Round 13
New Zealand Warriors 28 l. South Sydney Rabbitohs 35

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Rabbitohs fight back to upset Warriors
Mon June 9, 2008
Source: www.rabbitohs.com.au

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have secured their first win against the New Zealand Warriors this century with a hard fought 35 points to 28 win at Mt Smart Stadium in front of over 13,000 fans.

The Rabbitohs scored six tries, five goals and a field goal to seal their second win of the season. The Rabbitohs trailed 14-nil at one stage before fighting back for an inspirational victory.

The Rabbitohs started slowly with the first 20 minutes being dominated by the Warriors. The New Zealanders controlled the ruck and the run of play and took full advantage of it.

Two tries to Michael Crockett and one to Patrick Ah Van gave the Warriors a 14-nil lead after 16 minutes, but the Rabbitohs mounted a spirited comeback in the opening 40 minutes to take the lead at the break.

In the 25th minute, debutant Jamie Simpson scored his first NRL try. Five-eighth John Sutton set up the try, taking on the defence and offloading out the back for Simpson to clean up and score. Issac Luke converted to give the Rabbitohs their first six points.

Five minutes later the Rabbitohs were capitalising on the Warriors' mistakes, and Fetuli Talanoa scored a four-pointer. Halfback Chris Sandow started a fantastic backline movement, shifting the ball to Sutton who dummied and made the hole for Talanoa. Luke converted again to bring the Rabbitohs within two points of the home side.

In the 37th minute, big Manase Manuokafoa crashed over after Issac Luke set him up for the try. Luke's third conversion gave the Rabbitohs an 18-14 lead at the break.

The Warriors were on fire in the opening 20 minutes but mistakes riddled their game in the second 20 minute period and the Rabbitohs fired back.

The Rabbitohs started the second half strongly, extending their lead in the 48th minute when rookie fullback Luke Capewell scored his second NRL try. The Warriors were forced to kick a goal line drop out, which was taken terribly and collected by Capewell on the Warriors' 20 metre line. Capewell beat Crockett to cross for the Rabbitohs fourth try of the night.

The Warriors struck back with two quick tries, with Aidan Kirk scoring followed a third try to Michael Crockett. The scores were then locked at 22-all.

The Warriors hit the lead in the 65th minute through Jerome Ropati, giving the Warriors a four point lead.

The Rabbitohs then struck back with two quick tries. The first was to Luke Stuart in the 71st minute when George Ndaira and Roy Asotasi created the play for Stuart to score. Chris Sandow's conversion leveled the scores.

Two minutes later Ben Lowe crossed when Sutton made another break, and Sandow's conversion gave the Rabbitohs a six-point lead with only seven minutes remaining.

The Rabbitohs repelled a final attacking raid by the Warriors, with Shannan McPherson's defence stopping Micheal Luck from crossing. Rabbitohs debutant Chris Sandow kicked a long range field goal in the final minute to seal the Rabbitohs second victory of the season.

Issac was outstanding for the red and greens, as was John Sutton with his attacking runs and Chris Sandow's kicking game. Roy Asotasi was inspirational in his leadership on the field.

The Rabbitohs will have a bye next weekend in round 14.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 35 (Jamie Simpson, Fetuli Talanoa, Manase Manuokafoa, Luke Capewell, Luke Stuart, Ben Lowe tries; Issac Luke 3, Chris Sandow 2 goals; Chris Sandow field goal)

defeated

New Zealand Warriors 28 (Michael Crockett 3, Patrick Ah Van, Aidan Kirk, Jerome Ropati tries; Patrick Ah Van goal)

Toyota Cup

New Zealand Warriors 31 (Howie Matthews 2, Leeson Ah Mau, Rusty Bristow, Bill Tupou, Arron Pawley tries; Kevin Locke 3 goals; Isaac John field goal)

defeated

South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 (Malcolm Webster try)

News Source: www.rabbitohs.com.au


Koopu in centres for encounter with Souths
Fri June 6, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Wairangi Koopu has been brought into the centres for the Vodafone Warriors' 13th-round NRL clash against South Sydney at Mt Smart Stadium tonight.

The spot had been left vacant after winger Manu Vatuvei, originally named to make his comeback in this match from a leg injury, had failed a fitness test on Tuesday.

After Vatuvei's withdrawal, coach Ivan Cleary reshuffled his side by shifting Aidan Kirk back to the left wing ? where he had played in each of the previous two games - and decided against naming a new centre as he considered various options.

Koopu (28) wasn't included in the original 17-man squad. This will be just his fifth NRL game of the year in a season when he has also played for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup.

The Vodafone Warriors are otherwise unchanged.

Micheal Luck, leading the side again with Steve Price on Origin duty, will make his 62nd consecutive appearance since joining the Vodafone Warriors.

Apart from Luck, six other players will maintain their record of playing in every match so far this season; the others are Nathan Fien, Epalahame Lauaki, Simon Mannering, Sam Rapira, Grant Rovelli and Evarn Tuimavave.

Vice-captain Ruben Wiki, recalled to the side, will be playing his 297th first-grade game.

VODAFONE WARRIORS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
8.00pm, Friday, June 6
Referee: Tony De Las Heras

Vodafone Warriors

1 Patrick Ah Van
2 Michael Crockett
18 Wairangi Koopu
4 Jerome Ropati
3 Aidan Kirk
6 Nathan Fien
7 Grant Rovelli
8 Ruben Wiki (vc)
9 Ian Henderson
10 Sam Rapira
11 Simon Mannering
12 Epalahame Lauaki
13 Micheal Luck (c)

Interchange:
14 Lance Hohaia
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Russell Packer
17 Sonny Fai

Coach: Ivan Cleary

News Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Tue June 3, 2008
• Simpson and Sandow to make NRL debuts
  
Tue June 3, 2008
• Wiki returns for Warriors
  

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