South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has compared Keaon Koloamatangi to some of the great front-rowers he has coached after the makeshift prop starred in a 22-12 win against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown on Sunday.
Bennett switched Koloamatangi from his usual second-row role to the engine room two weeks ago, and he has clearly relished the move, inspiring the Rabbitohs to wins against Brisbane and the Tigers.
On Sunday, he carted the ball a remarkable 329 metres in attack and made 51 tackles in a performance that presumably caught the eye of NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley, but was not enough for him to change his squad for the series opener against Queensland on May 28.
Koloamatangi has played in one Origin, helping NSW win game three in 2023, and Bennett had no doubt he could do a job if required in this year’s series, comparing him to former Brisbane greats Shane Webcke, Glenn Lazarus and Andrew Gee.
“Well, if they’ve been watching the tapes for the last couple of weeks, he’s played there two weeks in a row and he’s been close to our best player both weeks,” Bennett said.
“And his work rate’s been phenomenal ... not many middles can play 80 minutes and do the work rate that he’s been doing.”
The parochial Queenslander then quipped: “I don’t want to help NSW any more with the team selection. I’m buying out.”
Koloamatangi had no complaints about his new role.
“With all the injuries that we have, the best go-forward from the middles normally wins the game each week,” he said.
“Wayne put his trust in me – that I’m able to do that for the team.
“I don’t care where I play. I just do my best each week and try and win the game for the boys ... my effort doesn’t change. I try not to think about it too much. I don’t think about my gas.”
Adding to the Tigers’ post-match angst, co-captains Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau, and prop Terrell May were overlooked by NSW selectors.
“I’ll talk to Jarome privately,” Tigers coach Benji Marshall said. “I’m sure he’ll be disappointed, as we all are. That decision is out of our hands.
“I wish we could do more to get him in that team, but it’ll make him hungrier and better.”
Marshall said May had been “outstanding” on and off the field since joining the Tigers this season.
Jarome Luai has missed out on a Blues jersey for Origin 1.Credit: Getty Images
Koroisau scored two tries – one a spectacular 70-metre effort in which he beat Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell with a sidestep – but it was not enough for him to win a Blues recall.
The Tigers were left ruing a dropped ball over the line by teenage five-eighth Lachlan Galvin when the match was in the balance.
With the Rabbitohs leading 16-12 in the 76th minute and down to 12 men after Tallis Duncan had been sin-binned, Galvin stepped into a gap and sprinted 15 metres for what appeared to be a try that would have locked up the scores.
But as centre Adam Doueihi started sizing up a conversion attempt that could have put the Tigers into the lead, the bunker intervened, ruling that the ball jolted from Galvin’s grip before he grounded it.
Adam Doueihi puts a step on Campbell Graham.Credit: Getty Images
Two minutes later, Jai Arrow scored for Souths and the Rabbitohs were celebrating their sixth win of the season, which lifted them into the top eight – a noteworthy effort considering their injury toll this season.
Koroisau’s opening try, just before half-time, provided a timely boost for the Tigers after Souths dominated the first 40 minutes.
Souths had opened the scoring in the 10th minute when dummy-half Siliva Havili burrowed over from close range and grounded the ball.
Ten minutes later, the Tigers lost Galvin to the sin bin after he made a tackle from an off-side position on Isaiah Tass, who was in a try-scoring situation.
With the Tigers down to 12 men, Souths five-eighth Jayden Sullivan burst into a yawning gap and an exchange of passes ended with back-rower Euan Aitken diving over.
Mitchell converted both tries.
When winger Alex Johnston raced away for the 197th try of his NRL career in the 60th minute, the Tigers found themselves chasing a 16-6 deficit.
But after Koroisau scored from dummy-half in the 69th minute, it was a four-point ball game.
The Tigers were coming home with a wet sail, and Galvin appeared to have earned them the lead, but the no-try ruling broke their hearts.
Mitchell warmed up for Origin I with a solid game that included one 80-metre break.
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