The South Sydney Rabbitohs have been defeated 60-14 by the Brisbane Broncos in what was a difficult night for the Red and Green.
With a slew of regular starters out injured and suspended, the Rabbitohs were up against it from the get-go.
Jye Gray was a standout performer for South Sydney, running for a team high of 166m, making 7 tackle breaks and a line break along the way.
Unfortunately, this was not enough to get South Sydney home, with try doubles to Kotoni Staggs, Deine Mariner and Ezra Mam putting the game out of reach.
It was a tough start for South Sydney, with Ryan Gray leaving the field in the 9th minute due to a shoulder complaint, being replaced by Siliva Havili in the dummy half position.
The Broncos made life tougher for the Rabbitohs just six minutes later when they scored the first try of the game through Ezra Mam with a long-range effort.
Brisbane got their second try through Jack Gosiewski, who regathered an Adam Reynolds grubber kick in behind the line. Reynolds slotted the conversion, putting his side ahead 12-0 after 26 minutes.
The Rabbitohs managed to open their account in the latter stages of the first half, with Bayleigh Bentley-Hape leaping high above Selwyn Cobbo to gather in a high kick from Lewis Dodd for a try on the right side of the field. The kick went wide from Isaiah Tass, leaving the Rabbitohs trailing 12-4.
The Red and Green were unfortunately unable to keep the momentum, with Kotoni Staggs scoring just minutes before halftime to put the lead back to 18-4.
South Sydney managed to find a way to hit back seconds before the break with a play that went through seven sets of hands, from the right edge to the left, and finished off by Tallis Duncan who crashed over at left centre.
It was a great effort by South Sydney, and highlighted their fighting spirit and desire to compete on every play, despite the plethora of top-line players sitting in the stands due to injury and suspension. Once again the kick unfortunately went askew, leaving South Sydney trailing 18-8 at the break.
The second half couldn’t have started in a worse way for the Rabbitohs, who conceded a try against the run of play to Cobbo off the back of an incredibly unfortunate error in just their first set of the half.
The Broncos kept applying the pressure, with Deine Mariner next to cross the stripe for the home side as they reached the 30-point mark in the 49th minute.
Brisbane then began to pile on the points with two quick fire tries to Ben Talty and Mariner for his second in the 54th and 56th minutes respectively.
The tries unfortunately kept on coming for the home side. Staggs and Mam both completed their doubles, scoring in quick succession in the 63rd and 66th minutes respectively.
The Rabbitohs managed a consolation try in the in the 70th minute. It was Bentley-Hape who set it up, making a big 60m run to get his side into an attacking position. From there South Sydney had the benefit of attacking a disjointed Brisbane defence, with Lachlan Hubner finding a gap to capitalise on the situation.
Brisbane though would have the last laugh, with Reece Walsh crossing for the final try of the game in the 78th minute, as the Reynolds conversion saw the Broncos crack 60, putting an end to what was a tough night at the office for the Rabbitohs.
Match Snapshot
The Broncos opened the scoring through Ezra Mam in the 15th minute.
Jack Gosiewski was next to score, capitalising on a deft grubber from Adam Reynolds in the 25th minute.
The Rabbitohs got themselves on the board when Bayleigh Bently-Hape combined with Lewis Dodd for a try in the 31st minute.
The Broncos extended their lead when Kotoni Staggs crossed in the 35th minute.
South Sydney hit back through Tallis Duncan seconds before halftime to trail 18-8 at the break.
Selwyn Cobbo scored a runaway try in the 42nd minute to help Brisbane regain the ascendency.
Deine Mariner was next to score, crossing in the 56th minute.
Kotoni Staggs bagged his second of the game in the 63rd minute.
Ezra Mam became the third Bronco to bag a double, crossing for his second in the 66th minute.
Lachlan Hubner scored a consolation try for the Rabbitohs in the 70th minute.
Reece Walsh scored the final try of the game in the 77th minute.
What’s Next?
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are back in Queensland next week for an early Sunday afternoon clash with the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.
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