South Sydney signal premiership credentials with stunning 30-20 comeback win over Melbourne
“THEY can win the premiership”. That was the verdict from Phil Gould on Friday night after South Sydney produced a barnstorming and brilliant 30-20 victory over premiership favourites Melbourne.
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UPDATE: “THEY can win the premiership”.
That was the verdict from Phil Gould on Friday night after South Sydney produced a barnstorming and brilliant 30-20 victory over premiership favourites Melbourne to claim top spot on the NRL ladder.
But on a night that could have huge implications on the Storm’s chase for back-to-back titles,
Cameron Smith limped from the field in the dying minutes with what was believed to be an Achilles injury.
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Craig Bellamy maintained on Friday night the Storm’s medical staff were not totally sure what the injury was but even a slight Achilles strain could sideline the skipper for a couple of weeks.
“I think he felt a sharp pain going down to his heel,” Bellamy said.
“If it was five years ago he probably would have played on but you get a bit wiser as you get older.
“Hopefully it is not too bad. Everyone is hoping that.”
While the injury to Smith became the immediate focus after the game there is just no ignoring the magnitude of Souths’ victory against a team that went into the game on an eight-match winning run.
The rampaging Rabbitohs showed enormous spirit and self-belief to charge back from trailing 16-6 after 30 minutes.
The victory was built on the back of a powerhouse performance from Sam Burgess who charged for a game high 197m, while younger twin brothers Tom and George bulldozed out 166m and 146m respectively.
On the back of their momentum, Damien Cook had a night out scoring a blistering try and setting up another, showing why he is the odds-on favourite to claim Smith’s Kangaroo No 9 jumper at the end of the season.
Halves Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker also combined superbly to set alight the best attacking team in the comp.
Gould was stunned by the performance and even before the match was in the bag declared on
Channel Nine commentary: “I don’t care what happens in the rest of this game. South Sydney can
win the premiership this year. They are a seriously good football team.”
Told of Gould’s comments, Anthony Seibold batted it straight back.
“Gus is involved with Penrith as well. You’ve got to remember that,” Seibold joked.
“I think he is trying to take a bit of heat off them.”
But even Billy Slater was blown away by just how impressive the Rabbitohs were.
And Slater made sure the rookie coach, who previously had a stint as Bellamy’s assistant at the Storm, got his share of the credit.
“I think Anthony Seibold has done a fantastic job at identifying their strengths,” Slater said.
“They shift the ball a lot and a result of that makes you defend a little bit wider and then they use their big men through the middle.
“They are a really good football team. That is why they are sitting at number one and they are
probably missing their best player (Greg Inglis).”
Seibold understandably didn’t want to get too carried away given they have another monster clash against the Sydney Roosters next Friday night.
Most thought without Inglis last night and coming off some pretty ordinary recent form Souths
didn’t stand a chance.
But instead of buckling under the pressure, they rose to the challenge, racing in three second half tries before Melbourne scored late consolation try.
While Souths had no shortage of standouts, teenage winger Campbell Graham also deserved
mention.
The only downside for Souths was a suspected ACL knee injury suffered by young Adam Douehi.
The match wasn’t without some controversy surrounding the Storm’s questionable defensive tactics.
Sam Burgess at one point raised the issue with referee Ashley Klein when he fumed: “We’ve got to address the wrestle”.
There was another incident in the second half and it was just ludicrous how Smith wasn’t penalised after getting tangled up in a tackle on George Burgess.
Andrew Johns mused: “He’s too good Cameron Smith. How many arms and legs has he got?”
Gould responded: “Well, no other player in the game would have got away with that.”
SOUTH SYDNEY 30 (S Burgess D Cook A Doueihi H Hunt A Johnston tries A Reynolds 5 goals) bt MELBOURNE 20 (J Addo-Carr 2 D Finucane C Scott tries C Smith 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Jon Stone, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 15,132.