NRL 2021: Rabbitohs beat Wests Tigers 38-22 in NRL Round 16

You’d think a team would respond after they conceded 66 points in their most recent outing. Instead they sunk even lower.

Luke Brooks during the humiliating defeat. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Adam Reynolds produced the bombed try of the century but it wasn’t the most embarrassing thing of the afternoon as the Wests Tigers sank to a new low with another humiliating defeat at their spiritual home.

You’d think a team would respond after they conceded 66 points in their most recent outing against the Storm, but the Tigers treated defence like it was optional as the Rabbitohs piled on seven tries in a 38-22 training run.

It was a good thing there were no fans at the ground because the players would have been booed off at Leichhardt Oval for the second time this season.

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A month to the day after they stunned the Panthers, Michael Maguire’s side folded faster than a poker payer holding 2-7 off suit as Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds picked them apart with consummate ease, although the pair just missed out on NSW selection hours later.

Luke Brooks during the humiliating defeat. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“For three weeks, our starts have been ordinary. We have to be accountable for that,” the coach said.

“It’s sad to say that our start looked like a training run for Souths. It’s very disappointing to see us start like that.

“I need to find men who are going to be accountable for what we’re doing. That’s not acceptable for where we’re going with the club.

“Our first half was garbage.”

With strict biosecurity protocols in place, catering was scrapped at the ground while members of the club’s media department had to keep ticking the scoreboard over for the away side. Even the person in charge of music had enough, playing Rihanna’s SOS and Toxic by Britney Spears at half-time.

The players seemed to get the not-so-subtle message because they lifted in the second half, but even their points had a South Sydney flavour with former Rabbit Adam Doueihi bagging a double when the visitors took their foot off the pedal.

James Tamou and his devastated Tigers teammates (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

WALKER’S ON FIRE

Brad Fittler didn’t need to watch Sunday’s game to know how good Cody Walker is, and the South Sydney five-eighth couldn’t have done much more to earn an Origin recall for the dead rubber on July 14.

It took Walker just two minutes notch the first of three first-half try assists to go with a four-pointer of his own when he latched onto an Alex Johnston grubber.

With Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai ruled out of Game Three, Walker just missed out on the NSW five-eighth spot to Jack Wighton and was overlooked for the No. 14 jersey for Apisai Koroisau.

“It’s a difficult one (for NSW) because they won the series, but they won’t want to lose the third game – that’s part of your instinct,” Wayne Bennett said.

“I would be looking at the long term of NSW, and Queensland should be doing the same thing.”

Cody Walker had a blinder for the Rabbitohs (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

WIPEOUT

It looked like Adam Reynolds had ridden the wave straight into the Blues team when he strolled through to score one of the softest tries of the season.

But he was made to look rather goofy seconds later when the Bunker took away his four points after replays showed he had inexplicably run too far and stepped on the dead ball-line.

It brought back memories of Sonny Bill Williams’ similar gaffe at the 2013 World Cup but the good people at Sportsbet appreciated the effort and still donated $5000 to Men of League as part of their Try July campaign.

“I don’t know how he didn’t get it in his head that he didn’t score,” Bennett said.

“I might laugh tomorrow, but I’m not laughing today.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Rabbitohs beat Wests Tigers 38-22 in NRL Round 16