NRL 2024: Cowboys win 28-22 over Rabbitohs in Magic Round

The Cowboys have snapped a five-game losing streak, but it was far from a perfect performance, as the Rabbitohs showed signs of life as they threatened to take the game to golden point.

In his first game for the Cowboys, Braidon Burns came back to haunt his former team, scoring two tries. Picture: Getty Images

North Queensland eased the pressure on coach Todd Payten and heaped more misery on South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night as Cowboys winger Braidon Burns played a starring role against his former club.

Burns, who only joined the Cowboys a fortnight ago from the Rabbitohs, scored a double either side of halftime as North Queensland ended a five-game losing streak with a nailbiting 28-22 win.

The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, have now lost six in a row despite the best efforts of superstar Latrell Mitchell, who scored a brutal solo try in the opening half.

Payten has come under increasing pressure as the Cowboys have bumbled their way through the past month, having started the season with a string of wins that gave the impression they were finals bound.

The Cowboys have snapped a five-game losing streak and eased the pressure on Todd Payeten, but it was a nailbiting finish as Souths threatened to take the game to golden point. Picture: Getty Images

Those hopes quickly faded as the club began to lose touch with the top eight. Whispers about the future of Payten, who led the club to the finals two years ago but disappointed last year, began to circulate as the losses grew.

A win over Souths will stop them for at least a week as the Rabbitohs once again leaked too many points, finishing the match with 12 men after rookie half Dion Taupe was sin-binned for a high shot on Tom Deardan.

Dearden was also sin-binned with seconds remaining but the Cowboys held out.

“I have been consumed by the job more so in the last two weeks than I ever have before,” Payten said.

“So make of that what you will. When you lose more than three on the trot, the first one is always the hardest to get.

“Everyone can take a breath now.”

BRAIDON BURNS SOUTHS

Search for Braidon Burns on the internet and the first picture you see is of the centre in a South Sydney jersey.

Two weeks ago, he was languishing in NSW Cup for the Rabbitohs when the Cowboys came calling, offering him the chance to reignite a stalled NRL career.

Even though Souths were battling, Burns had been unable to secure a start so he jumped at the opportunity to help the Cowboys.

On Saturday night, he returned their investment with interest. Burns opened his account for the Cowboys in the 38th minute when he finished a backline movement, squeezing over in the corner to give North Queensland the halftime lead.

In his first game for the Cowboys, Braidon Burns came back to haunt his former team, scoring two tries. Picture: Getty Images

He then emerged from the sheds and promptly added his second try of the match four minutes into the second half after Jeremiah Nanai did well to keep the ball alive.

Burns did the rest and the Cowboys were running away with it.

“Great story,” Payten said.

“He is a great kid. He has only been with the club now for 10 or 11 days, We were looking at him for a couple of weeks prior to signing him. He has good energy around the group.

“To play against his former team, it is strange how it works out.”

Souths coach Ben Hornby was in no mood to hand out any plaudits.

“To be honest that was the last thing on my thoughts – what Braidon Burns was doing with the Cowboys,” Hornby said.

LATRELL INSPIRES

Latrell Mitchell came into Saturday night’s game under the microscope amid revelations of a midweek confrontation with NRL360 host Braith Anasta at a trendy inner-city restaurant.

Mitchell, having vented over what he believed was unfair criticism of his club and his form, put the spat behind him as he set about inspiring the Rabbitohs to victory with an opening half full of intent.

The Souths fullback made his first big impression on the game midway through the opening stanza when he left a trail of wreckage in his wake on his way to opening the Rabbitohs’ account.

Latrell Mitchell put aside a week of drama, as he helped inspire an attempted comeback. Picture: Getty Images

Mitchell had players on his outside but backed himself and proved too powerful for the Cowboys defence.

He wasn’t finished there as he left his impression on the opening half. With eight minutes remaining, Mitchell threw the killer pass to give Alex Johnston a saloon passage to the line.

Souths were starting to look like a football team again. Sadly, the second half was more of the same. Mitchell’s second half reached its nadir when he hit the post with a relatively simple shot at goal that would have brought the Rabbitohs within four points in the dying minutes.

“And I thought he worked hard across the back too,” Hornby said.

“He’s just going to continue to get better. It is not all going to come back in one week. He is just looking to get better every week like we all are.”

BENNETT BLUES

Wayne Bennett is expected to be unveiled as the Rabbitohs coach for next season on Monday he has plenty of work to do.

While he will finish the season with the Dolphins, he will no doubt spend coming months attempting to tinker with a roster that can challenge for finals with some subtle alterations.

There is plenty to work with. Mitchell showed promising signs with his performance while Cody Walker and Jack Wighton had their moments.

The forward pack could do with some strengthening and Bennett will no doubt move swiftly and smartly.

First things first though. The Rabbitohs need some good news and there would be none better than getting Bennett’s signature on a contract.

Word is the deal is all but done. You never know with Bennett but he looks on his way. Not a moment too soon.

“What Wayne does, Wayne does,” Hornby said.

“I am just focused on trying to get us a win each week.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Cowboys win 28-22 over Rabbitohs in Magic Round