Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Florida
Sat Jan 26 1:30pm
LOSS 24-26
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have staged a dramatic second half comeback to come within two points of the reigning English Super League champions the Leed Rhinos, going down 26-24 in the first Australia Day Challenge played at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville Florida. A bumper crowd of over 12,000 fans turned out in poor weather conditions to cheer on the teams, with a vast majority of the spectators cheering for the Rabbitohs and wearing South Sydney merchandise. The Rhinos completely dominated the opening 40 minutes, scoring five tries to nil to hammer out a 26-nil lead at the major break. Matt Diskin, Brent Webb, Rob Burrow, Keith Senior and Scott Donald all crossed the stripe for four-pointers, with captain Kevin Sinfield kicking three conversions. The Rabbitohs fired up in the second half, scoring four tries to nil and showing the best team in Europe that the Rabbitohs aren't an easy beat team. Ben Rogers scored a try in the 47th minute after prop Michael Greenfield grubber kicked close to the line for Rogers to pounce. Eddie Paea converted to take the scores to 26-6. Eight minutes later hooker Issac Luke scooted from dummy half and ducked weaved out of three tackles to score a typical Luke try, converting his own try for a 26-12 scoreline. Two minutes into the third quarter, halfback Eddie Paea beat three defenders to score a fantastic try. Luke's conversion brought the Rabbitohs within eight of their opponents. In the final minute of play, hooker George Ndaira scored his maiden try in the red and green colours, converting his own try to finish the scoring at 26-24. Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor was pleased with the result of the match. "Even though we lost I'm still happy with the performance overall. We know what we need to work on now," Taylor said. "Our ball control in the first half was poor and we took some poor options but we fixed a few things in the second half so that was pleasing. "We only went down by two and one of their tries was a long range intercept so all-in-all it was good result. "The best results seemed to be off the field. Over 12,000 people came out to watch when it's raining, the merchandise all sold out and the number of new Souths supporters in the US is phenomenal. I think we have helped promote the game over here over the past ten days and we look forward to getting that opportunity again." During the pre-match entertainment, the crew from Orange County Choppers who are the stars of the hit TV show American Chopper, presented Russell Crowe with a special edition motor bike.
0-6
20 min 0-12
0-18
0-22
39 min 0-26
44 min 6-26
56 min 12-26
64 min 18-26
76 min 24-26
Rogers, Luke, Paea, Ndaira tries
Luke 2 from 2, Paea 1 from 1, Ndaira 1 from 1 goals
Crowd 12,500
Referee
Final Line Up
Other FG Trials
56-10 Gosf Melbourne b Manly
22-14 Newc Newcastle b Warriors
20-10 Mack Brisbane b Nth Qld
34-28 Park Canberra b Gold Coast
30-12 Rock Brisbane b Central Comets
48-0 PtMq Sydney b Dunghutti
22-0 PtMq Sydney b Wauchope
32-4 PtMq Sydney b Port Macquarie
30-0 Wind Penrith b Windsor
Reserve Grade - NSWRL NSW Cup Trial
v Pacific Island Selection, Norford Park, Sefton 6:00pm Wed Feb 13
WIN 48-0
On Wednesday night the Bears NSWRL State Cup players also hit the paddock for the first time as they trialled against a young Pacific Islander team at Norford Park, Sefton. The Islanders had a fair amount of possession and hit hard – just what the doctor ordered according to Bears head coach Wayne Lamkin. “Just to get out there again, get off the ground, play hard, go through all the bits and pieces that you practice and just get back into the mode of footy again was good. The boys are happy too that they’ve played together against some opposition rather than just a training session”. Wayne was impressed with last years up and comers Ryan Verlinden and Greg Nichols. “It was nice to see those two players reaffirm to me what they were capable of a year down the track”.
tries goals
NSWRL U18 SG Ball Cup - Round 1
v Penrith, Penrith Park, Feb 16
LOSS 12-14
Brent, Endemann, Mahe tries
Akauola goal
Other U18 Matches
30-30 Tugn Gold Coast d Cronulla
44-18 Seif Canberra b Central Coast
22-12 Cabr Parramatta b St George
19-18 Ring W Syd Acad b Wests
34-6 Leic Illawarra b Balmain
50-4 Belm Canterbury b Norths
BYE Syd Roosters
BYE Manly
BYE Newcastle
W D L B Diff PT
CANTERBURY 1 - - - +46 2
ILLAWARRA 1 - - - +28 2
CANBERRA 1 - - - +26 2
PARRAMATTA 1 - - - +10 2
PENRITH 1 - - - +2 2
W SYD ACADEMY 1 - - - +1 2
SYD ROOSTERS - - - 1 0 2
MANLY - - - 1 0 2
Newcastle - - - 1 0 2
Gold Coast - 1 - - 0 1
Cronulla - 1 - - 0 1
Wests - - 1 - -1 -
Souths - - 1 - -2 -
St George - - 1 - -10 -
Central Coast - - 1 - -26 -
Balmain - - 1 - -28 -
Norths - - 1 - -46 -
NSWRL U16 Harold Matthews Cup - Round 1
v Penrith
LOSS 14-26
Brent, Endemann, Mahe tries
Akauola goal
Other U16 Matches
34-12 Kirk Cronulla b SW Syd Academy
42-40 Seif Central Coast b Canberra
48-0 Cabr Parramatta b St George
20-4 Ring Wests b W Syd Academy
32-14 Leic Illawarra b Balmain
22-22 Belm Norths d Canterbury
BYE Syd Roosters
BYE Manly
BYE Newcastle
W D L B Diff PT
PARRAMATTA 1 - - - +48 2
CRONULLA 1 - - - +22 2
ILLAWARRA 1 - - - +18 2
WESTS 1 - - - +16 2
PENRITH 1 - - - +12 2
CENTRAL COAST 1 - - - +2 2
SYD ROOSTERS - - - 1 0 2
MANLY - - - 1 0 2
Newcastle - - - 1 0 2
Norths - 1 - - 0 1
Canterbury - 1 - - 0 1
Canberra - - 1 - -2 -
Souths - - 1 - -12 -
W Syd Academy - - 1 - -16 -
Balmain - - 1 - -18 -
SW Syd Academy - - 1 - -22 -
St George - - 1 - -48 -