The Roosters Take Sweet Redemption Over Rabbitohs with Thrilling 20-18 Win

Early Drama and Quick Lead for Rabbitohs

The epic match-up between the Roosters and Rabbitohs kicked off with a dramatic start when Souths prop Hame Sele was taken from the field in the first minute of the game. However, it didn’t dampen the Rabbitohs’ spirits, as they scored two tries in five minutes to shoot out to a 10-nil lead.

Big Guns Deliver for Roosters

Roosters coach Trent Robinson called on his big guns Brandon Smith and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who started on the bench, to change the momentum of the game, and they certainly delivered. Smith got the Roosters on the board with an impressive individual try before Daniel Tupou backed it up four minutes later off a pinpoint kick from Luke Keary.

The Roosters Carry Momentum into Second Half

The Roosters carried the momentum into the second half as Jaxson Paulo beats two of his former Rabbitohs teammates to score in the corner. It looked like Souths were going to respond when Isaiah Tass was in space, only for Joseph Manu to come up with what Greg Alexander called “the defensive play of the game.”

Turn of Events Lead to Close Finish

Both sides had done a good job to keep their emotions in check, but things bubbled with just three minutes left on the clock after Manu collected Tass high. Latrell Mitchell butchered an important penalty goal to bring his Rabbitohs within four of the Roosters. He got another chance a minute later when Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson scored in the corner and Mitchell nailed the sideline conversion to close the gap to two points. But it wasn’t enough. The Roosters hung on.

Manu Ditches Headgear for Heroic Play

Samson famously lost his strength when he lost his hair, but Manu’s decision to ditch his headgear took his game to a new level as he produced a try-saving tackle that will be replayed for years. With his side up 16-12 with 17 minutes to go, Manu came from the clouds to strip the ball free when Tass seemed certain to score just meters from the line.

Brandon Smith Arrives for Roosters

He struggled to fire a shot in his first two games for the club, but Roosters recruit Brandon Smith showed why the Chooks splashed the cash to lure him north this season. The former Storm star was whacked by his old Melbourne mate Felise Kaufusi in round one and lasted barely 20 minutes last week when he came off with a muscular injury. He was in doubt for the Friday night blockbuster but turned the game when he was unleashed alongside Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after 24 minutes.

Mitchell Struggles for Rabbitohs

Latrell Mitchell joked pre-game that the fans at Allianz Stadium had paid their hard earned to watch him play, and at one stage Roosters fans even stopped booing to cheer him. It was a surprisingly quiet game from Mitchell who set up great mate Alex Johnston with a typically precise pass on the left edge but wasn’t able to produce any magic in the second half as his old side kicked clear for a rare win over Souths.

Inconsistent Referee Decisions

It was only a few months ago that a record seven sin bins were dished out in one of the wildest games ever played. But the rules must have changed because Fletcher Baker was allowed to stay on the field despite collecting Campbell Graham in the head with his shoulder. It’s a tackle that would have resulted in a 10-minute stint in the bin last September, but referee Gerard Sutton saw it differently and decided a penalty was sufficient.

Credit: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-sydney-roosters-vs-south-sydney-rabbitohs-live-stream-updates-stats-video-latrell-mitchell-james-tedesco/news-story/c8f51c2dc5e43ef3be2b411f91f42cbb

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