Cody Walker leads Rabbitohs to impressive 38-18 victory over Manly

ON the back of a brilliant attacking performance from five-eighth Cody Walker, a wounded South Sydney bounced back in style with a 38-18 victory over Manly.

Robert Jennings. Picture: Gregg Porteous

SOUTH Sydney’s season was supposed to be done and dusted.

No Greg Inglis for up to six months with an ACL injury meant most critics put the red pen through the Rabbitohs for 2017.

Someone, though, forgot to tell Souths their season was finished.

Inspired by a brilliant attacking performance from five-eighth Cody Walker, the wounded Bunnies bounced back in style with an impressive 38-18 victory over Manly at Brookvale on Saturday.

Walker scored one try, while he set up two others to help the Rabbitohs charge to a much needed win.

Halfback Adam Reynolds also excelled in his return match from appendicitis.

Reynolds controlled proceedings with his pinpoint kicking game, while he set up one try and kicked seven goals to cap off a successful comeback.

Souths coach Michael Maguire was rapt with the win, especially after his side trailed 12-0 after as many minutes in the first half.

Cody Walker makes a break against Manly. Picture: AAP

“I gave him (Reynolds) a fair bit of credit at the back end of the game,” he said.

“I thought as a young player he has learnt a lot over his time, but now he has become a leader.

“He has become a really strong presence inside our team and he has come back from appendicitis after two weeks.”

Alex Johnston excelled at fullback in the absence of Inglis.

“It was good to see AJ play and perform the way he did,” Maguire said.

“He has always wanted to have a crack at the fullback and he is a South Sydney kid who has come through all the grades and it’s great to see him excelling.”

Manly coach Trent Barrett knew his side would find it difficult without four key forwards, but he believes poor execution cost them victory.

“We started really well and then to get back to 18-all after we had a few things go against us was good, but just some of our decisions when we weren’t under fatigue or under the pump weren’t good enough.”

Tom Trbojevic did his best to steer the Sea Eagles to a win. Picture: Getty Images

Sam Burgess led the Bunnies’ pack with a game-high 160 running metres, while he was well supported by brother George in his return from reserve grade.

Big-name off-season recruit Robbie Farah looked potent around the ruck, while he scored a memorable solo try.

Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic raked up more than 300 running metres.

Souths looked shocked by Manly’s fast start, but they soon found their groove when Robert Jennings crossed.

The Rabbitohs locked the scores at 12-all after 25 minutes thanks to a powerful solo try from Walker.

Souths were on top and took the lead five minutes later through former skipper John Sutton, who capitalised on a perfect pass from Walker to crash over adjacent to the uprights and give the Bunnies a six-point buffer at the break.

Manly lacked spark but eight minutes into the second half Trbojevic beat multiple defenders to set up a try for Daly Cherry-Evans.

Walker added the extras to lock the score at 18-all with 25 minutes remaining, before the Rabbitohs finished the stronger thanks to three late tries.

The Sea Eagles will look to rebound when they take on North Queensland in Townsville next Saturday, while the Rabbitohs play the Knights in Newcastle.