NRL 2023, Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Match Report

Author: Corey Rosser NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 17 Mar 2023, 10:04 PM

Jaxson Paulo played a leading role in the downfall of his former club on Friday night, scoring twice to help the Roosters beat the Rabbitohs 20-18 in a typically fierce encounter between the great rivals.

A second-half double from Paulo helped lift the Tricolours to victory, but only after they survived a wild finish which saw the Rabbitohs score with two minutes to play, setting up a hail Mary two-point field goal attempt from Latrell Mitchell which fell short of the posts.

Earlier South Sydney raced out to a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes and dominated the opening proceedings at Allianz Stadium.

It was a masterclass in interchange management from coach Trent Robinson that changed the game on 24 minutes, with the introduction of Kiwi Test stars Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Brandon Smith, who had reverted to bench roles just before kick-off, wrestling momentum in their side's favour, which included Smith scoring his team's first try.

Paulo dances to the line

As predicted the opening exchanges were full of emotion, and a heavy collision on the first set saw Hame Sele leave the field for a HIA which he failed, before Joseph Sua'ali'i was placed on report.

It didn't take long for the Rabbitohs to settle into their rhythm though, and by the time the clock hit 13 minutes they were up 10-0 thanks to tries from Keaon Koloamatangi and Alex Johnston, the first of which was converted by Mitchell.

Things are heating up

But Smith's clever try from dummy-half, followed by a peach of a kick from Luke Keary to put Daniel Tupou over, saw the Roosters tie things up, and although a late penalty goal gave Souths a 12-10 lead at the break, the game had turned in favour of the Roosters.

Paulo's first try five minutes into the second half gave the Roosters the lead for the first time, before his second – which followed a miraculous try-saving strip from Joey Manu minutes earlier – put them in position to close the game out.

The Roosters survived the late comeback from the Rabbitohs to pick up their second win of the year.

Round 3 - Round 3 - Friday 17 Mar

Full Time

Roosters

Rabbitohs

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

Match snapshot

The Roosters have now won 11 of their past 13 home games.
Jaxson Paulo scored a pair of tries and carried the ball for 142 metres in his first game against his former side.
Rabbitohs forward Hame Sele didn't play beyond the opening minute after suffering a head knock and failing his HIA. He will now miss Round 5 under the mandatory 11-day stand-down period following a diagnosed concussion.
Eight minutes in a short ball from Lachlan Ilias left Luke Keary isolated on Keon Koloamatangi, and the Blues back-rower stormed over for the opening try, which Latrell Mitchell converted.

Koloamatangi gets the scoring underway

Alex Johnston then scooted down the left to give the Rabbitohs a 10-0 lead which they'd hold until seven minutes from the break.
After switching to the bench before kick-off, Brandon Smith marked his arrival on the field by carving through South Sydney for a try out of dummy-half, which reduced the gap to six after Sam Walker's conversion hit off the post.
Keary then found Daniel Tupou with a kick for the Roosters' second, with Walker this time converting to lock scores.

Keary's kick all class

Walker was then pinged for being offside which handed Mitchell the chance to kick the Rabbitohs ahead 12-10 right on half-time, which he did.
South Sydney went the length of the field on the opening set of the second stanza but the Roosters held them out.
Jaxson Paulo scored twice in the space of 20 minutes to help his side go up 20-12.

Paulo works his way through

A Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson try two minutes from time, which Mitchell converted, set up a thrilling finish, but on the next set Mitchell couldn't convert a hail mary two-point field goal attempt.

A grandstand finish incoming

Roosters centre Joseph Manu is now on a run of nine consecutive NRL wins.
Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 12 tries in his past seven games against the Roosters.

Play of the game

Brandon Smith's first try as a Rooster, and a vital one in the context of the game. After being bumped back to the bench in a late change by coach Trent Robinson, Smith came on and caused chaos for the Rabbitohs, with no better example than this clever run which had the defence scrambling for answers.

Smith splits them

What they said

"We didn't ice our chances, we probably had three or four tries we left out there, three clear cut ones I can remember. I think it was seven line breaks to [the Roosters'] four, we had a 62 percent completion rate... there are some things to be positive about, but we have got to tidy up our ball control as well." – Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou.

Rabbitohs: Round 3

"To go down 10-0 was disappointing, but credit to them. We sort of held our cool for a little bit there and then Brandon and Jared sort changed momentum there and then I felt like we sort of dominated from there on." – Roosters coach Trent Robinson.

Roosters: Round 3

What's next

The Rabbitohs are in Sydney again next Saturday to host the Storm at Accor Stadium, with forward Jacob Host in line to make his return from a calf injury, but Sele a confirmed out. The Roosters sit out Round 4 on the bye before returning to action against the Eels in week five.