NRL 2021: Young Rabbitohs side holds off fast-finishing Dragons

A second-string Rabbitohs outfit proved far too strong for the Dragons, who finish the regular season on an eight-game losing streak.

The Rabbitohs will face the Panthers in the first weekend of the finals series. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

South Sydney unleashed their next generation of stars in style against the Dragons with fullback Blake Taaffe in a solid audition to replace the suspended Latrell Mitchell in the finals series.

Mitchell is irreplaceable, but Taaffe did a mostly classy job in the 20-16 win over the fast finishing St George Illawarra on the Sunshine Coast.

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Veteran Benji Marshall left the field in the second half with an ankle injury with early reports suggesting it was of a minor nature.

Marshall’s exit coincided with a stunning comeback by the Dragons after trailing 20-0.

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has a big call to make on which way he decides to go at fullback against Penrith in week one of the finals after Nathan Cleary bombarded the back three with towering kicks in the Panthers most recent 25-12 win. Taaffe made a strong case to be the man.

“My challenge is to make the right decision and the best decision for the team,” Bennett said.

“(Taaffe) is a football player. There are a lot of qualities he’s got and he just needs to play. I am sure he will be better next week. If he goes back there I will be confident he can handle (Cleary’s bombs). I am not confident he won’t be playing there.

“There are a couple of things I liked tonight (about Taaffe) and a couple of things I didn’t but a lot of these young guys have played six or eight games in the last two years. He is only going to get better.”

The Rabbitohs, superbly led into battle by prop Mark Nicholls, got a vista of what their future looks like with 2019 Jersey Flegg stars Taaffe, Lachlan Ilias (halfback) and Peter Mamouzelos (hooker) all playing together for the first time in the NRL.

With Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker rested, Benji Marshall started in the halves for the fifth time this season. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Fab future

Life after Adam Reynolds certainly looks promising with 21-year-old debutant Ilias kicking for himself to score the opening try. The former Wests Tiger was slick early and his partnership with good mate Mamouzelos gave Souths spark with big gun spine members Cody Walker, Reynolds and Damien Cook all rested.

Mamouzelos tackled everything that moved and breathed in a red and white jersey and had clocked a stunning 31 tackles by halftime with none missed.

“I thought they were good. The key part was Benji controlling a lot of things and helping those boys,” Bennett said of his young brigade.

The short-term is what Bennett is most concerned about now, so all eyes were on Taaffe and how he handled the gig,

Bennett played Taaffe at fullback in two previous games this year when Mitchell was absent but wanted another look before deciding who should replace the NSW Origin star.

On Saturday night, crowd favourite Mark Nicholls captained the Rabbitohs for the first time. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Taaffe watch

The positional play of Taaffe was spot on and he played with confidence and composure. He chimed in to throw the final pass in a left-side raid to put Taane Milne over and as the second half unfolded he showcased some great link play on the right side. It was no frills and no fuss, but Bennett will want the custodian in the finals to do their job like Corey Allan did for him last year when Mitchell was injured. Taaffe did drop one bomb, but got his hands on the footy soon after to put the error behind him.

Master Benji

Bennett didn’t need reminding, but if he decides to send Walker back to fullback like he did earlier in the season then he can count on Marshall, if he’s fit, to do the job at five-eighth. The veteran’s kicking game, and in particularly his high bombs, were inch perfect and gave the Dragons back three nightmares. His control gave tyro Ilias the confidence to back himself on a night he will never forget.

Bennett was proud of his side’s effort to get through the season with just four losses.

“They have had a wonderful season,” Bennett said.

“To think we have only lost four games in the season. It is certainly the best season I have coached. I believe we have got a better team each year I have been here.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Young Rabbitohs side holds off fast-finishing Dragons