Latrell fires as Bunnies burn Titans
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For the first time in 13 months the Rabbitohs have won back-to-back NRL games, after they powered past the Titans to register a 46-12 victory on Saturday afternoon.
In a contest which flowed freely from end-to-end, Blues hopeful Latrell Mitchell had a day out for the visitors at Cbus Super Stadium, scoring the opening try and setting up another three as he helped his side climb off the bottom of the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder with their third win of 2024.
It was a timely performance from Mitchell on the back of Joseph Sua'ali'i's suspension which has created a centre vacancy for New South Wales in Game Two of the Origin series.
It took just nine minutes for Damien Cook to expose a gaping hole in the Gold Coast defence with a piercing run that ended in Mitchell going over, and through the next 72 minutes they'd find success again and again across the field.
After Jacob Gagai crossed Alofiana Khan-Pereira briefly threatened to lead a comeback on 20 minutes when he zig-zagged his way over on a long-range effort, but it was soon back to normal service for the Rabbitohs.
Jacob Gagai Try
A strike to Richard Kennar was followed by another to Cody Walker, after Khan-Pereira dropped a bomb into his lap, to give the visitors a commanding 22-6 lead at the half.
Ten minutes into the second period the Rabbitohs had a fifth try ruled out by the Bunker due to a knock on, but it only delayed the inevitable as Tom Burgess breezed over from close range with 25 to go.
Thomas Burgess Try
Four-pointers to Davvy Moale, Jack Wighton and another to Walker in the final 15 minutes blew the scoreline out, with David Fifita's steamrolling effort with 11 to go the only cause for Gold Coast celebration in the second half.
Match: Titans v Rabbitohs
Round 14 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
16th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match Snapshot
- The Rabbitohs have won now won nine-straight against the Titans and haven't lost to them at Cbus Super Stadium since 2009.
- Rabbitohs prop Jai Arrow celebrated his 150th NRL appearance with his first ever successful conversion at NRL level, after being handed the tee late on in the blow out.
From the field: Jai Arrow's 150th NRL game
- Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored his ninth try in his past six NRL games.
- Titans hooker Sam Verrills went on report for a dangerous tackle in the 64th minute and Rabbitohs five-eighth Jack Wighton was cited for a lifting tackle with 11 to play.
- Rabbitohs interchange forward Siliva Havili pulled up lame on a hit-up in the 31st minute with what a suspected calf injury.
- Titans second-rower David Fifita scored his eighth try in nine games against the Rabbitohs.
Play of the Game
In a sign of what was to come, the Rabbitohs torched the Titans on the opening try with Damien Cook and Latrell Mitchell combining for a long-range effort that kicked off a big day for South Sydney.
Latrell Mitchell Try
What They Said
"We had to back up what we did a couple of weeks ago before the bye (beating the Eels) and the boys really brought into that and we performed well. They did a great job, the whole right edge [on David Fifita], to keep him to one try... as a collective group they did a great job on him." – Rabbitohs interim coach Ben Hornby.
Rabbitohs: Round 14
"We were just off today, ill-disciplined both sides of the ball. We couldn't build any momentum or field position and when we got down there we let them out. We just gifted them field position too much and gave up too many soft tries on our try-line." – Titans coach Des Hasler.
Titans: Round 14
What's Next
The Titans head away to Sydney to take on the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval next Saturday, while the Rabbitohs play the Broncos for the second time this year hosting them at Accor Stadium after going down to them at Suncorp back in Round 2.
