NRL 2024 Charity Shield: Hunt-Flanagan combination scores pass mark, Rabbitohs unearth rookie gun

They may not have produced any points or led the Dragons to victory in the Charity Shield, but MICHAEL CARAYANNIS saw positive signs in the Ben Hunt-Kyle Flanagan halves combination.

The Dragons fans arrived in hope. They left with a feeling that has become all too common for the club in recent years after South Sydney claimed their eighth Charity Shield victory in nine years with a 28-6 win.

The Dragons were near full-strength to start the match with only injured recruits Hame Sele and Raymond Faitala-Mariner watching on.

In contrast a host of South Sydney’s big guns including Jack Wighton, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Campbell Graham and Damien Cook didn’t play.

In keeping with the theme, both sides produced a bit of charity to help open the scoring in the final two minutes of the first half.

“I thought the first half was really good,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said. “The second half it shows where we are with our young kids. They aren’t up to it just as yet. I thought it was a good hit-out in the first half.

“The first half I’ll give it a tick. The second half a cross.”

A Tyrell Sloan fumble as he tried to hit the ball up landed in Jacob Host’s hands who scored untouched and just a minute later Mikaele Ravalawa had the same fortune after scooping a loose Isaiah Tass carry.

The first half finished 6-all before the Rabbitohs crossed for 22 unanswered second half points through a Braidon Burns double and tries to Davvy Moale and Richie Kennar.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said he was “very happy”.

“You come into pre-season and you’ve done a lot of hardwork, you want to see them going after the things we value and I saw that.”

COMBINATIONS

The Kyle Flanagan/Ben Hunt combination for the Dragons gets a pass mark. While they didn’t produce any points during their 40 minutes together they still created a few opportunities with the ball. They played on either side of the ruck and at times Flanagan happily slotted in at first receiver.

Ben Hunt had a solid first hit-out of the season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

RECRUIT WATCH

Sean Keppie had a big game for the Rabbitohs up-front. Adding more size to an already big South Sydney forward pack, the Manly recruit finished with 132 run metres from his stint.

“He has been impressive all pre-season,” Demetriou said. “He brings a different type of forward style that we haven’t had at the club for a while. I don’t’ think he knows where his ceiling is yet which is exciting to me as a coach.”

The Dragons started two first timers in Flanagan and Tom Eisenhuth. Eisenhuth played the entire opening half and went close to scoring early.

ROOKIE WATCH

South Sydney livewire fullback Jye Gray quickly made up for his poor start. He fumbled a bomb with his first touch but aside from that looked really dangerous with the football. He also managed to stop opposite fullback Tyrell Sloan in a one-on-one effort and also laid on a try for his team. Rising back-rower Dylan Egan had limited chances for the Dragons.

Here come the Bunnies! 🐰#NRLSouthsDragonspic.twitter.com/am6pTLzuir

— NRL (@NRL) February 17, 2024

HOT TAKE

Tyrell Sloan could be Shane Flanagan’s greatest coaching achievement if he can somehow lock the fullback. Sloan was again an enigma. His fumble cost the Dragons six points and he blew a certain try after slicing through the middle of the field from a Hunt pass. With unmarked players on his inside, his pass found the ground. He later failed to pick up a tough bouncing ball which would have resulted in a try. Zac Lomax also had limited touches on the wing before slotting into centre. He didn’t get any time at fullback as he struggled with a back complaint.

Flanagan said Sloans had a “mixed bag”.

“We’ve tried to toughen him up about those things and make him aware that you can’t be thinking about other things,” Flanagan said. “There is no soft moments unfortunately (the try he conceded) was a soft moment.”

Tyrell Sloan produced a mixed performance. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

FINAL SAY

The Dragons structurally looked better than in previous years. Their starting props in Blake Lawrie and Francis Molo are fitter and had a strong impact. So too did Jaydn Su’A. But with millions of dollars still sitting on South Sydney’s sidelines they should have produced a little bit more than they did in the opening half. On the flip side South Sydney should be pleased to come away with another Charity Shield victory despite being undermanned.