Tigers’ final hopes take hit following Brisbane’s 38-18 win over Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium
SOUTH Sydney have gone down 38-18 to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, putting a major dent in the Wests Tigers’ NRL finals hopes.
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YOU could hear the cries all the way from Leichhardt Oval.
The Wests Tigers’ NRL finals hopes took a massive hit on Thursday night, and they didn’t play a minute of football.
In a bold statement, Brisbane withstood a South Sydney fightback to all-but secure their own top-eight spot with a 38-18 victory at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
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You can also chalk it down to an individual victory for Wayne Bennett, who got one over the man tipped to replace him as Broncos coach, Anthony Seibold.
The wily old Broncos coach engineered a resilient performance following a week where 68-year-old Bennett slipped closer to Brisbane’s exit door.
In a fascinating game, Brisbane led 18-0 before Souths fought back to 18-all early in the second half.
Just when it seemed like the Rabbitohs were about to run over the Broncos, the home side kicked again to deny South Sydney top spot on the NRL ladder.
“We didn’t start the game well. We abused the football. We clawed our way back in but momentum swing again,” Souths halfback Adam Reynolds said.
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“They are a quality side with strike all over the field.
“We simply have to be better. We will learn a lot from this game, digest it and move on.”
Bennett’s 400th win as an NRL coach came in front of 30,000 fans and off the back of two successive defeats. Showing maybe, just maybe, Brisbane cannot only make the finals, but cause some damage.
Without injured star players Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston and Robert Jennings, Souths ran out of petrol in the second half after two big games against heavyweights Melbourne and Sydney Roosters.
Defeat keeps Souths on 32 competition points — equal for now with archrivals the Roosters, who play Canberra on Sunday at GIO Stadium.
The Rabbitohs play Canberra and Wests Tigers over the final two games.
Brisbane now move to 28 competition points, four points clear of the Tigers, who face the freefalling St George Illawarra on Saturday night.
It’s a must-win game against the Dragons at Leichhardt Oval if the Tigers are to remain an outside chance of playing finals footy.
“That does put them (Brisbane) four points ahead of us — it now do or die,” Tigers star Benji Marshall said. “It’s not the end of the situation for us. We just have to win every game.”
The Broncos play Sydney Roosters and Manly over the final two games, but it would take a massive turnaround for them to miss out.
Broncos winger Corey Oates scored the first two tries on his way to a hat-trick, while Richie Kennar registered a brace as the Rabbitohs mounted their comeback.
Souths had nearly 70 per cent of possession over the opening ten minutes of the second half. But, at 18-all following a Hymel Hunt try, the Rabbitohs ran out of steam.
Brisbane wouldn’t go away and Oates caught a bomb on the full to score his third try.
It was Oates’ 11th try in his last seven games against Souths. Brisbane had kicked away again.
Brisbane then sealed the match when 18-year-old David Fifita surged over for a crucial try.
Souths only came alive in the final ten minutes of the first half and were behind 18-8 at halftime.
“We can’t get too complacent,” Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai said.
BRISBANE 38 (C Oates 3 D Fifita K Nikorima K Sims tries J Isaako 7 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 18 (R Kennar 2 H Hunt tries A Reynolds 3 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Chris Sutton, Ashley Klein.