Warriors plumb new depths on defence
Cameron Murray and Latrell Mitchell led South Sydney to an emphatic 48-10 defeat of the Warriors on Saturday that keeps the Rabbitohs’ top four hopes alive.
Murray set up the first three tries of the match, while Mitchell scored two and laid on two others as a ruthless Souths side leapfrogged the Broncos and Roosters into sixth position on the Telstra Premiership ladder.
So dominant was Murray that the Rabbitohs captain had run more than 100 metres by the time second-rower Keaon Koloamatangi scored his side’s fourth try in the 21st minute and he finished with a game high 191 metres.
Mitchell was at his entertaining best and treated fans to a Wallaby ears try celebration after scoring his second, while laying on tries for wingers Alex Johnston and Izaak Thompson, who made his NRL debut at the age of 25.
Mitchell’s 24-point haul from two tries and eight goals was the most by a South Sydney player since 1979 when Terry Fahey scored four tries (then valued at three points) and kicked six goals in the round five 39-9 defeat of Penrith.
“I just said in there [the sheds] that it is looking good for the back end of the year when some of our key players are starting to hit form,” Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said.
Souths play Parramatta on Friday night in a match with likely ramifications for the make-up of the top eight and potentially the top four, as the Storm play the Panthers and the Roosters face the Cowboys next weekend.
However, the Rabbitohs have a tough run home after the Eels clash, with the result of matches against the Panthers, second-placed Cowboys and the Roosters to determine where they finish.
Warriors interim coach and club legend Stacey Jones said it was difficult for his players “living out of a suitcase” as they train continue to be based at Redcliffe while playing home games in Auckland, but that wasn’t an excuse.
“I just want to see some real care in the jersey. I saw that for a month before . . . and tonight I didn’t,” Jones said.
“I just said [to the players] that next week starts now for us.
“We are on the road so we don’t have a lot of time to train together, so it is really important what we do away from the field to get yourself up and ready for next Friday.
“Since I have taken over in this role that is probably the most disappointed I have been. I thought our attitude to defence was terrible.
“That first half — and even the
second half — we just didn’t want to get physical with them and that is an attitude thing. We need to show a lot more that what we showed tonight.”
— Nrl.com