Luke Brooks, Dane Gagai sin-binned for brawl as Rabbitohs beat Wests Tigers 26-24 | Match Report
Luke Brooks and Dane Gagai are both facing suspensions after a wild brawl marred South Sydney’s 26-24 win over Wests Tigers. WATCH THE EXPLOSIVE HIGHLIGHTS HERE.
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Rabbitohs flyer Dane Gagai and Tigers halfback Luke Brooks are bothing facing suspensions after their on-field brawl in South Sydney’s 26-24 win over the Tigers on Thursday night.
Gagai and Brooks traded blows in the 51st minute of the intense encounter, with both recieving their marching orders from referee Ben Cummins.
Both have been charged with striking by the match review committee and are facing a two-game suspension, or one with an early guitly plea.
With superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell already sidelined, Gagai’s absence could stretch the Rabbitohs depth to the limit. Jaxson Paulo shapes as the man most likely to slot in on the right wing.
If Brooks is rubbed out, Adam Doueihi could slot into the halves alongside veteran Benji Marshall.
Tigers prop Alex Twal was charged for dangerous contact on the head or neck but can escape a ban with an early guilty plea.
RABBITOHS HOLD OFF BRAVE TIGERS
A second miracle comeback in two weeks proved to be too tall an order for the Tigers, but they gave finals-bound South Sydney a mighty scare as the Rabbitohs escaped Bankwest Stadium with a 26-24 victory.
It was a match of semi-final intensity, but also of high drama and skill.
There were miracle tries, an old-school blue straight out of 1975 and a marvellous playmaking duel between South Sydney’s Cody Walker and the Tigers’ Benji Marshall.
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Another Rabbitohs blowout seemed in the offing after South Sydney raced out to a 20-0 lead in even time after tries to Dane Gagai, Corey Allan and Campbell Graham, with Walker playing a hand in all three.
But just like last week’s late win over Manly, the Tigers refused to lie down — they narrowed the gap to 20-12 by halftime and the second stanza was played on the edge of a knife.
But amid the fire and fury, Souths managed to hold on for a crucial win.
“It was entertaining — not for me, but I’m sure it was for the fans,” said Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett.
“We showed for 29 minutes what we can do, but we let ourselves down with mistakes, drop balls here, penalties there, and all of a sudden we looked like we couldn’t beat them.
“The number one priority right now is to get as many players healthy as we can. There’s nothing wrong with scratching a win out like that, the important thing is that we win.”
FIGHT NIGHT
Tensions boiled over in the 51st minute as Tigers halfback Luke Brooks and Rabbitohs winger Dane Gagai became entangled and settled things the old fashioned way – by putting up the dukes
Both were sin-binned for punching, and are likely to miss at least a week through suspension. With Tigers forward Alex Twal already in the bin for a professional foul, it was 12 on 11 for almost seven minutes.
The Rabbitohs made the most of their advantage, crossing through Campbell Graham and extending their lead to 26-12, but the fight seemed to awaken something in the Tigers and once both teams had a full complement the underdogs roared to life.
First Brooks, who came out of the fight with a mighty shiner, crossed for one of the tries of the year. Marshall grubbered down a narrow blindside from 30 metres out, regathered and threw a classic, behind the back flick pass to in-form winger David Nofoaluma.
Nofoaluma kicked inside for a flying Brooks to pounce next to the posts for a miracle score that blew the game wide open.
Marshall was again the man moments later with a beautiful cut out pass releasing rookie winger AJ Kepaoa to slide in the corner.
The Tigers were not without their chances to win it in the final 15 minutes, but could not find the killer blow.
“We just gave away too much possession at the start and had to chase. But I was really proud of the way the boys fought and looked after each other out there,” said Tigers coach Michael Maguire.
“You can really see a determination that’s been building in the team throughout the season, and it really came alive in the second half.
“Unfortunately, sometimes you don’t get what you deserve – but the effort, the way they went about it, I was very proud.”
BENJI VS WALKER
Marshall’s NRL career may well be winding down — the Tigers legend will not be re-signed by the joint venture and may choose to retire rather than leave the club again – but the 35-year old proved he’s still got plenty left after he locked horns with his opposite number Cody Walker in an absorbing playmaking duel.
Walker was the chief conductor for South Sydney, playing a hand in all four Rabbitohs tries and throwing the final pass for three.
His form might not be as spectacular as the football that propelled him to Origin selection last year, but he’s arguably a more complete footballer. Walker’s classy touches came all over the field — he set up one try down the right side, two down the left and one through the middle.
The 30-year old has taken on more responsibility since Latrell Mitchell’s season-ending injury and his combination with halfback Adam Reynolds is as dangerous as any in the NRL.
Marshall, who shook off an early ankle injury, responded to the Rabbitohs early blitzkrieg with a classy ball of his own – after Harry Grant put Luke Garner over to give the Tigers a sniff, Marshall created a try from nothing via a bullet pass to Tommy Talau.
His heroics continued in the second half as he played a crucial role in two more scores — but he did overcook a grubber early in the tackle count in the final minutes as the Tigers desperately searched for a winner.
Marshall may have won the battle, but Walker won the war. Though the Rabbitohs man has bigger games to play this season, and will remain among the game’s elite for years to come, rugby league will be poorer for losing Marshall.
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ALLAN FINDS HIS FEET
Corey Allan has some big shoes to fill as South Sydney fullback — Latrell Mitchell’s ball-playing was a crucial element of the Rabbitohs sparkling attack before a hamstring injury ended his season.
In his second week filling in for the Test and Origin star, Allan continued to improve. Not only did he back up Walker’s break in the first half to score, he also helped release Alex Johnston down the left flank with some quick hands only moments later.
Johnston found Campbell Graham in support to score and blow South Sydney’s lead to 20-0. It was precisely the kind of work Souths need from Allan if they’re to go deep in the semi-finals – the 22-year old looks infinitely more comfortable at fullback compared to the wing and is vindicating Wayne Bennett’s decision to keep Johnston on the flank.
TIGERS 24 (Tries: Garner, Talau, Brooks, Kepaoa & Goals: Doueihi 4/4) RABBITOHS 26 (Tries: Gagai, Allan, Graham 2 & Goals: Reynolds 5/5) at Bankwest Stadium.