NRL 2023: Rabbitohs win 46-28 over Titans, as Cameron Murray, Jai Arrow suffer injuries

Billy Slater and Brad Fittler could be forced to make multiple changes for State of Origin Game II, as they sweat on the fitness of key Maroons and Blues stars, as Souths toppled the Titans.

Jai Arrow is in some doubt for State of Origin Game II, after suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury. Picture: Getty Images.

Billy Slater and Brad Fittler could be forced to make multiple changes for Origin II after Maroons forward Jai Arrow and Blues star Cam Murray were injured in South Sydney’s 46-28 thrashing of the Titans on Saturday night.

It was a night of Origin carnage before 18,736 at Cbus Super Stadium as Gold Coast squandered another lead and allowed the rampant Rabbitohs to snap a two-game losing streak.

The 18-point defeat was Gold Coast’s third straight loss as the Titans blew a 22-16 halftime lead with another dismal second half performance.

But while the Titans have major issues, the win came at a cost for the Origin series and a South Sydney team already missing superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell (calf).

Jai Arrow is in some doubt for State of Origin Game II, after suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury. Picture: Getty Images.

ARROW’S ANKLE WOES

Arrow is in major doubt for Origin II after he suffered a suspected syndesmosis injury and only has two weeks to prove his fitness before Slater selects his team for the Suncorp Stadium showdown on June 21.

“My ankle jammed up at the back, it’s a precaution to put in a moon boot before I go and get scans,” Arrow said.

“We’ll see the damage tomorrow. I did get told it’s a syndesmosis, but hopefully it’s a minor grading.

“It’s a bit disappointing but I’m happy we got the two points.”

Arrow was put in a moon boot and was walking on crutches after coming off injured. Picture: NRL Imagery.

If Arrow is ruled out, the door will open for a number of Maroons hopefuls in hot form.

Storm prop Christian Welch was 19th man for Game One while Raiders enforcer Corey Horsburgh and Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika have been playing the house down.

Parramatta’s J’maine Hopgood, North Queensland’s Jeremiah Nanai, the Dolphins’ Felise Kaufusi and Brisbane backrower Kurt Capewell are also in the mix, with Tom Gilbert (shoulder) in doubt.

Jai Arrow off with a suspected right high ankle/syndesmosis injury. Typical mechanism with contact to the outer lower leg from the tackler causing foot to turn out. Traumatic mechanism brings concern for moderate to high grade sprain, if confirmed often 3-6 weeks recovery pic.twitter.com/qf3EBQg9Df

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 3, 2023

A four-game Maroons representative, Fotuaika was best on ground for the Titans, charging off the back fence for 154m and making 33 tackles to continue his career-best form. He was also placed on report for an awkward tackle on Keaon Koloamatangi.

Cameron Murray was also forced from the field with a groin injury. Picture: NRL Imagery.

BLUE BUNNIES

After bolting into premiership contention with a six-game winning streak, the Rabbitohs were patchy in losses to Parramatta and Canberra in the past fortnight.

They were slow out of the blocks again, but clicked into gear in the second half as their Blues hopefuls ran riot despite Murray failing to finish the game.

Murray was sensational off the bench for Souths after backing up from NSW’s Origin I loss but suffered a groin injury and left the field in the 52nd minute.

“It’s all right, I’ll have to wait and see with scans,” Murray said.

“I don’t want to jinx it. They haven’t given me any time frames or a diagnosis.

“I was a bit sore and tight (after Origin). I thought after five-ten minutes it would have warmed up but it got a bit sore.”

Cameron Murray off after suffering a groin injury. Can see stretch mechanism with left leg getting caught awkwardly as he goes to ground. Have to hope for a minor strain - often considered “day-to-day” & can see a return in a couple of weeks. But partial tear usually 4+ weeks pic.twitter.com/mjgfB1Bozy

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 3, 2023

With an NRL leading 19 try-assists, Cody Walker continues to put pressure on NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai and winger Alex Johnston moved to outright fourth on the NRL’s all-time leading tryscorers list with a hat-trick taking him to 178 career four-pointers.

Dropped Blues hooker Damien Cook was electric in the second half and centre Campbell Graham scored one of Souths’ eight tries.

Backrower Keaon Koloamatangi was hard to handle all night with 102m, four tackle busts and a try.

The Titans have become the NRL’s biggest chokers.

TITANS CHOKE AGAIN

The Titans have become the chokers of the NRL – and it is becoming a major problem for coach Justin Holbrook.

For the fifth time from eight games this year, the Titans lost after leading at halftime as a worrying trend of defensive fragility continued. They have given up four double-figure leads.

The Titans burst out to a 12-0 lead inside 10 minutes but their defence cracked nearly every time Souths got close to the Titans’ line.

At one point, the Rabbitohs had scored three tries from only eight tackles inside the Titans’ 20m zone.

There is little wrong with Gold Coast’s attack, but they look clueless in defence and allowed the Rabbitohs to march up the field with ease.

“It’s disappointing, we were in a great position at halftime then went out and made some errors and couldn’t defend our line,” Holbrook said.

“There’s no excuses for it. We’ve got some inexperience out there and we came unstuck.

“We’re defending really well in the first half. It’s not the whole game, it’s what’s happening when we’re not winning moments.”

If the Titans don’t beat the Tigers at Cbus on Thursday night there will be major problems.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Rabbitohs win 46-28 over Titans, as Cameron Murray, Jai Arrow suffer injuries