NRL Round 7: Cameron Murray clear to play, Kenny Bromwich facing up to two-week ban

The Rabbitohs will have Cameron Murray available for their blockbuster match against the Panthers next week, but the Dolphins will be missing another star backrower.

South Sydney captain Cameron Murray. Picture: NRL Photos

South Sydney captain Cameron Murray has been charged by the match review committee but will be free to play for the Rabbitohs against Penrith next week.

Murray was charged with a grade one careless high tackle for a shot on Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King in Thursday night’s game at Suncorp Stadium but is only facing a fine.

Murray was also placed on report for a late tackle on Kodi Nikorima but was not charged.

Rabbitohs prop Davey Moale was charged with dangerous contact over a trip on Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako but is only facing a fine.

Dolphins forward Kenny Bromwich wasn’t as fortunate – he is facing up to two matches on the sideline after being sin-binned for a late hit on Taane Milne.

Bromwich was charged with grade two dangerous contact over an incident that his own brother Jesse labelled as a “stupid play”.

Kenny Bromwich has been sin-binned for this dangerous tackle.

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MATCH REPORT: APPRENTICE BEATS THE MASTER

– Peter Badel

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou sucker-punched his master mentor Wayne Bennett as South Sydney overcame an almighty first-half scare to demolish the Dolphins 36-14 at Suncorp Stadium.

Facing the Rabbitohs club he took to the grand final at this very venue two years ago, Bennett and his new Dolphins franchise could sniff another big-scalp boilover after sticking it to Souths to lead 14-6 at halftime.

But with wily old fox Bennett plotting another Suncorp ambush, his former deputy Demetriou ensured the Rabbitohs held their nerve, scoring 30 unanswered points to bury the Dolphins in a second-half stitch-up.

Latrell Mitchell celebrates a try with his Rabbitohs teammates at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

The 61st-minute sin-binning of Kenny Bromwich typified the Dolphins’ shocking second stanza as Souths posted five tries in 23 minutes to set-up a blockbuster against 2021 grand-final nemesis Penrith next Thursday night.

“I speak to Wayne regularly. I’m looking forward to having a chat with him now,” Demetriou said with a Bennett-style wry grin.

“I got to be mentored by him and to be coaching against Wayne in the NRL is quite surreal.

“I was happy with our response (in the second half). The Dolphins were very good in the first half and we had to ride through that.”

SKIPPER IN STRIFE

Souths captain Murray riskedtrouble after being placed on report twice in the space of 23 minutes of the first half.

While his 28th-minute late shot on Kodi Nikorima did not appear serious, his fifth-minute high shot on Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King could see him charged by the NRL match-review committee.

In a further blow for the visitors, back-rower Keaon Koloamatangi hobbled off in the 53rd minute with an ankle injury following a nasty tackle from Dolphins forward Ray Stone.

South Sydney captain Cameron Murray. Picture: NRL Photos

Keaon Koloamatangi leaves the field. Picture: Getty Images

DOLPHINS DUDDED

Bennett was left to rue a controversial call that saw Campbell Graham score his second try in the 45th minute and whittle the Dolphins’ lead to 14-12.

Graham appeared to push Euan Aitken in the back contesting a Lachlan Ilias cross-kick, but the try was awarded, igniting Souths’ fightback.

“It left me confused, it was a push in the back,” Bennett fired.

“We have to be big enough to overcome that stuff. Decision made. Move on.”

The Dolphins’ defensive intensity in the first half was outstanding but when Souths found their groove, Bennett’s troops lacked the class to match their graft.

CLASS OF KODI

Maligned Dolphins pivot Kodi Nikorima was the best player on the park in the first half.

In his 165th NRL game, ex-Rabbitoh and Broncos utility Nikorima produced one of the finest performances of his career.

His short-side rush and pass for Aitken’s opening try in the third minute was a piece of instinctive brilliance that showed the 29-year-old is a handy safety net in the absence of injured halves Sean O’Sullivan and Anthony Milford.

Kodi Nikorima in action for the Dolphins. Picture: NRL Photos

MAGIC MITCHELL

No-one knows Latrell Mitchell better than his former mentor Bennett. The super coach tried every trick in a bid to put Latrell on a leash.

Mitchell was held to just five runs in the first half as the Dolphins peppered him with high balls. With each catch, Dolphins defenders had time to swarm Mitchell, cutting down his space and thinking time.

But the champions always find a way. The Souths fullback came to life with partner-in-crime Cody Walker after the break and iced victory when he crashed over 14 minutes from time to have the last laugh on Bennett.

Originally published as NRL Round 7: Cameron Murray clear to play, Kenny Bromwich facing up to two-week ban