Stadium Australia
Sat Feb 28, 8:00pm
The CyberView from the Hill - Last Week
The CyberView from the Hill - This Week
Late ChangesSouth Sydney team is as per program.
WIN 18-6
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have secured back-to-back Charity Shield titles after defeating the St George Illawarra Dragons 18 points to 6 in front of 25,871 Members and fans tonight (Saturday). The third largest crowd in Charity Shield history saw the Rabbitohs score three tries to the Dragons’ one, including a double to new recruit Colin Best, playing against his former Club. The Rabbitohs led six-nil early after winger Nathan Merritt crossed in the eighth minute of play. Ball went through the hands to the right wing, finding Merritt for the four-pointer. Issac Luke’s conversion gave the Rabbitohs the six-point advantage. A head clash in the 15th minute saw Roy Asotasi leave the field with a nasty head wound. Four minutes later, Dragons lock Beau Scott crossed for the Red V’s only try of the night, after he charged down a kick and touched down in the in-goal. Mathew Head converted to level the scores at six-all. The rest of the half was a tight struggle with defence the order of the day. Halfback Chris Sandow put a big hit on his opposite number Head in the 23rd minute, shaking up his opponent. The Rabbitohs were struggling to make metres out of their own half, meaning the Dragons had plenty of ball in their opposition’s end, but they were unable to capitalise on any of their opportunities. Five minutes into the second half, Colin Best scored his first try off a wonderful grubber kick from John Sutton. Identical to a try he scored a fortnight ago in Coffs Harbour, Best chased through on a deft Sutton grubber to touch down out wide on the left hand side. Issac Luke kicked his second conversion from the sideline to restore the Rabbitohs six-point buffer. The Rabbitohs were being more adventurous in the second half, with Chris Sandow regathering a short drop-out for himself in the 54th minute. It did not lead to points, but put the Dragons in two minds about what the young Rabbitohs players could come up with next. It worked, as three minutes later Best crossed for his second try. The Rabbitohs earned a repeat set when Sutton sent up a towering, floating bomb which was spilled by the Dragons. From the ensuing set, Best carried two defenders over the line to score. Issac Luke made three from three with the boot and gave the Rabbitohs an 18-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining on the clock. The Rabbitohs created a lot more opportunities for themselves in the second stanza, as well pulling together brick wall-like defence on their own line. On two occasions the Rabbitohs repelled two sets of six on their own line to deny the Dragons points. The Rabbitohs’ forwards made metres in the second half, with captain Roy Asotasi returning to the field and leading the way in the 54th minute. Nathan Merritt was strong out wide and Colin Best had the Dragons outside backs in a stutter on more than one occasion. Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Taylor was happy with his team’s performance. “I thought it was a good defensive effort from us tonight which is something we have worked really hard on,” Taylor said at the post match media conference. “They let us off a few times as well but we did well tonight I thought.” Taylor said his side also did well with ball in hand. “I though we showed some good signs with the ball and it was a good, tough hit out for us tonight,” Taylor said. “We had some opportunities and we took three of them and it was good that we were able to do that. I was impressed with our defence and that their try came from a charge down.” Captain Roy Asotasi said: “It was a good hit out before round one.” “We have plenty to work on, and we’ve learnt a lesson from last year about getting too excited about the trials.” Taylor added: “We were confident that we were well prepared and we need to be that way each week of the competition.” “The new guys knew our game plan and what we can do defensively. “We still have some work to do and there’s still some improvement to be had, but I’m happy with the performance.”
9 min 6-0
19 min 6-6
55 min 12-6
68 min 18-6
Best 2, Merritt tries
Luke 3 from 3 goals
Crowd 25,871
Referee T.Archer/G.Badger
Penalities 9-6
Scrums 7-8
Min Tac Pe MT LB R DR m Er OL K TA T G/A FG
Flbk - Wesser, Rhys - 1 - - - 17 1 144 5 - - 1 - - -
Wing - Merritt, Nathan - 4 - 1 - 8 2 44 1 1 - - 1 - -
Cntr - Best, Colin - 11 1 1 2 7 2 57 - 3 - - 2 - -
Cntr - Corrigan, Shaune - 6 1 - - 8 3 36 1 1 - - - - -
Wing - Talanoa, Fetuli - 2 - 1 - 8 3 59 - - - - - - -
5/8 - Sutton, John - 19 - - - 11 - 81 4 2 7 2 - - -
Half - Sandow, Chris - 14 - 6 - 4 - 44 1 - 8 - - - -
Prop - Stuart, Luke - 28 1 - - 15 - 115 - - 1 - - - -
Hook - Luke, Issac - 33 1 2 - 9 6 61 - - 2 - - 3/3 -
Prop - Asotasi, Roy - 17 - 2 - 9 - 75 - - 1 - - - - (c)
SRow - Kidwell, David - 20 1 3 - 11 - 78 1 1 - - - - -
SRow - McPherson, Shannon - 35 - 2 1 10 - 75 - - - - - - -
Lock - Fa'alogo, David - 22 - 2 - 13 1 85 1 - - - - - -
Int - Falloon, Beau - 6 - 1 - 1 - 1 - - - - - - -
Int - Capewell, Luke - 9 - - - 2 - 15 - - - - - - -
Int - McQueen, Chris - 3 - 1 - 3 1 21 1 - - - - - -
Int - Crossman, Garrett - 20 - 1 - 8 - 55 1 - - - - - -
Int - Tyrell, Dave - 11 - 1 - - - - - - - - - - -
Int - Lowe, Ben - 14 - - - 8 - 52 - 1 - - - - -
Int - Lowe, Jamian - 26 - - - 13 - 89 - - - - - - -
Int - Pettybourne, Eddie - 23 - - - 5 - 34 - - - - - - -
Int - Simpson, Jamie - 8 1 - - 2 1 22 - - - - - - -
TOTAL 334 6 25 3 1266 16 9 19 3 3 3/3 -
Completion Rate - 32/47
Opposition Offloads - 7
Effective 1st Tackles
1 min 21m Sandow kick COF
2 min 6m P / SS Err / SCR
5 min 13m Sandow kick COF
7 min 0m SI Err / P / TRY
9 min 5m Sutton kick COF
12 min 43m P / Sutton kick 18m / SS P
15 min 22m SS Err / SCR
17 min 59m Sandow kick
19 min 100m SI Err / Sutton kick / ChrgDwn (SI TRY)
21 min 60m SS P
23 min 39m Sandow kick COF
25 min 16m Sutton kick
27 min 96m Sutton kick OOF 64m / SS P
31 min 30m P / Sandow kick / SS Err
34 min 34m P / Sandow kick / SS Err / SCR
37 min 12m P / SS Err
38 min 49m SI Err / SS P
half time
43 min 0m P / Sandow kick CIG
44 min 0m Sutton kick / TRY
46 min 35m Luke kick
48 min 86m SS Err / SCR 48m / SS P
51 min 55m Sandow kick COF
53 min 45m SS Err / SCR
56 min 5m Sutton kick / SI Err
57 min 0m TRY
59 min 5m Sandow kick
60 min 20m SI Err / SCR
61 min 10m Sutton kick COF
62 min 15m Sutton kick
63 min 95m SS Err
65 min 22m Luke kick COF
67 min 35m Sutton kick / SS Err
69 min 39m P / SS Err
71 min 41m SI Err / SS Err
72 min 60m SI Err / SS Err
74 min 9m SI Err / SCR / SI Err / P / SS Err / SCR
76 min 43m SI Err / SCR / SS Err / SCR 14m / SS P
79 min 36m Asotasi kick DIG
Average effective 1st tackle location
- 33.3m - for the whole match
- 35.6m - 1st half
- 31.5m - 2nd half
If you now remove the tries
- 37.8m - 1st half
- 34.8m - 2nd half
Other FG Trials
30-24 Camp Parramatta b Sydney
20-6 Kawa Melbourne b Brisbane
34-12 Lism Warriors b Gold Coast
14-10 Cess Cronulla b Newcastle
24-16 Meak Bulldogs b Canberra
18-18 Cair Nth Qld d Penrith
World Club Championship
28-10 Leed Manly b Leeds
Judiciary News
There were no Souths players charged on the weekend.
Trial U20 NYC
v St George-Illawarra, 6:00pm
LOSS 26-36
4 min 6-0 15 min 6-4 22 min 6-8 30 min 10-8 32 min 10-14 38 min 14-14 45 min 14-20 50 min 20-20 55 min 20-26 64 min 20-32 72 min 26-32 75 min 26-36 Morgan 2, Farrell, Joseph tries Vaivai 3 from 5 goals
Trial NSW Cup
v Bankstown City Bulls
The Crest, 6:00pm
WIN 22-14
In the Bears NSW Cup trial Norths faced a Bankstown City Bulls that featured the first grade experience of Michael Sullivan, Nick Kouparitsas and Danny Williams. Centre Curtis Johnston scored 2 tries in the 22-14 win over the Bulls. Bladen Baird and Josh Mansour also scored. Justin Hunt and Marc Russell shared the goal duties.
Johnston 2, Baird, Mansour tries Justin Hunt 2, Marc Russell goals
v Western Suburbs, Liverpool
WIN 24-12
L.Akau'ola 2, J.Tongahai, M.Burke, D.Brennan tries
K.Matavao 2 goals
Other U18 Matches
28-26 SMry Newtown b Penrith
60-4 Seif Parramatta b Canberra
82-6 Cres Canterbury b Central Coast
36-12 Ende St George b Cronulla
23-23 Woll Illawarra d Norths
24-12 Brok Manly b Balmain
34-10 Tuqu Gold Coast b Melbourne
46-16 SMry Newcastle b W Syd Academy
W D L Diff PT
PARRAMATTA 3 - - +110 6
MANLY 3 - - +40 6
ST GEORGE 3 - - +52 6
NEWTOWN 3 - - +28 6
CANTERBURY 2 - 1 +124 4
GOLD COAST 2 - 1 +26 4
CRONULLA 2 - 1 +6 4
MELBOURNE 2 - 1 -10 4
Illawarra 1 1 1 -16 3
Norths 1 1 1 -38 3
Newcastle 1 - 2 +28 2
Penrith 1 - 2 -2 2
Souths 1 - 2 -14 2
Balmain 1 - 2 -26 2
Wests - - 3 -50 -
W Syd Academy - - 2 -56 -
Canberra - - 3 -96 -
Central Coast - - 3 -106 -
NSWRL U16 Matthews Rd3
v Western Suburbs, Liverpool
LOSS 20-42
T.Ranuku-Phillips,J.Roberts, A.O'Brien tries
J.Roberts, K.Dungay goals
Other U16 Matches
30-24 SMry Easts b Penrith
30-18 Seif Parramatta b Canberra
28-6 Cres Canterbury b Central Coast
30-6 Ende Cronulla b St George
32-18 Woll Norths b Illawarra
24-8 Brok Manly b Balmain
40-6 Tuqu Gold Coast b SW Syd Academy
30-16 SMry W Syd Academy b Newcastle
W D L Diff PT
CANTERBURY 3 - - +104 6
WESTS 3 - - +48 6
MANLY 3 - - +26 6
PARRAMATTA 2 1 - +34 5
NEWCASTLE 2 - 1 +62 4
GOLD COAST 2 - 1 +50 4
PENRITH 2 - 1 +44 4
CRONULLA 2 - 1 +28 4
Illawarra 1 1 1 -4 3
Souths 1 - 2 +10 2
Canberra 1 - 2 0 2
W Syd Academy 1 - 2 -4 2
Balmain 1 - 2 -32 2
Easts 1 - 2 -34 2
Norths 1 - 2 -70 2
Central Coast - 1 2 -24 1
St George - 1 2 -54 1
SW Syd Academy - - 3 -130 -
Other FG Trials 16-12 SFS Sydney b Wests-Tigers 24-12 Woll St Geo-Ill b Bulldogs 40-16 Darw Gold Coast b Cronulla 30-16 Redc Brisbane b Canberra 18-10 Penr Parramatta b Penrith 32-24 Prin Melbourne b Newcastle 32-28 Auck Warriors b Nth Qld 34-26 Lond Manly b London
Trial NYC
v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Toyota Stadium, 5:00pm
WIN 26-12
The Rabbitohs’ Toyota Cup outfit had a comfortable 26-12 victory against the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday afternoon, their second trial win in as many weeks. The Rabbitohs led 26-nil at three-quarter time before the coach Daniel Irvine made wholesale changes, allowing the Sharks to score two late tries. Dylan Farrell scored a double in the five-tries-to-two effort.
60 min 26-0
26-6
26-12
Farrell 2, Pitman, Hammett, Manton tries
Vaivai 2, Farrell goals
Trial NSW Cup
v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Toyota Stadium, Sat Feb 21 3:00pm
LOSS 16-18
After three months of training and a close 18-16 trial loss to Cronulla on Saturday night, NSW Cup Coach Wayne Lambkin will turn 32 players into 22 as he faces his first cuts to the 2009 squad. “We still have 32 blokes trialing, so we have to get that down to the number that we are looking to take in from the Norths side of things, before we get the Souths guys back”, explained Wayne ‘Chops’ Lambkin. “I guess I’m looking at the guys that stick their hand up and I think are good enough to fill a position at the start of the year”. “It’s a lot different outfit than it has been in the last couple of years, but saying that, I still think that we’ve got some good things that we didn’t have in the past. We don’t have to rely on Souths halves now, we’ve got our own two that can train with us every day, doing the skills and the drills with us - Jarryd Hogan from Cronulla and Justin Hunt from the Tigers”. “I’m pretty happy with tonight’s trial. I like the look of Reece Robinson, he’s a winger, played with the Broncos at the start of last year. I was really pleased with Matt Hunt’s game tonight after he came back from an arthroscope on his knee. He played really well. Obviously Samu Wara, Sean Dalton and Daniel Sayegh had that trial against the Tigers. Samu hasn’t played since but watching Daniel and Dalts [Sean Dalton] last week, this week and tonight there’s a bit of confidence of someone recognising them and giving them a game in that first grade trial”.
NSWRL U18 SG Ball Rd2
v Balmain, Leic
LOSS 16-30
L.Akau'ola 2, J.Tozer, J.Tongahai tries
K.Matavao 2 goals
Other U18 Matches
40-26 Tuqu St George b Gold Coast
24-16 SMry Illawarra b W Syd Acadmy
30-0 Penr Parramatta b Penrith
62-10 Belm Canterbury b Norths
26-12 Brok Manly b Central Coast
32-22 Prin Melbourne b Canberra
44-22 Hens Newtown b Wests
32-24 Ende Cronulla b Newcastle
W D L Diff PT
PARRAMATTA 2 - - +54 4
CRONULLA 2 - - +30 4
MANLY 2 - - +28 4
ST GEORGE 2 - - +28 4
NEWTOWN 2 - - +26 4
MELBOURNE 2 - - +14 4
CANTERBURY 1 - 1 +48 2
GOLD COAST 1 - 1 +2 2
Penrith 1 - 1 0 2
Balmain 1 - 1 -14 2
Illawarra 1 - 1 -16 2
Norths 1 - 1 -38 2
Newcastle - - 2 -12 -
W Syd Academy - - 2 -26 -
Souths - - 2 -28 -
Central Coast - - 2 -30 -
Wests - - 2 -38 -
Canberra - - 2 -40 -
NSWRL U16 Matthews Rd2
v Balmain, Leic
LOSS 14-22
J.Roberts, J.Kennedy, T.Ranuku-Phillips tries
D.Walker goal
Other U16 Matches
38-8 Tuqu Gold Coast b St George
22-12 SMry Illawarra b W Syd Academy
28-6 Penr Parramatta b Penrith
62-8 Belm Canterbury b Norths
18-16 Brok Manly b Central Coast
46-6 Ruse Canberra b SW Syd Academy
38-26 Hens Wests b Easts
24-4 Ende Newcastle b Cronulla
W D L Diff PT
CANTERBURY 2 - - +82 4
NEWCASTLE 2 - - +76 4
PENRITH 2 - - +50 4
WESTS 2 - - +26 4
MANLY 2 - - +10 4
PARRAMATTA 1 1 - +22 3
ILLAWARRA 1 1 - +10 3
SOUTHS 1 - 1 +32 2
Gold Coast 1 - 1 +16 2
Canberra 1 - 1 +12 2
Cronulla 1 - 1 +4 2
Balmain 1 - 1 -16 2
Central Coast - 1 1 -2 1
St George - 1 1 -30 1
W Syd Academy - - 2 -18 -
Easts - - 2 -40 -
Norths - - 2 -84 -
SW Syd Academy - - 2 -96 -