Bunnies weather Storm

SOUTH Sydney has rocketed back into premiership reckoning after ousting Melbourne 30-20 on the back of an electric performance from hooker Damien Cook.

After relinquishing top spot to the Rabbitohs, the Storm’s own title hopes could rest on scans for captain Cameron Smith after he limped off with an ankle injury last night.

Just a day after Storm coach Craig Bellamy identified Cook as the man to fear in their topof-the-table clash, the coach’s fears were realised as the Rabbitohs rake tore his team to shreds. The NSW State of Origin star — and likely future Kangaroos hooker — finished the night with 176m gained, six tackle breaks and a try assist.

In last night’s other match, Wests Tigers inched within a win of the top eight, prevailing 25-16 over Newcastle in a fluctuating contest.

Tigers playmaker Luke Brooks was the architect against the error-prone Knights, scoring one try and setting up another either side of halftime at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce was benched with a badly corked thigh as the hosts ran out of answers early in the second half and the Tigers kept their finals hopes flickering. SOUTH SYDNEY 30 (S. Burgess, Cook, Doueihi, Hunt, Johnston tries, Reynolds 5 goals) d MELBOURNE 20 (Addo-Carr 2, Finucane, Scott tries, C. Smith 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Crowd: 15,132. WESTS TIGERS 25 (Brooks, Farah, Packer tries, Marsters 6 goals, Brooks field goal) d NEWCASTLE 16 (Guerra, Mata’utia, Ponga tries, Sio 2 goals) at McDonald Jones Stadium. Crowd: 18,561.