NRL round 27: Sydney Roosters win 26-12 over South Sydney Rabbitohs to keep finals dream alive
Their fate is out of their hands, but the Roosters have one eye on the NRL finals, after holding off a Rabbitohs onslaught to end their bitter rivals’ season.
NRL
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One of the most spectacular collapses in NRL history has been sealed with the Rabbitohs bundled out of the finals by their fiercest rivals to cap a horror fortnight for the foundation club.
The team that led the competition after 11 rounds sensationally won’t be there in the finals after a 26-12 loss at Accor Stadium that will lead to months of soul searching for a proud club that was tipped by many to go all the way.
Their post-Origin collapse was matched by a stunning implosion off the field with the Bunnies parting ways with club legend Sam Burgess after reports emerged that the former assistant coach had questioned whether stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker received preferential treatment.
The messy split was just the tip of the iceberg when a text message from Rod Churchill – son of rugby league Immortal Clive – was leaked to the media where he ripped into Mitchell and described him as a “cancer” on the club.
A return to the field after the bye week from Hell was supposed to galvanise them, but instead it exposed their frailties with the players failing to fire up until a melee broke out when Roosters halfback Sam Walker scored to make it 24-12.
Their cause wasn’t helped when Blake Taaffe was ruled out of the contest after 20 minutes with a head knock, with the Bulldogs-bound utility only in the team because superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell was suspended.
This is a team that made five-straight preliminary finals and boasted one of the most potent attacks in the competition, but they must now decide if they have the right players to take them forward with questions over team unity set to follow them over summer.
It was fitting that Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September Ends blasted from the speakers as 36,000 shocked fans were left to think what went wrong.
BILLY THE KID
Roosters officials have spoken so highly of Billy Smith, but we’ve never seen his best due to a series of heartbreaking knee injuries.
It turns out those talent scouts were onto something as the strike centre showed all his class to get past Campbell Graham to score a telling try in the second half that gave his side some much-needed breathing space.
It came after late inclusion Junior Pauga scored a spectacular try just before half-time that even had the on-field officials convinced he’d lost the ball.
DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS
It’s too early to crack open the Dom Perignon, but Roosters fans can start polishing the champagne flutes with a spot in the finals all but secured unless a couple of unlikely results go against them.
The pre-season fancies spent much of the year attacking like a bottom-four team but for the second year in a row clicked into gear just as people were ready to write them off.
They finished the regular season with five-straight wins and head into the weekend in seventh spot, with the Cowboys and Raiders needing to upset the Panthers and Sharks away from home to replace them in the top eight.
This is a team that was missing their enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to suspension, Golden Boot winner Joseph Manu was out with a hamstring injury, while the club’s leading try-scorer Daniel Tupou was missing with a knee issue.
There weren’t many attacking opportunities on Friday night but it was a couple of their big name stars who stood tall in the crunch with Brandon Smith and Angus Crichton combining to somehow stop a rampaging Murray, before former Bunny Corey Allan – who opened the scoring – rushed out of the line to stop Walker.
ONE OF A KIND
He’s had his doubters all year but James Tedesco produced yet another champion performance on the big stage against a South Sydney side missing their own gun No.1.
Mitchell is the game’s premier showman but missed the showpiece event due to suspension, and his understudy Taaffe lasted only 20 minutes before he was ruled out of the contest due to a head knock near the try line.
It was a major blow to a side low in confidence and forced an almighty reshuffle with Alex Johnston having to go to fullback, with their left edge attack suffering big time.
Their lack of punch from the back was exposed by Tedesco who had a terrific night and produced the crucial first points of the second half when he backed up a Pauga break and scored a very similar try to the one that sealed the 2019 Grand Final.
RELIVE OUR LIVE MATCH COVERAGE BELOW
FULLTIME: ROOSTERS WIN 26-12 OVER RABBITOHS
The Roosters are temporarily into seventh spot on the ladder and have kept their finals dream alive, after surviving a second half onslaught from South Sydney. The chooks now need either the Panthers to beat the Cowboys, or Sharks to beat the Raiders to secure a finals spot, which would be an incredible recovery, considering they were 14th on the ladder after 22 rounds.
75TH MINUTE: TENSIONS FLARE AS ROOSTERS EXTEND LEAD
It only took 75 minutes but sparks have finally flown, as players almost came to blows after Roosters half Sam Walker scored the likely matchwinning try, with the Rooters up 26-12 with less than five minutes on the clock.
Walker scores and tempers are flaring 🔥
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 1, 2023
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72ND MINUTE: RABBITOHS 12-20 ROOSTERS
The Roosters have shown off some incredible defensive resolve to hold out the Rabbitohs, and are rewarded with a try to Billy Smith after finally getting their hands back on the ball. While the Chooks started teh half on fire, momentum quickly swung the Rabbitohs way, but the Roosters showed some incredible grit to hold off the onslaught, putting themselves up by 8 with 8 minutes to go.
BILLY SMITH! A massive moment for the Roosters!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 1, 2023
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56TH MINUTE: RABBITOHS 12-16 ROOSTERS
The Rabbitohs have finally cracked the Roosters defence in the second half, with fill-in centre Michael Chee-Kam crashing over on the back of a wave of set restarts. The Rabbitohs attack has clearly struggled since Blake Taaffe left the field, with a handful of bombed opportunities, but it finally clicked after swing of possession. Lachlan Ilias converts to keep the Bunnies in the contest.
Chee Kam breaks through, and it's game on again!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 1, 2023
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45TH MINUTE: RABBITOHS 6-16 ROOSTERS
The Roosters have extended their lead early in the second half, with skipper James Tedesco fighting off multiple defenders to score. A crisp pass from Luke Keary put Junior Pauga into space, who drew in Johnston before passing to Tedesco, who looked to have bombed it for a moment after hesitating, but crashed over on a second effort. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii converts to put the Chooks in front by 10.
Tedesco somehow finds a way through for the Roosters 💪
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 1, 2023
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HALF TIME: RABBITOHS 6-10 ROOSTERS
The Roosters have taken the lead in the dying stages of the first half, with Daniel Tupou replacement Junior Pauga scoring a fantastic try in the corner, despite the best efforts of halfback Lachlan Ilias to save the day. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii fails to convert.
Brilliance from Pauga to get it down just before the end of the half 🔥
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 1, 2023
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33rd MINUTE - TAAFFE FAILED HIA
Blake Taaffe has officially been ruled out of the game after failing his HIA, after going down from an accidental knee to the head. His loss is a crucial blow to the Rabbitohs, but luckily they have a ready replacement in Alex Johnston, while Michael Chee-Kam has spent plenty of time in the centres.
26th MINUTE - RABBITOHS 6-6 ROOSTERS
We’re all tied up again, as the Roosters opt to take the two points on offer, after Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker was called out for an escort penalty. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii converts from right in front.
19TH MINUTE - SOUTHS HIT BACK AFTER INJURY BLOW
The Rabbitohs have suffered a massive blow early in this contest, with fill in fullback Blake Taaffe forced from the ifeld with a HIA after copping the knee of Junior Pauga to the head.
Luckily the injury didn’t halt Souths momentum too much, with Cameron Murray crossing over for the Rabbitohs first try just moments later. Lachlan Ilias converts to give South Sydney a 6-0 lead.
The injury has forced a massive re-shuffle, with Alex Johnston moving back to fullback, Michael Chee-Kam to centre, Isaiah Tass to the wing and Jai Arrow into the back row. The head knock was deemed a category two concussion, so Taaffe’s night is not yet over.
"It opens up for Cameron Murray" - The Souths get on the board!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 1, 2023
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7TH MINUTE - RABBITOHS 0-4 ROOSTERS
The Roosters have drawn first blood in their must win clash against South Sydney, with Corey Allan pouncing on a live ball after Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston failed to come down with it from a Sam Walker kick. Joseph Suaalii fails to convert.
On the live ladder the Chooks are now into 7th, while Souths drop to 9th. However whoever comes out on top in this clash will still need other results to go their way to stay in the finals race.
It has been a sloppy start for both teams, with Roosters bombing their first opportunity in Souths territory with a forward pass, while the Rabbitohs coughed it up in the next set.
8:05PM KICK-OFF
And we’re underway at Accor Stadium, with the Roosters getting us underway after the Rabbitohs’ kicked-off to the enemy. It’s a simple mission for both teams tonight. Win and keep their finals hopes alive, lose and go home empty handed. But it will be a bitter exit for the loser, having their season ended by their biggest rivals.
Kick-off was slightly delayed as both sides observed a minutes silence for former Rabbitoh Kyle Turner.
#1100 pic.twitter.com/Qa8wMFly9z
— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🰠(@SSFCRABBITOHS) September 1, 2023
7PM LATE MAIL
The Roosters have made a late chaneg an hour before kick-off, with Egan Butcher named to start at prop and Fletcher Baker shifting to the interchange bench. Baker was initially named at front row to replace the suspended Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who will miss the next seven games for the Roosters.
The Chooks are also without Daniel Tupou (knee) and Joey Many (hamstring) who both dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour team update. They are replaced by Junior Pauga and Corey Allan respectively.
The Rabbitohs are 1-17 with no late changes.
OUR LAKERS-CELTICS: IS SOUTHS-ROOSTERS AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST RIVALRY?
It is a 3km residential road which gently meanders from the Darley Street intersection in Randwick down to Clovelly Surf Club.
Yet this seemingly innocuous stretch of bitumen separates two of the fiercest rivals in world sport. To the north, it’s the affluent Roosters, venture south and you’re a Russell Crowe Rabbitoh.
And no one can avoid having to pick a side.
Officially, Clovelly Road is the geographic boundary splitting these untamed rugby league rivals.
“I try to avoid going into Roosters territory but when I do it gives me the creeps,” said former Souths halfback, Craig ‘Tugger’ Coleman.
Sean Garlick, the only player to captain both clubs, added: “If you’re a Souths fan, there’s always some trepidation crossing Clovelly Road.
“And Roosters fans know they’re marching into enemy territory when they cross the same road heading south.”
Souths were officially formed on January 17, 1908, the Roosters just a week. That’s 42,223 days of hatred.
On Friday night at Accor Stadium, the game’s longest and most passionate loathing continues in a winner-take-all grudge match.
This is an elimination match a week before the official NRL finals. The loser is finished for 2023, the winner likely to play finals footy. It’s that simple.
A crowd of around 40,000 is tipped to attend the match.
“This is a rivalry the equal of any in world sport — Red Sox v New York Yankees, Manchester City versus Manchester United, LA Lakers versus the Celtics,” said South Sydney CEO Blake Solly.
“Games between the Rabbitohs and Roosters match all of them for passion, heritage and drama. These are the matches that we all follow sport for.
“Two extraordinary clubs with great support and everything on the line. It will be another amazing night in the history of these clubs.”
If Souths win, they will definitely progress. The Roosters will not only need to but also hope either North Queensland lose to Penrith or Canberra lose to Cronulla.
The Roosters are $2.30 outsiders, according to TAB, with Souths $1.62 favourites.
Crowe’s Book taunts and teases the Roosters.
“Forever in our shadow. Although they are indeed a foundation club, somewhere along the way the Roosters lost their soul. They simply don’t have the tradition, the stories or the romance that is South Sydney,” the book reads.
NRL’S SIN BIN WARNING TO ROOSTERS, RABBITOHS
Friday could be bin night at Accor Stadium.
This masthead can reveal that a whopping 15 players have been sin-binned in the past six games between South Sydney and Sydney Roosters, prompting the NRL to remind players about on-field “discipline.”
The Rabbitohs and Roosters continue their fierce 115-year rivalry on Friday evening in a winner-take-all round 27 match.
And based on the past three years, the game and crowd can expect some fiery on-field evictions.
Since 2021, Joey Manu, Michael Chee Kam, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Victor Radley (twice), Tom Burgess, Taane Milne (twice), Junior Tatola, Nat Butcher, Latrell Mitchell (twice), Sitili Tupouniua, Dane Gagai and Daniel Suluka-Fifita have all been ejected to the bin during matches between the two foundation clubs.
Incredibly, seven players were marched for ten minutes in one wild game last September at Allianz Stadium.
Referee Ashley Klein has banished 11 of the 15 players. While the NRL has appointed Adam Gee to control Friday night’s match, Klein will be used in the bunker.
“Round 27 is crucial to the make-up of the finals series,” said NRL executive general manager - elite football Graham Annesley.
“All clubs know what is on the line and they don‘t need me to tell them how important discipline will be to the outcome.
“I‘m not necessarily referring to foul play, but discipline across all areas of the game.
“I‘m not expecting anything other than an outstanding culmination to the premiership after 27 rounds of unbelievable football.”
This is an all-or-nothing game. If Souths win, they will definitely progress.
The Roosters will not only need to but also hope either North Queensland lose to Penrith or Canberra lose to Cronulla.
Last year’s ‘sin bin Sunday’ game – in week one of the finals - still hurts and haunts the Roosters, who claim they handled the flashpoint moment poorly.
“We have to make sure none of that push and shove gets in the way of us playing our best footy,” said Roosters forward Egan Butcher.
“We definitely had a look at that game and certainly some players, probably the whole team actually, took on a fair bit of emotion through the off-season about that game, and how it unfolded.
“I remember in the pre-season that a fair few of us spoke how we felt after that game and maybe a feeling of letting each other down. We got caught up in the emotion too much.
“Our biggest challenge is keeping our heads, staying cool in those moments and focusing on the game.”
EX-SOUTHS CHIEF SLAMS POWER STRUGGLE RUMOURS
Former Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson has slammed critics of Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker and declared besieged coach Jason Demetriou will deliver South Sydney’s 22nd premiership.
The CEO who helped Souths break their 43-year title drought in 2014, Richardson blasted claims the Rabbitohs are a club in crisis as they play for their season in Friday night’s Roosters blockbuster at Accor Stadium.
Demetriou is under pressure to steer teetering Souths to the playoffs following a week of drama in which assistant Sam Burgess sensationally quit amid speculation Mitchell and Walker run the show at Redfern.
Equal first after 11 rounds, Souths have lost eight of their past 12 matches to slump to eighth and they will miss the finals if the Rabbitohs are beaten by the Roosters in the Bondi grudge match.
But Richardson, the key architect of bringing super coach Wayne Bennett and his disciple Demetriou to Redfern, rubbished suggestions ‘JD’ has lost the dressing room ahead of the Roosters showdown.
“The talk about the state of South Sydney is rubbish,” said Richardson, now a Rabbitohs consultant.
“Any suggestion the club is divided is nonsense.
“Jason Demetriou is the coach, he is an outstanding coach and we wouldn’t have chosen him otherwise to succeed Wayne Bennett.
“There is no question who runs the football department.
“Halfway through the year Souths were leading the comp, he was a genius, and now people are gunning for him.
“I think JD is our future, I really do. He has done the hard yards and done the apprenticeship.
“He has his chance now and I have no doubts whatsoever about Jason Demetriou.
“I have never been more confident about a coach in my life and I’ve dealt with quite a few of them.
“He hasn’t lost the dressing room. The players all love him. Cam Murray wouldn’t have signed an extension if JD wasn’t liked by the players. Every club has their hiccups, we’ve had our little hiccup but JD is the coach to lead us to our next premiership.
“I have never been surer that Jason Demetriou will win premiership No. 22 for South Sydney.”
Richardson has a long association with Burgess dating back to the English Test legend’s inspirational role in Souths’ 2014 triumph, playing 79 minutes with a fractured cheekbone to beat Canterbury in the grand final.
The former Souths powerbroker scoffed at suggestions Demetriou is losing a power struggle with Indigenous big guns Mitchell and Walker.
“It’s absolute rubbish,” Richardson said.
“Souths are a proud indigenous club, that’s why Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker came to us and that’s why Jack Wighton is coming to us next year.
“I think it’s a storm in a tea cup the supposed issues with Latrell and Cody. They love the club, they get on well with the coach and they are the future of what the club wants to do.
“No-one trains harder than Cody and Latrell has had some injury battles. Critiquing his form is fair enough, but criticising him over politics and what say they have in the club is absolute garbage.
“Latrell and Cody are not in charge of the club in any way shape or form, just as Greg Inglis didn’t run the club.
“There is no doubt in my mind that JD runs the football department. Blake Solly has a strong hand as CEO, he took over from me and he probably is better at the job than I was as chief executive.
“JD consults the leadership group and every club in the NRL does that and should do that. But JD and Mark Ellison run the football department and he has the confidence of the players across the club.”
Burgess will coach English club Warrington next season and Richardson says time will heal wounds.
“Look, Sam Burgess was a great player for South Sydney, he is an icon of the club and some day he will come back and hopefully be successful in England,” he said.
“One of the great arts in this game is managing personalities.
“Wayne Bennett does it so well as a coach and JD has the same ability.
“Sam needed some managing as a player, don’t worry about that. Michael Maguire did a wonderful job managing Sam and he led us to a grand final win.
“Some of the people being quoted about the club have no idea what’s going on at South Sydney.
“I do know what’s going on. I talk to Jason Demetriou once a week and he is a hardworking coach who for the first time in his career is going through a hiccup. It will be good for him. You have to go through these things to be a better coach.
“Johnny Lang once said to me you only become a good coach when you start losing and you have to fight your way out.
“Jason will fight his way out of this.”
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Originally published as NRL round 27: Sydney Roosters win 26-12 over South Sydney Rabbitohs to keep finals dream alive
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