Match Report: Round 12 vs South Sydney

The joint-venture started quickly with twelve unanswered points, but were unable to convert their halftime lead into a victory.

South Sydney had the better of the opening five minutes, but the momentum quickly shifted when Asu Kepaoa took an intercept and ran eighty metres to score his first try since 2020.

Wests Tigers wasted no time stretching out their advantage, quickly working their way downfield and scoring through Ken Maumalo on the ensuing set.

Daine Laurie almost sent the visitors away for their third after a scintillating show-and-go, but a desperate ankle tap from Lachlan Ilias saved the day for the Rabbitohs.

The potent left edge of South Sydney soon struck for their first points of the night as Alex Johnston crossed to cut the lead to six points. Siliva Havili then barged over to level the scores.

With halftime fast approaching, Luke Brooks combined with Jackson Hastings and Daine Laurie on a right-to-left shift that sent Ken Maumalo away to complete his double.

The try gave Wests Tigers an 18-12 lead at the break.

Second half tries to Alex Johnston and Campbell Graham allowed the Rabbitohs to level the scores and establish a four point advantage of their own.

The momentum failed to shift back to Wests Tigers and the home side soon ran away with the match, bagging six unanswered tries in the second half.

A double to Cody Walker and a late intercept try from Jaxson Paulo gave the Rabbitohs a 26-point lead, which they carried until full time.

It was a well earned two competition points for the Bunnies and a record-breaking night for winger Alex Johnston.  His hat-trick taking him past Nathan Merritt as the Rabbitohs' all-time leading try scorer with 147 four-pointers and counting.

Michael Maguire and his men will now take a week off with the bye before returning home to Campbelltown to play against the Sea Eagles in Round 14.

Match Snapshot

• The Rabbitohs have won five of their past six games against the Tigers at Accor Stadium.
• Daine Laurie returned in great style for the Tigers with 116 metres, two try assists and three line break assists.
• Damien Cook racked up nine tackle breaks and ran for 112 metres in a perfect tune-up for State of Origin.
• Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue left the field in the 33rd minute for a HIA which he passed and returned to the fray early in the second term.
• Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook played his 150th game for the club.
• Siliva Havili enjoyed a night out for the Rabbitohs with the sixth try of his 113-game career to go with 175 running metres and six tackle breaks.
• Tom Burgess produced a barnstorming 52-minute performance with 235 metres from 19 runs for Souths.