NRL 2022: Rabbitohs defeat Cowboys to secure spot in finals, coaches fire up over HIA rules
Rival coaches Todd Payten and Jason Demetriou have fired up over HIA protocols after Souths secured their spot in the finals and dented the Cowboys’ bid for a top-two finish.
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Rugby league has a new rivalry on the eve of the finals with Cowboys coach Todd Payten accusing the Rabbitohs of “bending the rules” by excessively checking their players for head knocks to get a rest at key moments in matches.
Payten was furious following Saturday night’s loss at Accor Stadium after Coen Hess was sent to the sin bin for a sickening head clash with Campbell Graham.
The South Sydney centre came off for a free interchange but immediately returned because club officials and the independent doctor in the bunker cleared him of concussion.
It wasn’t Payten’s only gripe, with the Cowboys coach questioning why the Rabbitohs trainers stopped the game twice for head assessments when one player was hit in the ribs and another time when the Bunnies were about to defend their line.
Junior Tatola was the player checked on both occasions, including in the final 10 minutes when Taane Milne dropped a bomb 10 metres from the line when the Cowboys were only four points down.
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“The game went for two hours tonight,” Payten said.
“I’m very confused about something at the backend.
“There was one in the first half where Jase (Jason Taumalolo) actually hit Junior Tatola through the ribs and there was an HIA.
“That’s bending the rules at best.
“There was one when we forced an error, there was a scrum, it was our ball and momentum was in our favour. It was another opportunity where they could stop the game, they get their gas back and it halts all momentum in our favour.
“I’d like the NRL to have a look at it. They’ve got the right people to look at it, and I’d like them to investigate it or at least look closer at it.
“I don’t think you see it across the league.”
South Sydney had three on-field concussion tests but none of their players ended up coming off.
“It definitely felt like it was a stop-start game,” Taumalolo said. “Like Toddy said, we do lose momentum off stops like that. The HIA was questionable at times.”
Tatola spoke after the game and said he was “dazed” after copping a stray knee from Cowboys backrower Luciano Leilua.
“Luc sort of kneed me in the head,” he said, confirming he was merely winded when he was belted in the ribs by Taumalolo in the first half.
“I was trying to make a tackle and his knee accidentally hit me in the head. I was a bit dazed for a sec but I was sweet.”
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou was told about Payten’s comments in the post-match press conference and fired back at his Cowboys counterpart while also defending his medical staff.
“I think he’s made a bit of a habit out of complaining about stuff,” he said.
“Our medical team are as diligent and respectful of the rules as anyone in the game.
“I think if you looked at how many HIAs we’ve used and how many blokes we’ve brought off the field, we’d be one of the fewest in the competition.
“To suggest that, I’m going to stick up for my staff. They don’t do that unless they know there’s a reason to do it.”
Locked in: Rabbitohs fire finals warning
South Sydney fans can relax now the Rabbitohs have booked their spot in the finals thanks to a flat 20-10 win over the Cowboys, who finished the game with 11 men after Coen Hess was sent to the sin bin following a spectacular head clash with Campbell Graham and then Kyle Feldt was marched for a professional foul.
The Hess incident was reminiscent of the Dale Finucane shot on Stephen Crichton that saw the Sharks lock suspended for three games when he rushed out of the line and collided with the Panthers winger.
Finucane wasn’t penalised on the field for the tackle but missed three games in a case he said set a dangerous precedent.
Graham was knocked flat on his back while Hess staggered for a moment before he was pushed to the turf by Latrell Mitchell.
“From our point of view, Campbell Graham didn’t come off for a HIA,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said. “I’m not sure if he got hit in the head or not. That’s the part I’m confused about.
“You can’t compare that to Dale Finucane’s. They were poles apart.”
The result means the Rabbitohs are in seventh on 30 points and face the Roosters next week in a grudge match that will see the winner earn a home final.
A loss on Saturday would have left them in a Round 25 scramble for eighth spot, but they’ve done enough to qualify for the finals for the fifth year in a row.
“It allows the shackles to come off moving forward,” Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said. “We can start getting excited and planning for the next month ahead.”
This was far from their most polished performance of the season with the Rabbitohs missing Damien Cook’s guile around the ruck.
He was a late omission after testing positive to Covid-19 on Saturday morning and the result means he won’t be available for Friday’s game at Allianz Stadium.
While Cameron Murray was as dynamic as ever through the middle, Siliva Havili struggled to generate any room for his halves and didn’t provide the best service in attack.
FINE FELDT
It took 70 minutes for something to happen, but it was well worth the wait.
A dour night at Accor Stadium was saved by the second most important try Kyle Feldt has scored at the ground when the Cowboys winger chipped ahead and toed it a second time to cut the gap to four points.
It was one of the best solo tries of the season and probably woke some fans from their slumber while others were trying desperately to catch snippets of the KISS concert blaring next door.
But the veteran winger undid his amazing work when he interfered with Alex Johnston as he was chasing through a kick with four minutes remaining.
The diminished defensive line crumbled immediately with Tom Burgess barging over to seal the win.
COSTLY RESULT
Saturday’s defeat is a hammer blow to North Queensland’s hopes of finishing in the top two and having back-to-back games in Townsville for the finals.
The Cowboys have slipped to third and must now beat the Panthers next Saturday and hope the Knights upset the Sharks to regain second spot.
They can even slip to fourth if they lose next week and the Storm beat the Eels, which would mean a trip to Sydney to take on the Panthers again.
Playing at home is so important given they’ve won seven of their past eight in Townsville while they’ve now lost consecutive games in Sydney against teams they could play in the second week of the finals if it pans out that way.
They dearly missed Tom Dearden’s zip on the left edge, and they face a nervous wait for the match review committee charges to come out after powerhouse lock Jason Taumalolo was placed on report for a high shot on Cameron Murray.
“Given the result, it puts it out of our hands,” Payten said.
“I would rather it was in our destiny.”
EIGHT IS GREAT
South Sydney’s attack was far from impressive but at least Johnston maintained his absurd record with try number 28 for the season.
The winger has now scored in eight-straight games and is two tries away from becoming the first player in history to score 30 tries in back-to-back seasons.
He didn’t have to do much for his four-pointer with Mitchell putting him over untouched after half an hour.
How reborn NRL star built a YouTube empire
-Travis Meyn
Cowboys co-captain Chad Townsend is the YouTube star who has a message for NRL players and clubs if they want to truly become a $1 billion global game.
Townsend has been a revelation since joining North Queensland this year, helping the Cowboys climb from 15th last season to second spot on the ladder with two rounds to go.
The former Cronulla premiership-winning halfback has been exactly what the Cowboys were looking for since the mercurial Johnathan Thurston retired in 2018.
In Townsend, the Cowboys have secured an experienced organising halfback with tremendous leadership qualities that has helped the club rocket into title contention.
A YOUTUBE STAR
It’s not only the footy field where Townsend is thriving.
The 31-year-old father-of-three, with a fourth on the way, also has a booming YouTube channel, with 30,000 subscribers watching his weekly vlogs (video blogs) about what life is like as an NRL player and family man.
“I’ve always been interested in photography and videography,” Townsend told The Courier-Mail.
“In school I used to make videos. Growing up in the 1990s, I loved watching Jackass and those guys.
“I love my American sport and what the guys over there do in terms of access for fans. I love watching that stuff.
“A few years ago I thought why not give it a go? I bought a decent camera and decided to start filming behind the scenes stuff.
“It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve got so many great memories of my family at young ages and my career.
“Every time I see fans after games they speak to me more about YouTube than football.
“It’s been a really cool thing for me to do. I get great feedback from the fans about giving them some access and I’ve had a lot of fun with it. I’ve got a bit of a creative mind so it’s really enjoyable.”
GROWING THE GAME
Townsend’s videos give content-craving fans a behind the scenes look at all aspects of his life – without being overly intrusive.
He films what happens at home, training and in the dressing room, travelling for away games, post-match McDonald’s visits and golf rounds with his teammates.
It’s simple content that has given him a cult-following and he can’t understand why the NRL hasn’t embraced that style of media more widely.
“The NRL and clubs (have a lot to learn), to be honest,” he said.
“Some clubs, you can see they do it great. They have a great relationship with the media. Others are a bit protective, maybe some of the coaches are a bit old school in that regard.
“I’ve always tried to be really generous with my time with not only the fans, but media as well. I’ve tried to be as polite as possible and build a relationship.
“I understand the way the media works. As you get older, you choose your words a lot better and your time.
“For example, if you’re a player that might have done something wrong and say something negative about a journalist then they’re going to keep attacking you. Whereas if you get on the front foot and apologise or give them some extra time, it’s harder for someone to write something negative about you if you’re continually nice.
“Sometimes you have to be the bigger man and understand how this game works. It’s part of the game and being a professional athlete.
“I’ve felt like I’ve always had a good relationship with the media. I might look to jump into the media post-football.”
SILENCING HIS CRITICS
A member of Cronulla’s 2016 premiership team, Townsend made the decision last year to leave his home in the Shire to join North Queensland.
The three-year contract worth more than $2 million was panned by critics who believed the Cowboys had paid overs for Townsend, but that noise quickly disappeared as he helped propel the Cowboys into the NRL’s top two.
A 214-game NRL veteran, Townsend hasn’t missed a match this season and said he was motivated to prove the haters wrong.
“I definitely heard it,” he said.
“Did it affect me? Not at all. Did I use it as motivation? Definitely.
“I can’t control what other people are saying about me. I can only control what I can and that’s been my focus and dedication to my game. That has never wavered.
“I understand people have got to talk and create headlines then talk about us as players. That’s how it works. If you get caught up in that, you can do yourself in.
“I definitely use it as motivation, but it’s not something that really affects me too much.
“After the first meeting I had with the Cowboys when they recruited me, I got home and said to my wife ‘I want to go, they need a guy like me’.
“Since the day I got here, Todd (Payten, coach) has been incredible. He’s been really open to me and my ideas about how I want to play to not only bring out my strengths but also the strengths of everyone in the team.
“Our roster and the potential these young guys have was something that really got me excited.
“It’s been really enjoyable. I want to keep this momentum going.”
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