Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles suffered their third loss of the season as the South Sydney Rabbitohs hopped away to a 26-12 victory at Accor Stadium on Saturday afternoon in round four of the NSW Cup.
The Sea Eagles were bolstered by the return of the 2022 Players’ Player of the Year Jake Toby as well as NRL experience from Morgan Harper, Cooper Johns and Ben Condon. Despite this, results still couldn’t go Blacktown's way as they struggled to take control of the game.
Blacktown were back in the match in the opening 20 minutes of the second half and were within two points of the Rabbitohs. Those hopes were soon dashed as the home side replied with two tries in ten minutes to seal the match.
The Rabbitohs opened their account with a penalty goal from right in front after a crusher tackle call against the Sea Eagles. Five-eighth Blake Taaffe converted for an early 2-0 lead after three minutes. Moments before Blacktown Hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong was forced from the field with a HIA, thankfully returning shortly after his assessment.
The Sea Eagles had their chance to reply five minutes later after a silky pass from Toby on the left edge, unfortunately being dropped metres out from the line by winger Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega who was unable to hold onto the ball.
Despite another sloppy penalty conceded deep in their own half, the Sea Eagles recouped themselves and muscled up to win the ball back in the 16th minute. The combination of Clayton Faulalo and Morgan Harper stopped their opposing winger and forced him over the sideline with a strong tackle to stop the chance.
After 30 minutes of play, South Sydney scored the first try in the right corner through winger Richard Kenner after a good shift from the Rabbitohs’ backline. Blacktown second-rower Samuela Fainu put in a good shift to try and prevent the try but had no luck as Kennar dived over to ground the ball. Taaffe converted from the sideline for an 8-0 scoreline.
With three minutes to play before half-time, Chan Kum Tong switched the play down the left edge on the last tackle metres out from the line, poking a grubber kick through to the in-goal for Fainu, who unfortunately fumbled the ball whilst attempting to ground it.
Both sides produced errors deep in South Sydney’s territory in the remaining few minutes, showcasing the intensity and closeness of the first half. The sides went into the sheds for the break with the Rabbitohs maintaining a tight eight-point lead.
Josiah Karapani scored for the Rabbitohs after just three minutes in the second half after a kick from the wing deflected off Fainu towards the deadball line. The centre chased hard and dived to ground the ball just before it went dead. Taaffe converted to extend the lead to 14-0.
Blacktown bounced back in the 48th minute with a strong try from Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega on the left wing. The Sea Eagles shifted the ball well through the backline and the play culminated with a quick-hands pass from Fainu, freeing Vaega up with the space to build up some steam and burrow underneath the defender. Five-eighth Cooper Johns converted from the sideline to bring the score back within eight points at 14-6.
The Workers scored their second try in the space of six minutes through second-rower Joshua Stuckey after a well-placed grubber kick into the in-goal from Johns. The five-eighth converted the try for a 14-12 scoreline with 24 minutes to play.
South Sydney scored on the left sideline through winger Tom Carr for their third try in the 60th minute, taking the lead back out to six points after a poor conversion attempt from Taaffe by the sideline.
Taaffe fooled the defence with a dummy pass and beat three defenders before slamming the ball down next to the posts for a try in the 69th minute. He converted his own try to push the Rabbitohs’ lead out to 24-12.
The Rabbitohs were awarded a penalty after an illegal steal just shy of Blacktown’s 30 metre line. They chose to take a shot at two points, with Taaffe converting for a 26-12 scoreline with just over three minutes remaining.
Both sides had an opportunity to add further points in the final minute but couldn’t hold onto the ball as the siren sounded for full-time. The Rabbitohs claimed their first win of the season with a 14-point victory.
Blacktown Workers take on the Newcastle Knights next Sunday, April 2 at 3pm, at HE Laybutt Field in Round 5 of the NSW Cup.
