NRL round four: South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Canterbury Bulldogs 20-16

A Jack Wighton double and a busy day at the back from an under-fire Latrell Mitchell steered the Rabbitohs towards their first points of the season and ease some pressure on coach Jason Demetriou.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 29: Jack Wighton of the Rabbitohs and Michael Chee Kam of the Rabbitohs celebrate winning the round four NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs at Accor Stadium, on March 29, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

A Jack Wighton double and a strong game from his cousin Latrell Mitchell has helped South Sydney Rabbitohs to their first win this season and relieved pressure on coach Jason Demetriou.

In front of 35,275 fans on Good Friday at Accor Stadium, Wighton scored tries in the 13th and 45th minutes, and troubled Canterbury Bulldogs’ right edge.

Wighton was also robust in defence, laying on a front-on shot on Connor Tracey that rocked the Dogs winger.

Following criticism of his form in recent weeks and booing from Canterbury fans, Mitchell was vigorous in attack and a staunch last line of defence at fullback for the Rabbitohs.

POWER PLAYS

Demetriou said he didn’t want to be drawn into commentary on the booing of his star fullback.

“I spoke to Latrell at half-time, about how proud I was of his efforts on our try-line.

Latrell Mitchell had a busy day. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“Our try-line defence, he’s at the forefront of that. He comes up with a brilliant, one-on-one tackle on [Matt] Burton. That was a massive play.

“Tonight, there were some big plays to be made and Latrell put his body on the line. And did his job for the team,” Demetriou said.

WIGHTON A THREAT

Damien Cook, who had a lively game, made several incisions and was integral in the ball sweeping to the western flank for Wighton’s first try in the cardinal and myrtle.

Wighton’s double arrived in the second half when he handled twice in a sweeping, 70-metre movement.

Jack Wighton scored his first two tries in Rabbitohs colour. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“The threat of Jack on that left edge was pretty evident,” Demetriou said. “Every time we went there with some shape and some movement, he looked threatening.

“And it’s only going to grow.”

Wighton appeared to have performed a garden variety ‘hip drop’ tackle on Jacob Preston in the first half, with the Bulldogs second-rower reacting as if harpooned.

Wighton did not land on Preston’s lower legs, however, and referee Gerard Sutton took no action.

JD’S HEAD NOISE

Asked if the win felt like “personal vindication”, Demetriou said: “I get what you’re saying ... there’s noise about that. But I don’t come to work every day worrying whether I’m going to have a job or not.

“I come to work knowing that I’ve got a job to do helping these guys prepare to play footy. I work hard every day to do that. I’m not going to put my head noise onto them. It’s for me to deal with.”

FOX HIT

In his first game back from a shoulder injury suffered in round one, Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr was sprinting towards the south-eastern corner when he was hit by a combination of Isaiah Tass, Mitchell and the Accor Stadium turf.

Josh Addo-Carr didn’t return after halftime. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

After Addo-Carr’s head rebounded from the ground in sickening fashion, Mitchell squatted over his Indigenous All Stars team-mate and prevented Bulldogs players from picking up the motionless winger.

Addo-Carr was adjudged to have suffered a category one HIA and took no further part in the game. He will also be stood down for the Bulldogs’ next game, against the Roosters at Accor Stadium on Friday night.

Max King of the Bulldogs makes a break. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

GOOD AND BAD DOGS

The Bulldogs made five errors in the first half, and were lucky to trail by only 10 points.

Yet three of their stars combined to get their team back into the match.

Viliame Kikau flicked to Addo-Carr who burned down the flank before passing inside to Burton who touched down before sending a pure drop punt into the mass of excited Bulldogs fans in the south-western terraces.

Burton’s 40/20 in the 33rd minute led to a try by Tracey in front of that same batch of fans following a beautiful chip kick by Blake Taafe

FANS HAPPY

Souths had conceded 112 points in their first three games and after keeping the Bulldogs to 12 points in the first half, Rabbitohs fans clapped their team off the field.

A tight game turned the Rabbitohs way when livewire Bulldogs utility Kurtis Morrin was sent to the sin bin and put on report for a tackle on Cameron Murray that put the South Sydney skipper in a dangerous position.

Originally published as NRL round four: South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Canterbury Bulldogs 20-16