Matai and Taufua flatten South Sydney attack

THEY may have lost the game, but these Manly defenders certainly won the tackle contest. WATCH THE HITS

Manly's Brett Stewart celebrates a try with Manly's Steve Matai during the Manly v Wests Tigers rugby league game at Brookvale Oval, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

ADAM Reynolds’ unfortunate string of injuries has taken another hit tonight, with the Rabbitohs halfback suffering a severe head-knock midway through the first half.

Young five-eighth Luke Keary did well to steer South Sydney to a 20-8 victory at ANZ, despite Manly turning out a brutal defensive effort.

The way Manly outside backs Jorge Taufua and Steve Matai were hitting Rabbitohs players, it is no surprise Reynolds came off second best at the tackle contest.

The wing and centre pairing are in competition for tackle of the year, after pulling off these spectacular rockers.

SHOT by Jorge Taufua! Can the Sea Eagles shock the Rabbitohs in this NRL matchup? #NRL | http://t.co/7h1mQkUd53 pic.twitter.com/PcpTj5WrkL

— fanatix (@therealfanatix) June 26, 2015

It was the Matai freight-train however that temporarily silenced the home crowd, turning Rabbitoh’s David Tyrrell into roadkill.

Steve Matai - You Beauty! http://t.co/7h1mQkUd53 Is this the #NRL Tackle of the Year? pic.twitter.com/T26YmyijnV

— fanatix (@therealfanatix) June 26, 2015

There have been some solid candidates in recent weeks, but with a hit like that its hard to deny that Matai may have just clinched the best tackle of 2015.

Steve Matai that was a huuuugggge hit!!!

— Bailey Mackey (@MackeyDaddy) June 26, 2015

Steve Matai tackle of the year??????

— Anthony Salinas (@AnthoonySalinas) June 26, 2015

Steve Matai biggest hit of season in either code. Comfortably

— Ben (@Hathasports) June 26, 2015

love seeing steve matai put on a big shot. even if it is against the bunnies #RIPdavetyrell

— Dan (@heinous_animal) June 26, 2015

Greatest hit of all time. Take a bow Steve Matai

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) June 26, 2015

Aaron Gray scored two tries and threw the final pass for another as a gritty Souths kept the Sea Eagles anchored to the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Gray scored the Rabbitohs’ opener in the 28th minute after Peta Hiku had scored first for Manly two minutes before.

But it was Gray’s efforts early in the second half that paved the way for Souths’ win.

He flicked a pass inside, that did appear forward, to Bryson Goodwin to put the Rabbitohs ahead 10-4 after 46 minutes.

Gray then scored himself from a John Sutton kick two minutes later as the home side wrested control of the match, against a tough but unlucky Manly.

Souths back-rower Glenn Stewart was solid in his return from a thumb injury against his former club, while Rabbitohs props George and Tom Burgess put in two of their better efforts of the year, playing against brother Luke for the first time.

Kieran Foran was one of Manly’s best after spending the week in the headlines due to his contract standoff with Parramatta.

Steve Matai gave Manly some hope when he crossed in the 55th from a clever short side play engineered by Foran.

But Luke Keary hit back for the Rabbitohs in the 64th minute from a hot potato pass from Johnston after he chased down the five-eighth’s kick.

— with AAP