As it happened: Sea Eagles too good for spirited Rabbitohs
The Sea Eagles have jumped into the top four on the back of a hard-earned 28-14 victory of the Rabbitohs at 4 Pines Park on Thursday night.
The home side made the most of their opportunities in attack and stood up in defence, keeping the Rabbitohs from converting copious amounts of possession in the red zone.
South Sydney had the early running, taking an 8-0 lead when Sea Eagles fullback Clayton Faulalo was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.
It only seemed to inspire the Kieran Foran-coached side, who started their fightback with a try when down to 12 men and ultimately led the way going into half-time.
The Rabbitohs seemed disorganised at times in the second half as they attempted to find the lead once again, but the Sea Eagles kept turning them away, doing enough with their own chance to keep their opponents at arm's length.
The Sea Eagles lost Faulalo to a hamstring injury midway through the second half, although are expecting to see regular No.1 Tom Trbojevic back after the Round 15 bye to further bolster their season-end top four ambitions.
Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs at 4 Pines Park
Match: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs
Round 14 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
3rd Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
9th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Press conferences
Sea Eagles: Round 14
Rabbitohs: Round 14
Full-time: The Sea Eagles have proven to be a class above the Rabbitohs, earning a 28-14 win at the ground dubbed 'Foz Pines Park' in the wake of Kieran Foran's long-term coaching appointment.
77th min: Souths get another chance to mount an attacking raid but can't get around the strong Sea Eagles defence.
75th min: Campbell Graham reaches out to slam the ball down and give the Rabbitohs a chance of a comeback, but the ball comes loose under the attention of three Sea Eagles defenders.
73rd min: 4 Pines Park is in raptures after Jason Saab sneaks past Latrell Siegwalt with a crafty in-and-away on the back of a blink-and-you-miss it tip-on from Tolutau Koula. Reuben Garrick nails the conversion from the sideline. Sea Eagles lead 28-14.
Jason Saab 2nd Try
70th min: The Rabbitohs go on the attack after back-to-back penalties. After a messy set of six, Lehi Hopoate dives on a Cody Walker kick just inside the field of play, but the chasers go on with the tackle and give away a penalty.
65th min: The Rabbitohs defence does a great job to hold out three consecutive sets from the home side, keeping themselves in the contest.
David Fifita Try
60th min: Ashton Ward shocks everyone with a last-tackle kick down the short side, taking a wicked right-hand turn for a 40/20. The Rabbitohs take full advantage down their right side, with David Fifita breaking through and crossing the line off a neat pass from Cody Walker. Latrell Siegwalt converts. Sea Eagles lead 22-14.
Ward nails a 40/20 of his own
56th min: Manly go on the attack once again after a high tackle from Bronson Garlick on Brandon Wakeham, who threatened to break away off a Nathan Brown short ball. The combination of Luke Brooks and Ben Trbojevic strikes again, with 'Burbo' bustling over the line under the attention of the scrambling Souths defence to extend the lead. Reuben Garrick converts. Sea Eagles lead 22-8.
Ben Trbojevic Try
50th min: Taking advantage of the seven-tackle set, Sea Eagles fullback Clayton Faulalo puts his side further in the lead, sweeping around the back of Haumole Olakau'atu and powering his way through Latrell Siegwalt to score. But he has hurt his hamstring in the process and heads up the tunnel. Reuben Garrick does enough to add the extras. Sea Eagles lead 16-8.
Clayton Faulalo Try
48th min: After a late offload from Lachlan Hubner, the ball goes wide right to David Fifita, who flick passes to Campbell Graham, before Graham flicks it to Ed Kosi to cross the try line. But despite his superman effort, the Bunker steps in an finds Kosi grounded the ball touch in goal.
47th min: Errors are creeping in on both sides - the Rabbitohs struggling to put a good kick on the end of their sets and the Sea Eagles throwing the ball wide having not quite earned the right to do so.
44th min: The Rabbitohs earn a couple of sets on the Sea Eagles line to start the half, coming close to scoring but for a Lehi Hopoate try saver.
Kickoff: We're back underway at 4 Pines Park, with the Rabbitohs hoping to continue their form as the best second half team in the NRL.
From the field: Jake Trbojevic
Half-time: The Sea Eagles take a two-point advantage into half-time to appease the 'Foz Pines Park' faithful, holding sway despite going down to 12 for 10 minutes after Clayton Faulalo was sin binned for a professional foul. The Rabbitohs couldn't take advantage of their early opportunities in attack and struggled to get more chances after the sin bin period.
36th min: Sean Keppie welcomes rising Sea Eagles front rower Simione Laiafi to the field with an almighty bell-ringer, forcing the ball loose.
Keppie forces an error!
34th min: The Rabbitohs get a set restart on last tackle to march them back into the attacking zone. The set goes nowhere with Tallis Duncan shut down on last tackle.
30th min: The Sea Eagles hit the lead. Campbell Graham makes a cardinal error out of yardage and the ball is quickly spun wide to Lehi Hopoate, who slips the tackle of Ashton Ward to score. Reuben Garrick misses the conversion attempt. Sea Eagles lead 10-8.
28th min: In a third consecutive set on the back of a penalty due to a high tackle on Reuben Garrick, the man at the centre of it looks certain to score until Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston gets his hand underneath and forces Garrick over the sideline.
26th min: Clayton Faulalo returns to the field, his side winning the period he was absent 6-2.
23rd min: After the Rabbitohs go close at the other end, the 12-man Sea Eagles turn defence into attack, earning a penalty for an escort. A strong run from Haumole Olakau'atu leads to an offload to Reuben Garrick, who shovels it on to Jason Saab to go over untouched. Garrick hits it straight and true for the conversion. Rabbitohs lead 8-6.
Jason Saab Try
16th min: Clayton Faulalo is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul, holding down Ashton Ward too long on the back of an initial break from Jye Gray on kick return. The Rabbitohs opt for a penalty shot from 32m out and Latrell Siegwalt nails it. Rabbitohs lead 8-0.
Faulalo sin binned for professional foul
13th min: The Rabbitohs hit the lead! After receiving a set restart inside the 20, Souths strike thanks to a slick pass from Cameron Murray putting Keaon Koloamatangi into a yawning gap and he drags Luke Brooks over the line to score the opener. Latrell Siegwalt converts the try. Rabbitohs lead 6-0.
Keaon Koloamatangi Try
10th min: Souths turn away the Sea Eagles once again, forcing Reuben Garrick into an error as he was forced over the sideline, in a set where Jake Simpkin was held up over the line on a dummy half scurry. Cody Walker finds a 40/20 on the next set in a bid to turn the tide.
Walker drills a 40/20
6th min: The home side get the first attacking set of the game after a penalty against David Fifita for a lifting tackle on Luke Brooks. Haumole Olakau'atu comes within centimetres of scoring but loses the ball short of the line.
4th min: Both teams are working their way into contest, each completing their opening two sets of the game.
Kickoff: Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick gets us underway with the kickoff on a clear night on the northern beaches.
Late mail
Sea Eagles: Tolu Koula is confirmed to line up in the centres after he was medically cleared to play following last week's head knock in the State of Origin opener. Fellow NSW talent Haumole Olakau'atu is also locked in to return to the side after being rested last week. The Sea Eagles will line-up 1-19, making no further changes after Tuesday's initial team announcement.
Siegwalt: Reinforcements bring confidence
Rabbitohs: Representative forwards Brandon Smith (calf) and David Fifita (hamstring) and centre Campbell Graham (calf) have been confirmed to return from injury. Tallis Duncan returns to the back row after spending time in the centres, with Keaon Koloamatangi shifting to the front row. Jye Gray will line up at fullback, with Matt Dufty on the six-man bench. Bronson Garlick was elevated from reserves to the interchange in the 90-minute squad update, with Moala Graham-Taufa dropping out. Liam Le Blanc was omitted in the 24-hour squad update.
