South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Penrith Panthers 28-18, Brian To’o injured, Scott Sorensen Category 1 HIA

Premierships aren’t won in March, but the Penrith dynasty looks on shaky ground. The Panthers were dealt their third-straight defeat courtesy of the rampant Rabbitohs, with Brian To’o among the injured casualties.

Premierships aren’t won in March, but this is the first time the dynasty has looked on shaky ground after South Sydney heaped more misery on the undermanned Panthers with a shock result that has left the champions reeling after the opening month of the season.

The 28-18 loss masked what was a horror first-half showing as the four-time premiers produced their worst 40 minutes in years to trail by 28 points as they were booed by a small crowd of Souths fans at Accor Stadium.

Penrith only completed 50 per cent of their sets in the first half with fill-in fullback Daine Laurie spilling a couple of bombs, but it was their defence which completely fell apart in stunning fashion as they slumped to a 1-3 record.

Their incredible stretch has been on the back of a stifling defence, with the Panthers conceding just 114 points in the opening 13 rounds of the 2021 season, with the latest defeat making it the first time since 2019 that they’ve lost three on the trot.

But they’ve already conceded 118 after four matches this year, with their edge defence exposed for the third week in a row, while they gave up some incredibly soft tries through the middle which would infuriate their coach.

The decision to name Trent Toelau at halfback backfired for Ivan Cleary, with his first career start in the NRL not matching his spectacular trial performance from a few weeks ago.

Keaon Koloamatangi scored two for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Toelau has done a solid job coming off the bench but struggled from the outset, dropping an early ball before he kicked a line dropout out on the full, a kick-off sailing dead and missed two tackles before he was replaced.

The Panthers will get Nathan Cleary back from his head knock while representative fullback Dylan Edwards is also expected to return from a groin injury for next week’s game against the Cowboys.

But they’ll be without Scott Sorensen (head knock), while winger Brian To’o is in doubt after leaving the field with a hamstring issue.

Scott Sorensen of the Panthers is assisted off the field by a trainer for a Head Injury Assessment.. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Brian To'o left with a hamstring injury. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

ALL ABOARD THE WAYNE TRAIN

Souths were down 20-0 at halftime against the Sharks last week, with plenty of people ready to say Wayne Bennett’s shine had worn off after just three games.

But you can never write off the master coach, with the wily veteran firing up his players to produce one of the most dominant opening 40 minutes we’ve seen this year.

While their first two wins were gritty, this was different gravy as they bullied the premiers from start to finish and punished the sloppy errors they were able to force.

Keaon Koloamatangi was in beast mode as he bagged a first-half double, with the back-rower ditching acais in the off-season for tries as he went after Toelau in defence.

They’ve already exceeded early expectations and should get superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell back next week, although Jye Gray has to keep a spot in the 17 after another brilliant display at the back.

BUNKER DRAMA

It’s a shame Graham Annesley no longer does his weekly briefings because it would be great to hear his thoughts on whether Moses Leota scored or not.

The Panthers had all the momentum when their prop charged through the line and appeared to make it a 10-point game with 18 minutes to go, only for the referee to say he knocked on.

The Bunker supported the decision even though it looked like he got it down, with the call killing off all their momentum.

Alex Johnston is back to scoring tries.

JOHNSTON SETBACK

This was a mighty team effort, but there was one negative with champion winger Alex Johnston going down with a potential scapula injury.

The veteran winger made a triumphant return from the Achilles injury that ended his 2024 campaign with an early bust before he scored his customary try in the ninth minute to move within 16 tries of equalling Ken Irvine’s longstanding record.

But he’ll have to wait to eat into that margin after he appeared to hurt himself when he put the ball down, with Johnston not returning in the second half.

Originally published as South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Penrith Panthers 28-18, Brian To’o injured, Scott Sorensen Category 1 HIA