Cameron Munster’s fullback experiment has catapulted Melbourne back into NRL premiership calculations after the Storm held out ladder leaders Penrith to win 16-0 at Panthers Stadium.
Playing at the back for a second week, Munster again starred to help the Storm make their case for an eighth straight season in the NRL’s top four.
It came as Penrith’s title defense took another hit, with Liam Martin suffering suspected ankle syndesmosis and Moses Leota hurting his calf to add to their lengthy injury list.
The Panthers are far from panicking, given they sit well clear at the top and were without Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris on Thursday night.
But the Storm are a team clearly back in their groove after losing four straight games last month.
Missing Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes and Felise Kaufusi themselves, they withstood more than 40 play-the-balls in their own 20-meter zone.
Time and time again they turned the Panthers away, becoming the first team to hold Penrith scoreless since way back in June 2015.
Team stats
The win moved them two points clear of fifth-placed Parramatta and well above them on for-and-against, with the chasing pack one win further back.
Melbourne have to play Brisbane, the Sydney Roosters and Eels on the run home, but now look as if they are ready to match it with any of the trio.
Regular playmaker Munster was again crucial, and must now surely be an option to finish the season as the Storm’s No.1 after scoring a hat-trick there last week.
He was just as influential in defense as he was in attack, despite not playing at the back consistently since the Storm’s run to the 2016 grand final.
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With Penrith dominating the ball in the second half, he pulled off a crucial try-saver on Brian To’o early on to keep Melbourne’s lead at 16-0.
From the next set he was able to swing the momentum in the Storm’s favour, breaking down the field to put them on the attack.
The 27-year-old also had a role to play in the Storm’s first try.
Given the freedom to roam at the back, Munster went shortside after a scoreless opening 18 minutes and helped put Justin Olam onto the attack before the center kicked back for Nick Meaney to score.
Brandon Smith went over from the next set, busting through Martin and Leota from the halfway line to make it 12-0.
Late season recruit David Nofoaluma got Melbourne’s third try after a nice Jesse Bromwich offload just before the break, before the Storm held on through a scoreless second half.
Green’s legacy as the first coach to take the Cowboys to premiership glory would follow him even as he farewelled the club in 2020.
With two grand finals and a long-awaited trophy under his belt, the question was always going to be ‘what’s next?’
For Green, it was the Broncos.
The powerhouse club had let Anthony Seibold go, and for many, Green was the natural man to step into the seat. Experienced, respected, and a Broncos Old Boy to boot.
And while his interview was reportedly exceptional, Kevin Walters stood fair and square in his way.
“Look, I was disappointed to miss out on the Broncos,” he told The Courier-Mail’s Peter Badel.
“But I knew the situation I was walking into. I knew what ‘Kevvie’ brought to the job and I knew what I brought to the job.
“There’s no ill-feeling at all towards the Broncos at all.”
Instead, Green would take the head coach role at the Maroons, in what would be a transition period between the old and the new as the rep team moved from Wayne Bennett, to Green, and eventually to Billy Slater.
It was a brutal result, with a dominant Blues outfit getting the job done in the first two games.
Green would however go on to claim Origin III, and mark himself in the record books as one of only 13 men to coach the mighty Maroons.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has been hit with a week’s suspension and a $25,000 fine by the NRL after calling Panthers five-eighth Jaeman Salmon a “weak-gutted dog.”
Key points:
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has been suspended for one week and personally fined $25,000 by the NRL for calling Panthers five-eighth Jaeman Salmon a “weak-gutted dog”
Stuart will be prohibited from having any involvement with the Raiders for seven days and will not coach them on Sunday against the Dragons
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo called Stuart’s comments “totally unacceptable”
The league has served Stuart with a breach notice, which he has accepted, with his seven-day suspension to take impact from 4pm on Tuesday.
It has also mandated that Stuart, not the Raiders, must pay the fine personally.
The decision marks the first time in NRL history that a coach has been suspended for comments at a press conference.
“The period of suspension prohibits Stuart from performing any duties as head coach of the Raiders, including attendance at team or individual training or coaching sessions or the Raiders’ facilities,” the NRL said in a statement.
“Furthermore, he cannot provide instruction or direction to the team, individual players or Club Officials during the period of suspension including before, during or after any matches within this period.”
This means Stuart will miss Canberra’s match against the Dragons on Sunday and will not return to the Raiders until next Tuesday.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo slammed Stuart’s comments, which are believed to have stemmed from an incident between Salmon and Stuart’s son when they were Under-12s teammates in 2010.
“Leaders need to set the standard in the game. The comments are completely unacceptable from any individual, let alone an official of such experience and standing,” Abdo said.
“This is a highly unusual case, and we have taken the significant step of proposing a suspension from his duties for one week.
“This will be a full suspension, precluding Ricky from having any involvement with any club activity, either in person or remotely.
“Furthermore, the fine must not be paid by the club but by Ricky himself.”
Earlier, Raiders chief executive Don Furner accepted that Stuart had done the wrong thing, and said it was important the club supported their long-time coach.
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“It’s just like waiting for a suspension of a player … we’ve said publicly that we’ll accept what punishment and what decision they hand down and then move on from there,” he told reporters.
“It’s a very public job and it’s a hard job. He’s obviously very disappointed and he’s embarrassed, and he’s just going to have to put it behind him and move on and we’ll all support him.”
Furner said he hadn’t discussed which assistant coach would step into the main role for Sunday’s game, but the former Raiders prop is tipped to take the role.
Canberra skipper Elliott Whitehead also went into bat for Stuart.
“We’ve got his back. He had his reasons,” Whitehead told reporters on Tuesday.
“I’m not going to go into them, but we’re all supportive of Ricky and he knows he probably shouldn’t have said it on that platform.
“He’s upset he let his emotions get the better of him.”
Wests Tigers won’t appeal a loss to North Queensland despite the NRL granting it needs to clarify the captain’s challenge rule as a result of the controversy.
Key points:
The Wests Tigers have “reluctantly” opted against appealing the result of their loss to the Cowboys
The Tigers say “everyone knows” they should have won the game
The NRL says it will review the captain’s challenge rule at the end of the season
The Tigers still maintain the Cowboys didn’t have the right to challenge a play late in the game that allowed a match-winning penalty to be awarded.
But the club will accept the NRL’s call and not pursue legal action despite releasing a fiery statement declaring history would show the wrong team won the match.
“We extracted a concession from the NRL that the obstruction penalty which was given was erroneous and therefore, by implication, Wests Tigers should have won that match,” the statement read.
“We know it, everyone knows it… unfortunately, the history books will not record it that way.”
Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe met with NRL heavyweights Peter V’landys, Andrew Abdo and Graham Annesley last Thursday.
The Tigers’ statement noted “robust and earnest discussions”, saying the NRL admitted sufficient ambiguity in the rule to allow their interpretation.
They said independent legal advice determined they would “reluctantly” not take further action, despite a senior counsel seeing “cogent” arguments.
The Tigers said they did not believe a legal challenge would be in the best interests of rugby league.
The Tigers are currently in 15th place on the NRL ladder.(Getty Images: Ian Hitchcock)
“Litigation is, at best, inherently risky and Wests Tigers is not prepared to commit to what would be speculative litigation, particularly in light of the cogent arguments which are available to both parties,” they said.
While the NRL accepts the last-second escort penalty given to the Cowboys was wrong, it does not agree with the Tigers’ complaint that no challenge was legally permitted as no penalty was made on the field and the siren went.
The NRL has maintained the Cowboys were challenging play stopping after the full-time siren as they believed a penalty had occurred.
But the governing body has conceded it needs to review the rule so there is clarity regarding captain’s challenges.
“The NRL is comfortable with the interpretation that was applied but has acknowledged, in light of the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers, that the rule needs to be reviewed at the end of the season to provide more clarity so as to ensure that there is no future misunderstanding as to the intent and application of the rule,” an NRL statement read.
“Wests Tigers will be consulted as part of the review, together with other interested clubs and stakeholders.
“The NRL acknowledges the professional and respectful manner in which the representatives of the Wests Tigers have pursued their concerns on behalf of their club’s members and fans.”
Canberra chief executive Don Furner says the Raiders are ready to accept any punishment handed down by the NRL over Ricky Stuart’s post-match attack on Jaeman Salmon, which could include suspension from future games.
Key points:
The Raiders say they “do not condone” Ricky Stuart’s comments
The NRL’s investigation is ongoing, and Jaeman Salmon’s family has called on the league to take action
Stuart released a public apology on Sunday but has not contacted Salmon on the Panthers personally
After Penrith’s 26-6 defeat of the Raiders, Stuart labeled the Panthers’ stand-in five-eighth a “weak-gutted dog” for kicking Tom Starling in the groin.
Salmon ran afoul of the Canberra coach while playing with his son as a pre-teen in 2010, reportedly reducing the younger Stuart to tears in an incident that led to a confrontation between the pair’s fathers.
“‘Where Salmon kicked Tommy, it ain’t on,” Stuart said on Saturday.
“I have had history with that kid [Salmon]. I know that kid very well.
“He was a weak-gutted dog as a kid and he hasn’t changed now. He is a weak-gutted dog person now.”
In the team’s first statement since Stuart’s comments, the Raiders said they did not endorse the coach’s behavior but understood it.
“As a club, we do not condone the comments made by Ricky in Saturday night’s press conference and we are currently in dialogue with the NRL and cooperating with all their inquiries,” Furner said.
“We will accept their findings and any sanctions they hand down.
“Being a head coach is a high-pressure job and comes with intense scrutiny from fans, media, and [the] public and we understand emotion is high following a match.
“However, as a club we acknowledge that coaches also have a responsibility to ensure they conduct themselves professionally when making public comments.”
Jaeman Salmon’s family called on the NRL to take action against Stuart.(Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)
The Panthers won’t comment on the matter publicly until the NRL Integrity Unit’s investigation is finalized.
Stuart has yet to contact the Panthers or Salmon personally since the incident but did release a public apology on Sunday.
Salmon has pleaded guilty to the grade one contrary conduct charge incurred for the kick and will escape suspension with a $1,000 fine.
Despite Stuart’s public apology, the Salmon family urged the NRL to consider a serious sanction in a statement of their own released on Sunday.
By Stephen Gibbs and Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia
Published: | Updated:
NRL star Bryce Cartwright will front a Sydney court this week after police took out a restraining order to protect his anti-vaxxer ex-wife.
Cartwright split from his former wife Shanelle early last year, just months after walking away from a $450,000-a-season contract with the Gold Coast Titans.
The 27-year-old forward returned to New South Wales in September 2020 with Shanelle, the mother of his two children, citing personal reasons. He now plays for the Parramatta Eels.
Police have sought an apprehended violence order against Cartwright on behalf of Shanelle and the footballer is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday.
NRL star Bryce Cartwright will front a Sydney court this week after police took out a restraining order to protect his anti-vaxxer ex-wife Shanelle. The former couple is pictured
Cartwright split from wife Shanelle early last year, just months after walking away from a $450,000-a-season contract with the Gold Coast Titans. The former couple have two children
An interim order states that Cartwright must not assault, threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate his former partner as well as other standard conditions he does not damage her property or harm any animal she owns.
Cartwright is not facing any criminal charges.
An incident which led to the AVO being sought was described by sources as a ‘domestic dispute’ which was in no physical way, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The former couple’s beliefs about vaccinations, expressed mostly on social media, were widely condemned by medical experts in 2020.
At the time of their split, Cartwright’s agent Allan Gainey of Pinnacle Sports Management said the split was a ‘personal matter’.
‘Look, the kid is in a good spot at the moment and I want to keep him in that spot,’ Gainey said in January last year. ‘He does n’t need any publicity surrounding his personal life.’
Police have sought an apprehended violence order against Cartwright on behalf of Shanelle and the footballer is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday. The couple relocated to Sydney in September 2020 citing ‘personal reasons’
Concerns for Cartwright’s mental state began after he and Shanelle were sent a number of threats on social media due to their controversial stance on vaccinations.
Some of the threats involved harming the couple’s young children.
‘At some point it does take a toll,’ Cartwright said at the time. ‘I speak to a counselor every now and then just to clear my mind.
‘I have little things I like to do, like meditation… it clears my head and can be as simple as just going for a swim, staying off my phone or taking the kids to the beach.’
Shanelle (pictured) and Bryce Cartwright were outspoken about their views on vaccinations
Cartwright, a standout Penrith junior before making his first grade debut in 2014, was granted permission to continue playing in the NRL in May 2020 despite refusing a mandatory influenza vaccination.
That vaccination was part of the NRL’s return-to-play regulations at the height of the Covid pandemic.
The Titans submitted an application for a medical exemption which was granted by Queensland’s chief medical officer Jeannette Young.
Cartwright and his wife sparked then controversy when they publicly declared they would not vaccinate their young children.
Cartwright (pictured above) walked away from a big contract with the Gold Coast before signing with Parramatta
The couple called themselves ‘pro-choice’ rather than ‘anti-vax’.
Once touted as a NSW State of Origin prospect following a strong start to his career with the Panthers, Cartwright made the move to the Titans to work under ex-coach Garth Brennan in 2018.
He played just three games for Gold Coast in 2020 before linking with Parramatta, where he made 19 appearances last year.
Cartwright has turned out for the Eels seven times this year, including coming off the bench in a 36-20 win over Manly on Friday night.
Newcastle has alleviated pressure on under-fire coach Adam O’Brien, holding on for their first victory in more than a month with a 14-10 win over Wests Tigers.
In Sunday’s earlier match, North Queensland consolidated second place on the ladder with a 28-14 win victory over Canterbury in Bundaberg.
After leading 14-0 at halftime, the Knights were forced to protect a two-point lead through a nervous final 16 minutes at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
They did it without David Klemmer, who remained sidelined following last week’s controversial incident involving a Newcastle trainer.
The victory marked their first since round 16, while it was just the club’s third success since April.
And it came after a week where pressure had intensified on O’Brien as the embattled club dealt with the fallout from the Klemmer drama, the Knights’ poor form and the coach’s post-match press conference after their loss to Canterbury
But it did not come easy.
After keeping their 14-point lead through to the 53rd minute, the Knights cracked when Dominic Young failed to take an Adam Doueihi bomb and Brent Naden collected it on the bounce to score
With 17 minutes to play it was 14-10 when Jock Madden put on a nice long ball to send Asu Kepaoa over, as the Tigers enjoyed the majority of the play on the Knights’ line.
With 30 seconds left the Tigers received a set restart for a ruck infringement on the last tackle of the set, giving them four more plays to try to snatch the game.
One play was wasted when Jock Madden opted not to pass, Fa’amanu Brown ran another straight out of dummy-half and Daine Laurie dropped the final chance on the siren to end the match.
Realistically, it summed up a frustrating afternoon for the Tigers.
After pushing North Queensland a fortnight ago and beating Brisbane last week, the joint-venture club was back to looking like the team that sits 15th on the ladder.
The Tigers missed 39 tackles and their only linebreaks came in Kepaoa’s try and from Kelma Tualagi in the last minute to put them on the attack.
They were also clearly beaten out of the blocks, as Enari Tuala bagged a double on the left wing courtesy of a Jake Clifford grubberkick and pass
Tex Hoy also brushed Adam Doueihi aside for another first-half try, creating something out of nothing to help set up a 14-0 halftime lead.
Still, the result would have come as a serious relief for O’Brien as the Knights kicked clear of the wooden-spoon battle and left the Tigers still dueling it out with Gold Coast.
Cowboys continue charge
North Queensland have consolidated their push towards a top-two NRL finish with a grinding 28-14 win over Canterbury in Bundaberg.
The Bulldogs, chasing a third straight win under interim coach Mick Potter, tested the second-placed Cowboys for nearly the duration of the contest before running out of gas on a warm day in sub-tropical Queensland.
The Cowboys burst away from the Bulldogs in the second half.(Getty Images: Albert Perez)
They led 14-12 when Jacob Kiraz soared above Scott Drinkwater to set up Kyle Flanagan early in the second half, firing back after Valentine Holmes kicked a penalty goal to edge them in front, but North Queensland’s forwards then came to the fore.
Powering through the middle with the wind at their backs, Jason Taumalolo, Luciano Leilua and Reuben Cotter sucked two, three and sometimes four tacklers into the ruck to open up space for their edges.
Leilua was the first to benefit on the left edge with 63 minutes played as he charged through three tacklers and scored his first try in Cowboys colours.
Reece Robson zipped out of the ruck in the 69th minute after Cotter’s barnstorming run for Drinkwater to cross.
Drinkwater then completed a second double in consecutive weeks, with the Bulldogs’ goal line defense opening up for the fullback to score the Cowboys’ third in 10 minutes.
While Drinkwater was in stellar form again it was Todd Payten’s interchange forwards who did the damage, with Cotter and Leilua running for 160 and 132 meters respectively and Griffin Neame scoring their first.
They ran away with the result late on but Sunday’s contest didn’t start easily for the Cowboys.
Holmes put the kick-off to start the match out on the full, and Canterbury’s first attacking set was a success when Matt Burton grubbered at Josh Addo-Carr, who gathered ahead of a hesitant Peta Hiku to open their account.
The Bulldogs then defended their line valiantly as North Queensland peppered their edges with 60 per cent possession through 15 minutes.
Taumalolo’s error in contact then gifted the Bulldogs another attacking set, and this time from a middle scrum Burton got on the outside shoulder of Hiku to score their second in 20 minutes.
But an Addo-Carr penalty and some weak middle defense got the Cowboys rolling and Neame cracked Canterbury’s defenses in the 30th minute.
He charged on to a quick play-the-ball for his second try in as many weeks before his side struck again when Chad Townsend and Leilua combined for the former to score his first try of the season.
North Queensland enjoyed the better territory, possession and run meters all with the wind in their face in the opening half. They attempted a field goal to take a slender lead into the sheds but Townsend missed to the left, leaving it 10-all at the break.
Penrith’s 26-6 triumph against Canberra has been overshadowed by the ongoing feud between the rival clubs, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart labeling Panther half Jaeman Salmon a “weak-gutted dog”.
In Saturday’s other matches, Cronulla defeated St George Illawarra 24-18, while South Sydney beat the Warriors 48-10.
Stuart’s comments followed a controversial second-half incident where Salmon appeared to kick Raiders hooker Tom Starling in the groin and the face while being tackled, one of a number of reports from another fiery clash at Canberra Stadium.
Panthers forward James Fisher-Harris was sin-binned for a high-shot on Canberra’s Ryan Sutton that ended his night with a failed HIA, while Raiders winger Nick Cotric served 10 minutes in the bin for a similar hit on Dylan Edwards.
But Stuart had his sights set on Salmon, telling media he did not think the contact was accidental.
“I’ve had history with that kid (Salmon), I know that kid very well,” Stuart told reporters.
“He was a weak-gutted dog as a kid, and he hasn’t changed now, he’s a weak-gutted-dog person now.
“Fisher-Harris … they’re accidents and in this collision game, I understand it.
“Where Salmon kicked Tommy, it ain’t on.”
Those comments were put to a bemused Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, who said he did not believe Salmon would have deliberately tried to kick Starling.
“I don’t think I need to respond to those comments,” Clearly said.
“I know what Jaeman is like, he’s valuable in our club and we love him and that’s all that matters to us.”
But the loss also came with a hefty price for the Raiders, losing star prop Joe Tapine, who did not return in the second half following a first-half rib injury.
His side badly missed him, conceding 26 straight points after Josh Papalii had scored the match’s opening try.
The club had no update on the severity of Tapine’s injury immediately following the match.
Penrith, playing without their star halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai along with second rower Villiame Kikau, survived an injury scare of their own with fullback Edwards, playing his 100th NRL game, pushing through pain to put in a clinical display.
Dylan Edwards was among the Panthers’ try scorers against the Raiders.(AAP: Lukas Coch)
Edwards, who had earlier looked ginger after being drilled by Jordan Rapana, responded perfectly with a try on 54 minutes, breaking Canberra’s spirit and capping his 155m, six-tackle bust display.
And he got plenty of help, particularly through back-up playmaker Sean O’Sullivan, covering Cleary in immaculate fashion with a stunning three-try assists and some kicking excellence.
“Seany’s had a great year for us, he’s been exactly what we needed,” Cleary said.
“It’s been good for him and good for us; it’s sort of catapulted his career, when Nathan’s been out he’s been able to do the job.
“The boys have got confidence in him and we’re gonna keep backing him to step up.”
Five-eighth Salmon scored a crafty try in the second half to complete the route, while center Stephen Crichton had earlier marked his return from his sickening ear injury to cross.
The result is a crushing blow to the Raiders’ final hopes because they now sit a game back from the eight-placed Sydney Roosters, although all four of their remaining matches are against bottom-eight teams.
“I’m not walking away from that downhearted, because there was so much effort the boys put in,” Stuart said.
“We’re in survival mode and that’s how we’re going to play and we’re not going to let that result tonight stem the way we’ve been preparing and getting around each other.”
Sharks vs. Dragons
Team stats
play-by-play
Rabbitohs breeze past Warriors
The Rabbitohs blitzed the Warriors in an electric first half.(Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
South Sydney’s top-four ambitions remain intact following a ruthless 48-10 victory over the Warriors.
The Rabbitohs made easy work of a hapless Warriors outfit at Sunshine Coast Stadium, effectively having the contest put to bed when they scored six tries to one in the first half.
Adding two more to the Rabbitohs’ tally in the second stanza, star fullback Latrell Mitchell was given an early rest with 18 minutes to play after a perfect game off the tee.
Mitchell kicked all eight conversions, adding two tries and two try assists to go with two line assists and two linebreaks.
Perhaps the pick of his contributions was the sliced cut-out pass that found Izaac Thompson on debut to score his first NRL try and the Rabbitohs’ seventh of the afternoon.
Skipper Cameron Murray was one of nine Rabbitohs’ players to run for over 100 meters and had three try assists in the first 16 minutes before putting Lachlan Ilias over in the third minute.
He also linked up with hooker Damien Cook off a midfield linebreak to set up the hooker for the Rabbitohs’ second.
A deft offload to Tevita Tatola gave the Rabbitohs their third, before Murray put a strong shot on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25 meters from the Warriors’ line to win back possession.
It led to Ilias setting up Keaon Koloamatangi as Souths piled on 24 points in the first 21 minutes of the match.
Edward Kosi hit back for the away side in their first and only real opportunity of the opening half, but Jai Arrow then found an offload through three tacklers for Mitchell to crash over.
Mitchell then put Alex Johnston in for his 23rd try of the season as the Rabbitohs enjoyed a 36-6 advantage at the break.
It marked the fifth straight match South Sydney had scored 30 points or more against the Warriors.
The Rabbitohs’ dominance continued in the second half with the only blight coming through Shaun Johnson’s try in the 50th minute in a rare attacking opportunity inside South Sydney’s 20-meter line.
Victory over the Warriors saw the Rabbitohs leap-frog the Roosters and Broncos to move to sixth on the ladder, their dominant win also their biggest of 2022.
But the run into the finals is tough for last season’s grand finalists.
Four matches against top eight sides remain for the Rabbitohs, who face Parramatta, competition leaders Penrith, North Queensland and the Roosters to round out the regular season.
The tests don’t come much bigger for Canberra, whose bid to move into the top eight will be tested by Penrith.
Earlier, South Sydney made light work of the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast and tonight Cronulla and St George Illawarra play out the latest chapter of their heated rivalry.
Check out all the live scores and stats below.
Raiders vs. Panthers
Team stats
play-by-play
Rabbitohs breeze past Warriors
The Rabbitohs blitzed the Warriors in an electric first half.(Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
South Sydney’s top-four ambitions remain intact following a ruthless 48-10 victory over the Warriors.
The Rabbitohs made easy work of a hapless Warriors outfit at Sunshine Coast Stadium, effectively having the contest put to bed when they scored six tries to one in the first half.
Adding two more to the Rabbitohs’ tally in the second stanza, star fullback Latrell Mitchell was given an early rest with 18 minutes to play after a perfect game off the tee.
Mitchell kicked all eight conversions, adding two tries and two try assists to go with two line assists and two linebreaks.
Perhaps the pick of his contributions was the sliced cut-out pass that found Izaac Thompson on debut to score his first NRL try and the Rabbitohs’ seventh of the afternoon.
Skipper Cameron Murray was one of nine Rabbitohs’ players to run for over 100 meters and had three try assists in the first 16 minutes before putting Lachlan Ilias over in the third minute.
He also linked up with hooker Damien Cook off a midfield linebreak to set up the hooker for the Rabbitohs’ second.
A deft offload to Tevita Tatola gave the Rabbitohs their third, before Murray put a strong shot on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25 meters from the Warriors’ line to win back possession.
It led to Ilias setting up Keaon Koloamatangi as Souths piled on 24 points in the first 21 minutes of the match.
Edward Kosi hit back for the away side in their first and only real opportunity of the opening half, but Jai Arrow then found an offload through three tacklers for Mitchell to crash over.
Mitchell then put Alex Johnston in for his 23rd try of the season as the Rabbitohs enjoyed a 36-6 advantage at the break.
It marked the fifth straight match South Sydney had scored 30 points or more against the Warriors.
The Rabbitohs’ dominance continued in the second half with the only blight coming through Shaun Johnson’s try in the 50th minute in a rare attacking opportunity inside South Sydney’s 20-meter line.
Victory over the Warriors saw the Rabbitohs leap-frog the Roosters and Broncos to move to sixth on the ladder, their dominant win also their biggest of 2022.
But the run into the finals is tough for last season’s grand finalists.
Four matches against top eight sides remain for the Rabbitohs, who face Parramatta, competition leaders Penrith, North Queensland and the Roosters to round out the regular season.
Euan Aitken will return to his preferred position for the first time since July last year. Photo / Photosport
When Euan Aitken was recruited by the Warriors ahead of the 2021 season, he was brought in as a senior centre, after 121 games for St George-Illawarra.
It was a logical move – as the club lacked depth in that position – but hasn’t worked out as expected, with Aitken spending most of his time in the pack.
On Saturday Aitken, who has only played eight of his 31 Warriors matches at centre, will return to his preferred position for the first time since July last year.
He was initially moved to the second row to cover some injuries, which made sense on a short term basis, before the shift seemed to become permanent this year.
It was a brave call by coach Nathan Brown but also risky, as Adam Pompey (34 NRL games at the start of this season) and Jesse Arthars (29 matches) were the most experienced of the other options available, alongside rookies Rocco Berry and Viliami Okay.
Aitken has mostly performed well in the forwards, with his industrious approach but the opportunity cost of the change has been considerable.
The Warriors have had defensive issues all season – only the Gold Coast Titans have conceded more points – and have been particularly vulnerable on the edge, with center arguably the hardest defensive position in the sport.
When Stacey Jones assumed the interim head coach role, he always planned to restore Aitken to the backs and selected him there for the homecoming match against the West Tigers on July 3.
Some late withdrawals curtailed that plan, but Aitken’s switch will finally happen against South Sydney on Saturday.
“I’ve been wanting to put him back there and just [solidify] our defence,” said Jones, who explained that the return of second rowers Jack Murchie and Bailey Sironen from injury had offered the opportunity.
Euan Aitken celebrates during the Warriors’ victory over the Wests Tigers. Photo / Photosport
For his part Aitken, 27, is looking forward to more space and time, one spot closer to the flank.
“It’s probably the one on one attacking opportunities that you get in the centers,” said Aitken, when asked what he has missed the most about playing out wide. “I’m a pretty strong ball runner and I like to beat my defender so I’m excited to get a few more opportunities.”
Despite spending the entire season in the forwards, Aitken has maintained his pace. He tried to bulk up in pre-season but couldn’t keep the extra weight on: “It’s hard to maintain when you are making over 40 tackles.”
Aitken, who is moving to the Redcliffe Dolphins next season, remains confident the Warriors are on the right track, despite two wins in their last 12 games.
“As a team we are sticking together quite well – there’s a decent culture here,” said Aitken. “I feel like we are heading in the right direction, especially in the last three weeks since that Tigers win. We have shown good glimpses of having a strong team but we just can’t put it together over 80 minutes yet, not through lack of trying just errors in fatigue or a little bit of game smarts.”
With their playoff hopes buried weeks ago, Aitken hopes pride and a sense of fun – “the reason we play football is because we enjoy it” – can keep confidence and motivation levels high, along with the desire to hear their victory song again.
“I’m always trying to win,” said Aitken. “That is the number one achievement. I’d like to finish the year playing some good football and if we can get some wins it definitely makes things a bit more enjoyable.”
The Warriors have a dreadful recent record against the Rabbitohs. They have lost 12 of the last 13 encounters dating back to 2013, with their only win coming on the opening weekend of the 2018 season in Perth.
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