NRL 2022, Rabbitohs vs Titans: South Sydney win 30-16 over Gold Coast

Alex Johnston has continued his historic try scoring run with yet another hat-trick, as the Titans horror run continues, with just one win in their last 10 games.

Alex Johnston becomes just the 15th player of all time to crack 150 career tries. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Burgess celebrated his 200th NRL game for the Rabbitohs in style in a 30-16 win over the Titans to heap more pressure on hapless Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook.

South Sydney winger Alex Johnston notched his 150th career try with his 11th career hat-trick in a class display to bury the Titans in the second half.

The Titans, who put up a decent fight, are still languishing in 15th position after succumbing to a ninth defeat in the past 10 games.

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Holbrook has a win rate of 37 per cent since arriving at the club in 2020, the same as Neil Henry and only marginally better than Garth Brennan (30 per cent), both of whom were sacked.

While Holbrook said this week he had the backing of the club’s owners, being “safe” as a coach only comes with wins.

The pressure is building on Titans coach Justin Holbrook aftre another loss. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“I’m not happy about how where we are sitting,” Holbrook said. “Since I have been in charge, we have gone from last to ninth, then ninth to eighth. Naturally we wanted to get better this year. We had high hopes for that, but for a million reasons it hasn’t happened.

“We’ve got to win games, but at the minute we’ve got a lot of troops out. I haven’t got a magic potion that is going to get us a win. We’ve got to keep working hard.”

The Rabbitohs, still to hit top gear, are now in position to make a run at the top four with the imminent return of Latrell Mitchell a huge boost.

The class of big South Sydney guns Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Campbell Graham, Johnston and Keaon Koloamatangi was the difference as Tom Burgess became the seventh Rabbitoh to play 200 first grade games for the club.

“It’s huge,” Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said of Burgess’s milestone.

“He’s been the mainstay of our pack when his brother [Sam] retired, and ‘Sutto’ [John Sutton] and other blokes moved on. He’s taken up the mantle and led from the front today.”

Alex Johnston scored his 150th try for Souths in a big win against the Titans. Picture: NRL Photos

As for Johnston’s feat, Demetriou added: “Any half-chance or quarter-chance, AJ turns into four points and that is a real asset to our team but I think the work he is doing at the back of the field is just as infectious as what he is doing scoring tries.”

Cody Walker lobbed a beautiful floating out-ball for Johnston to do what he does best to get the Rabbitohs on the board early.

Titans half Toby Sexton’s kicking game was on song early and he threw a superb cut-out pass for 105kg runaway beast Greg Marzhew to trample would-be Rabbitohs defenders and score.

When the Rabbitohs were in need of inspiration, half Lachlan Ilias provided it with a lobbed bomb for Jaxson Paulo to soar high and snaffle it for a cracker.

The hosts completed at 95 per cent and missed just 10 tackles in the opening stanza but when Johnston and company put their foot down in the second half the Titans were unable to go with them.

Thomas Burgess was strong in his 200th NRL game. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

TERRIFIC TINO

The Titans, who received another blow on match eve with star fullback AJ Brimson ruled out with Covid, received a massive contribution from captain and Maroons star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who backed up from Origin to score a double and make three line breaks after coming on in the 34th minute. He showed up several of his teammates in a lion-hearted display.

Holbrook said his side just “lacked a bit of class”.

“We competed hard. The forwards were enormous. Tino was unbelievable. Greg Marzhew ... fantastic. I know we got beat, but I do feel there was definitely improvement,” he said.

DOUBLE TON

Tom Burgess ran out in his magic milestone match with his two children to be greeted by mum Julie and brothers Sam and Luke. Then it was down to business and the 2014 premiership winner was on song with plenty of tough runs.

Tom, now in his 10th consecutive season at the club, can still catch club legends Eric Simms (206), Craig Coleman (208) and Bob McCarthy (211) in this current season. That alone is a massive testament to his contribution at the Rabbitohs

INCREDIBLE BULK

One massive bright spot in the Titans dismal season has been the rampaging ways of Marzhew who now has 66 tackle busts for the year in just 10 games.

South Sydney found him too hot to handle on several occasions and he is one of the best on ground with 201m from 19 tough runs. Built close to the ground, Marzhew’s willing attitude was as impressive as his power and presence.