scrum close to the Dolphins’ line, with Jacob Gagai finishing off his second of the night
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Alex Johnston crossed for his 192nd career try just six minutes later, putting South Sydney behind 24-18 with 15 minutes to go
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Sean O’Sullivan scored in the 69th minute to put the Dolphins ahead by 12
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The Dolphins put the result beyond doubt thanks to a try from Trai Fuller in the 71st minute
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The Rabbitohs managed to score a consolation try with seven minutes to go through Johnston
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Jacob Gagai completed his hat-trick with one minute to go, leaving the final score at 36-28 in favour of the Dolphins
Play of the Game
South Sydney’s second try to Jacob Gagai was a piece of absolute magic ball-playing from halfback and captain Cody Walker. Walker was at his deceptive best, making the Dolphins left-edge defenders look foolish as he threw several fakes before launching a Harbour Bridge pass straight into the mitts of Gagai. Walker has certainly thrown some fantastic passes in his long career. This one was as great as he’d ever thrown, and deservedly takes out tonight’s Play of the Game.
What’s Next?
The Rabbitohs will return home to Sydney to regroup before they head to Accor Stadium to host the Wests Tigers next Saturday afternoon.
