Round 22
Rabbitohs 32 d. Panthers 26

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Rabbitohs win two in a row and end Panthers season
Mon August 7, 2006
Nathan Merritt has helped himself to a hat-trick of tries as South Sydney upset Penrith 32-26 at Telstra Stadium yesterday as the Rabbitohs have now won two matches in a row.

Souths made the hard decision two weeks ago to cut Adam MacDougall from the Club and the decision has seen the Rabbitohs reap the benefits of having committed club men at Redfern with two victories in as many games. It was just Souths 3rd victory for the season and their supporters can now see some light at the end of the tunnel in what has been a very bleak season. The form of the players in this match where at least 15 of them will be at Souths next year and the form of new recruits Roy Asotasi, Dean Widders, David Kidwell and Jeremy Smith will also be extremely pleasing for Souths.

The major statistic to come out of the match was that Souths completed an amazing 93% of possession yesterday and when they add in Asotasi, Widders and Kidwell into their forward pack next year, they will be able dominate teams from the front foot.

Penrith had their opportunities to win the match and led 10-nil during the first half only to surrender it in a nightmare patch in the final 10 minutes of the opening half where Souths raced in three tries to lead 16-10 at the break. Preston Campbell scored first for the Panthers in the 23rd minute and that was followed up with a try to captain Tony Puletua four minutes later.

Souths went on a blitz in the final ten minutes of the first half. Merritt opened Souths scoring when he out jumped Rhys Wesser following a pinpoint bomb from Joe Williams with Williams adding the extras. Germaine Paulson scored Souths next try after excellent work from lock John Sutton where he attracted in three defenders to give Paulson a dream run to the line. Williams was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt with both sides locked up at 10-all.

Right on half-time Souths received the stroke of luck or genius they have been looking for all season. It was a spectacular 80m where Williams sliced through the Penrith defence in a great 60m burst before finding support in Paulson who off loaded to second-rower David Fa'alogo who in turn found Merritt outside him to finish off the try right in the teeth of the corner. Williams landed a great sideline goal for Souths to lead 16-10 at the break.

Penrith responded after half-time with representative halfback Craig Gower scoring and Michael Gordon's conversion leveled up the scores.

Merritt regained Souths lead when he scored his 3rd try and his 20th for the season when Williams went down the blindside and put hin a deft chip kick where Merritt won the race for the ball to score. Williams converted for Souths to 22-16.

Gordon crossed for Penrith to bring the Panthers back within two points but he was unable to convert, which would have leveled up the scores.

Souths were up by two points and denied the opportunity at taking a penalty goal where they were rewarded with a try on the last tackle where they chose to run the ball rather than put up the lottery kick. Merritt was caught with possession where he managed to get an offload away to Beau Champion who found Williams backing up where he scored on the posts. Williams converted his own try for Souths to lead 28-20.

Campbell's second try setup a thrilling final five minutes and Souths had to withstand Penrith hammering their line in successive sets of six. Souths worked the ball downfield and forced the Panthers into a drop out. Gower tried the short drop out where Luke Rooney was able to tap the ball back but the bounce was wayward with Mark Minichiello on the spot to score the match-winner. Williams was unable to convert but Souths were home winning 32-26.

Merritt's three try haul takes him to 20 for the season and clearly at the top of the try-scoring charts for this season in a remarkable performance. Merritt will benefit even further next year having Smith in the halves and Nigel Vagana in the centres.

Souths made the hard decision in getting rid of MacDougall and they are now reaping the benefits of such a tough decision.

Penrith had the opportunity to seal a place in the top eight and they weren't good enough to take advantage of how all the results and positions below Melbourne and Canterbury are panning out.

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