South Sydney end their four-game losing streak with 21-20 win over Manly

An Adam Reynolds field goal in the dying stages has helped South Sydney end their four-match losing streak and down a gallant Manly 21-20.

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It’s been the theme for the past couple of rounds and the on field officials are sure to come under scrutiny following a number of contentious calls during South Sydney’s tense 21-20 win over the Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium.

South Sydney led by 12 points at the break and had to survive a second-half surge as Des Hasler’s side roared to life when Curtis Sironen and Moses Suli crossed in quick succession to bridge the gap.

A lengthy break by Sironen gave the Sea Eagles a sniff, and from the ensuing play, fellow back-rower Joel Thompson pounced on a grubber that took a wicked bounce to level the scores with seven minutes to play.

The 13,434 fans would have been nervous but they shouldn’t have been as Adam Reynolds calmly potted a field goal as he always does to seal the narrow win.

It was a back and forth battle at ANZ Stadium. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

While the Rabbitohs were all smiles in the sheds following their first win in five starts, things could have been very different had they lost on the back of a couple of crucial calls that went against them.

VIDEO NOT SO EASY

Footy fans love seeing referees show enough confidence to make calls without using the Bunker. But even traditionalists would have been happy for Grant Atkins to send Manly’s first four-pointer upstairs after centre Moses Suli juggled the ball the in lead-up, with replays suggesting it may have travelled forward before Cade Cust grounded the ball.

Given the recent spate of errors, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett says a closer inspection was needed.

“I didn’t think it was a try,” he said.

“What fascinates with me all this stuff is that when you’ve got a disputed ball on the ground, why wouldn’t you go have a look?

“I want them to make decisions and own them, but at the same time that was a moment with so much doubt...just have a look at it.”

Suli was in the thick of things. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

If they weren’t already filthy, Rabbitohs fans were up in arms in the 48th minute when Suli fumbled a loose ball, scooped it up and ran 75 metres to score.

The crowd were convinced he’d knocked on but the Bunker backed the live call and flashed the green light.

PENALTIES DON’T ADD UP

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler wasn’t impressed with the lopsided penalty count on Saturday, with his side on the wrong side of an 8-2 ledger.

With the refs in the crosshairs at the moment, he’s expecting NRL head of football elite competitions Graeme Annesley to pick apart the performance at his weekly debrief.

“We tried to slow the ruck and we got penalised,” Hasler said.

“You’re going to have to ask Graeme Annesley and the officials. I know Graeme said that he hasn’t been too impressed with them so you’re going to have to ask Graeme Annesley about that.”

Manly lacked a bit of attacking spark. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

BUNNIES COME BACK TO LIFE

They were the hottest ticket in town a couple of months ago, but a mid-season slump during the Origin period threatened to undo all their hard work.

But with the Burgess brothers missing and Origin surprise packet Ethan Lowe rested, the Bunnies bounced back to keep their top two hopes alive.

Things still looked clunky but a win is a win at this time of year.

“I’m pleased with the way we won today. We needed to win. It didn’t matter how it happened, but we needed the win and there’s some confidence around the place,” Bennett said.

FURIOUS JORGE

Jorge Taufua looks to have taken the mantle as the game’s biggest hitter four years after Steve Matai’s brutal bell ringer on Dave Tyrell at the same venue between the same teams.

Matai’s shot is considered one of the hardest hits of all time, but Taufua is quickly catching up after smashing South Sydney fullback Adam Doueihi back towards Redfern when he jammed in off his wing midway through the first half.

Cook had another blinder. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

COOK DISHES IT UP

Just a few days after his swashbuckling try helped the Blues to Origin glory, Damien Cook was at it again at ANZ Stadium, finishing the game with a whopping 52 tackles to snap South Sydney’s losing streak. While the space wasn’t there for him to run riot through the middle, the star hooker showed no signs of an Origin hangover to confirm his status as one of the most important players in the competition.

Fellow Blues Cameron Murray and Jake Trbojevic were equally impressive.

“He’s an amazing athlete. He’s sitting in the change room now and doesn’t look like he’s played two games in four days,” Bennett said.

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SOUTH SYDNEY 21 (D Britt D Gagai C Graham tries A Reynolds 4 goals A Reynolds field goal) bt MANLY 20 (C Cust C Sironen M Suli J Thompson tries R Garrick 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Grant Atkins, Liam Kennedy. Crowd: 13,434