Crichton hat-trick powers Souths
coach more headaches than others. The right-edge has been horribly exposed on several occasions this year – even during last week’s win, two of the Titans’ three tries were due to a couple of poor defensive reads on the right. The fringes are arguably the toughest places to defend in the modern-day NRL, where it is easy for holes to emerge if the players are not working in unison. Clearly the right side have not been on the same page. DON’T LEAVE IT TO FORAN Kieran Foran has quickly taken control of the Warriors attack but the team looks most dangerous when he and Shaun Johnson are working in tandem. Following a solid start to the season, Johnson lost his way after the international break. Basic errors crept into his game and he seemed to be lacking in confidence as he drifted in and out of matches, particularly in the loss to the Eels. His impact was there to see against the Broncos and Titans and depending on how serious Foran’s quad injury is, he may have no choice but to step up. Johnson would do well to take a leaf out of Issac’s Luke book, with the hooker finding his running game over the past month to produce some of his best performances in a Warriors jersey. BREAK THE SHACKLES
Traditionally renowned for their ability to promote the football, offloads are down under Kearney as the team focuses on high completion rates (they have the third least in the NRL at 6.8 per game). That is not necessarily a bad thing – we all know their ball control has let them down in the past. But the win over the Titans, and to a lesser extent the loss to the Eels, showed how dangerous they can be when they get their second-phase going. It brings the game-breakers into play, particularly Roger TuivasaSheck who, after a dip in form against the Panthers and Dragons, has been electric whenever he gets the ball in space. They still have to play to structure and no-one is suggesting they start throwing the ball around in their own red zone, but they need to find the right balance to keep defences guessing. SOUTH Sydney have recovered from 14 points down to overpower a depleted Gold Coast, end a threegame losing streak and keep their NRL finals ambitions alive.
Rising star Angus Crichton and winger Alex Johnston scored five tries between them, while fullback Cody Walker grabbed one and set up another in the 36-20 win on Friday.
The Rabbitohs were down 20-10 at halftime but switched on the afterburners to cross for five unanswered tries in the second half and consign the Titans to their fourth straight defeat.
The win lifts the Rabbitohs to within two points of the top eight. The Titans, who were missing 11 first-graders due to State of Origin and injury, fall back to 14th spot.
It was a strong statement from the home side who, after skipper Sam Burgess was ruled out with a glute injury, looked dead in the water after 20 minutes.
The Titans were racing the clock early when hooker Pat Politoni scored from a Nathaniel Peteru offload and Ashley Taylor nailed a penalty.
Playing his first game since a four-game ban for alleged cocaine use, Kevin Proctor pounced on a ricochet to give the visitors a 14-0 lead after 17 minutes.
But the Rabbitohs responded with venom off of an inspired solo try from Crichton, which was followed by Walker’s long ball for Johnston to cut the lead to two.
The Titans looked to have gotten back on track when Joe Greenwood powered over in the shadows of halftime despite the attention of five defenders.
But the home side came out a different outfit after the break, with Walker and Crichton crossing in the space of five minutes.
Bryson Goodwin also got the on the scoresheet before Johnston completed his brace – and Crichton his hat-trick – late in the game.
Gold Coast finished the match with just one player on the bench after Greenwood and Taylor came off with concussion and Politoni suffered a leg injury. - AAP