Replay: Harold Matts Cup, South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Sydney Bears

The Rabbitohs secured their second win of the Harold Matthews Cup season with an impressive win against crosstown rivals North Sydney Bears. WATCH THE REPLAY.

The Rabbitohs secured their second win of the Harold Matthews Cup season with an impressive 16-6 win against crosstown rivals North Sydney Bears.

The two points at Redfern’s Ironmark High Performance Centre came at a cost, however, with five-eighth Zane Rugless and Yasin Kuscu aided off the field with injuries.

WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The Bunnies opened the scoring early in the proceedings through try-scoring ace Daniel Wright, before the Bears hit back through captain and dummy half Malakye Enasio.

Rugless went down with a knee injury in the closing stages of the first period with Wright shifting into the halves.

It was Wright’s halves partner, Joseph Teaupa, who crafted Souths’ second try with a pin-point pass putting Yasin Kuscu over in the corner to see Souths lead 10 to 6 at the break.

A couple of minutes into the second half Kuscu was forced off the field with a shoulder injury with second rower Ryan Casey pushed out the left flank.

The depleted Rabbitohs maintained their determined defence and put the match to bed with 10 minutes remaining when hooker Bailey Smith made the most of a scrambled defensive line to dart over.

Wright kicked two from three to see Souths take out the match 16 to 6.

“To concede one try all game, have no bench and a couple of serious injuries and still win is an outstanding effort from the boys,” Rabbitohs coach Luke Deller said.

“We lost Zane Rugless, our half, in the first half and then we lost our winger (Kuscu) which is always hard to replace.

“We had to reshuffle and we had a backrower in Ryan Casey playing out on the wing and we had front rowers out in the centres so it’s a really big win and it just shows the character of the side.”

Deller sung the praises of halfback Teaupa who steered his side to victory.

“Joey has been with us for a couple of years and he really took it upon himself today to finish the game how we needed to,” Deller said.

“We saw some results from him with a nice try assist and kicking to corners so it was really good by him.”

MATCH PREVIEW

There are few players - of any age - that bleed more red and green than Daniel Wright.

South Sydney’s Harold Matthews Cup co-captain has led through his actions this campaign, with the centre bagging two-thirds of his side’s points through the first half of the season.

Wright’s Rabbitohs will be looking to secure their second win on Saturday when they host rivals North Sydney Bears at Redfern’s Ironmark High Performance Centre.

South Sydney Rabbitohs Harold Matthews captain and centre Daniel Wright playing against Balmain Tigers on unknown date in 2022. Picture: Justin Smith

The clash between the Bunnies and the Bears will be live streamed exclusively on The Daily Telegraph website from 10am as part of a season-long deal to bring you the match of the round in each junior grade.

The goal-kicking centre is cardinal and myrtle to the core, having grown up in the Rabbitohs heartland at Maroubra.

“I am Souths through and through, my whole family goes for them,” he said.

“The 2014 grand final and the moment Greg Inglis scored over in the corner is probably the most vivid early memory for me.

“I used to idolise Inglis as a young kid and after he retired, I probably started looking up to Latrell [Mitchell] and with him coming to Souths, made it even better. I like their attitude towards the game, they never give up and they’re fierce and competitive.”

Wright, who has an 85 per cent success rate on goal this season, also loved another South Sydney legend who just left the burrow at the end of 2021.

“When I was young, around 10, I used to play in the halves and I looked up to Adam Reynolds,” the rookie sharpshooter said.

“Most of my career playing footy I’ve been goal kicking and he was an influence on that. I like being a goal kicker, I love the feeling of when you kick one from the sideline or get one to put your side in front.”

The Botany Ram junior can’t wait to get back to playing footy after weeks of torrential rains forced the teams off the paddock, but despite the lay-off, Wright is confident Souths will be up for whatever the Bears throw their way.

“We are progressing really well,” Wright said.

The Rabbitohs scored a win over the Newcastle Knights last start out before the rain called off two weeks of rugby league.

“We are improving week in, week out and if we keep carrying on with that I think we can get the job done this weekend.”

Bunnies coach Luke Deller said Wright is an ideal leadership figure for the playing group and he believes the up-and-coming talent has enough in his locker to impress in various positions.

“One of the reasons Daniel is one of the co-captains is he is the sort of player you don’t have to continuously have a conversation with,” he explained.

“Every week he puts his best foot forward, he’s positive at training and during games. He is also really good to talk with which helps when speaking to referees.
“Away from footy he’s very easy going and the boys look up to him. He’s a Souths junior and he’s played in the comp before so making him a captain was a no-brainer.

“Last year he was a year young and we played him on the wing and now he’s in the centres because that’s what best fits our team. I wouldn’t say he will definitely turn into something else, but he has the tools to be a good fullback and with his skill set he could handle himself as a five-eighth.”

Originally published as Replay: Harold Matts Cup, South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Sydney Bears