Round 14
Rabbitohs 34 d. Broncos 14

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Souths start new era with a commanding victory
Sun June 11, 2006
South Sydney have started the post-George Piggins era with a commanding 34-14 win against the top placed Brisbane Broncos to record their first victory of the season in what hopefully will be many more wins to come.

Dreadful conditions greeted both sides at Telstra Stadium and the Rabbitohs best chance of breaking the duck was always going to be against a Brisbane outfit missing seven players on State of Origin duty. Despite the loss in talent, Brisbane were able to field a pack of forwards containing representative players Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn, Dane Carlaw, Corey Parker and David Stagg.

Tries in the opening ten minutes to Nathan Merritt and Luke MacDougall gave the Rabbitohs hope that they would finally get the elusive win as they raced out to a 10-0 lead in next to no time.

Fraser Anderson in his first grade debut scored for the Broncos to get them on the board and Brett Seymour leveled up the scores in the 25th minute with a try as it looked set that the Broncos would power on and Souths once again fall apart.

Jaiman Lowe scored a very determined try four minutes before halftime to push Souths to a 16-10 lead at the break. Adam MacDougall got away the impossible offload where Lowe collected it and steamed ahead in a great 20m surge.

Leon Bott got Brisbane off to the ideal second half start wih a try five minutes after the break but Corey Parker couldn't level the scores with his conversion attempt wide of the posts.

The remainder of the match was all Souths where they scored three unanswered tries to Merritt, Luke MacDougall and Todd Polglase to record an important victory for many reasons. The Roosters continue to remain the last side to go through a season winless when they did in 1966, the victory is a huge boost to player morale and it's a better platform for new owners Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe to rebuild the club after the terrible mess Piggins left it in.

Souths last victory against Brisbane was in 1989 when Piggins was coach and before his regime as Football and Seniors Leagues Club Chairman. Even though Piggins stood down as Football Club Chairman in 2003, he still had a strong arm control of the Football Club board until the historic ownership vote took place in March. Piggins was able to have five of his men on the nine-man board, which ensured he continued to pull the strings.

The infighting and politics at Souths was seeing them die a second death with this time no chance of resurrection, something had to be done and thankfully along came Holmes a Court and Crowe who offered the Rabbitohs professionalism, a future and possible success. Souths have had a chook raffle mentality for too long and the impact Holmes a Court and Crowe have had on the club in such a short time has been massive.

Souths have added in Mark Hughes as Recruitment and Development Manager, Jason Taylor onto the coaching staff, Errol Alcott as Rehabiliation and Conditioning Physio and last night brought in Anthony Mundine as Indigenous Liaison Officer where he'll also do boxing training with the players once a week. Those additions will only make Souths a more professional club where the players will have access to the best in their business.

One victory doesn't make a season, however it's a bright beginning for a new era at Souths. The members made the right decision in removing the Piggins regime from the club and giving it a new beginning. Holmes a Court and Crowe will bring in the best for the players and more than likely spend above the $3million they have given to the club in ensuring that Souths are a success in the future.

Player recruitment is going to be important for Souths and they must remember not to go crazy in paying overs for players and signing them for extensive periods. David Peachey is proving to be a fine signing and if they are to sign experienced players it must be on shorter-term deals with incentives to perform. Mark Hughes will ensure that there will be young kids coming through the ranks and the professional staff list will help in the performance of the players.

I personally hope Souths can one day be a big success as that club deserves the very best after putting up with 16 years of utter and embarrassing failure.


Rabbitohs Tame Broncos
Sun June 11, 2006
Source: www.souths.com.au

The Real Insurance Rabbitohs broke a 17-year drought against the Brisbane Broncos, beating the top-of-the-table Queenslanders 34 points to 14 in front of 6,537 fans in wet conditions at Telstra Stadium tonight (Saturday).

The Rabbitohs scored six tries to the Broncos' three to record an historic victory in a week of celebrations for the mighty Club.

The Rabbitohs opened the scoring in the seventh minute of play when flying winger Nathan Merritt notched up his tenth try of the season. Fullback David Peachey took control of the play, grubber kicking for the open right-hand-corner for Merritt to pounce and score.

The Rabbitohs extended their lead to ten when Luke MacDougall scored two minutes later and Ben Walker kicked the conversion. Kiwi second-rower David Fa'alogo set up the try making the metres to put the Rabbitohs on the attack. The ball went left to Luke MacDougall who scored.

The Broncos struck back through tries to debutant Fraser Anderson and then Brett Seymour, but the red and greens went to the break with a six-point advantage when Jaiman Lowe scored his maiden try for South Sydney. The Rabbitohs hadn't defeated the Broncos since 1989 and Lowe's try resembled a try from the 1989 Grand Final which was scored by Canberra's Steve Jackson. Lowe hit the defensive line and carried three defenders over the line from long range to record the four-pointer. Ben Walker converted the try to give the Rabbitohs a 16-10 lead at the half time break.

The Rabbitohs were completing their sets and creating plenty of chances. They could have led 28-10 except for a couple of errors which cost them tries. They were dominating the more fancied Brisbane side and needed to continue to do so in the second half to record their first win for the season.

And that they did.

Broncos' winger Leon Bott brought the visitors within two points when he scored a try early in the second half, but Nathan Merritt put a stop to any thought of a comeback when he crossed for his second try in the 48th minute of the game. John Sutton set up the try by calling the ball right, with the ball finding itself in the hands of Ben Rogers. Rogers then flicked a pass out the back to Todd Polglase who put Merritt away. Ben Walker's conversion extended the lead to 22-14 in favour of the Rabbitohs.

Luke MacDougall then crossed for his second try against his former Club in the 60th minute. It was Sutton again who set up the try, throwing a beautiful cut-out pass to MacDougall on the left wing to score. Walker's conversion gave the Rabbitohs an unassailable 14-point lead.

To put the icing on the cake, hard-working Todd Polglase scored a try five minutes from time, pouncing on a loose ball from Fraser Anderson to score. Walker's fifth conversion gave the Rabbitohs a memorable 34-14 victory.

The win caps off a remarkable week in the Club's history, and every player performed extremely well tonight. Shannan McPherson was dishing out the heavy defence throughout the match, and John Sutton looked like he returned to his dominating best tonight. The man-of-the-match tonight was fullback David Peachey. Peachey pulled off three try saving tackles and played a part in many of the Rabbitohs' tries.

The Rabbitohs move on to play the Parramatta Eels next Saturday night at Parramatta Stadium at 7:30pm.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 34 (Nathan Merritt 2, Luke MacDougall 2, Jaiman Lowe, Todd Polglase tries; Ben Walker 5 goals)

defeated

Brisbane Broncos 14 (Fraser Anderson, Brett Seymour, Leon Bott tries; Corey Parker goal)

The South Sydney Rabbitohs notched up a victory in wet conditions against the North Sydney Bears tonight (Saturday), 22 points to 12 at Telstra Stadium.

Joe Williams came into the Rabbitohs Premier League side with Ben Walker returning to the NRL side.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 (Rhys Hanbury, Fetuli Talanoa, Wise Kativerata tries; Joe Williams 5 goals)

defeated

North Sydney Bears 12 (Aaron Trinder, Daniel Russell tries; Daniel Russell 2 goals)

Half time - Rabbitohs 14 Bears 0

Report source: www.souths.com.au

Advanced Search