It was a match that could have been anything.
Three days after the full time whistle was blown, pundits
are still trying to work out what they saw.
The record books will forever read South Sydney Rabbitohs
gaining victory over the Cronulla Sharks 14-12 at ANZ Stadium, but the
performances by both teams are an enigma in themselves.
Souths came into the game off the back of a strong
performance in round one, where they flexed their premiership muscle – and
showed some of that potential – in a 28-10 thumping of the Sydney Roosters.
Cronulla also came into the contest off the back of a first
up win, but in completely different circumstances. After an effort the Spartans
of Thermopylae would be proud of, they held out for a tough 12-10 win over the
Titans.
Enter round two.
Souths started the game the same way they played last week.
They controlled the match, possession, field position, and
posted two converted tries in the first 15 minutes.
The first try came in just the fourth minute when boom
halfback Adam Reynolds spotted an open Andrew Everingham. A pinpoint cross
field kick in behind the defence landed in Everingham’s arms, and he made no
mistake in putting the ball down to score.
Reynolds’ boot featured again in the second try as he put
Dylan Farrell over for a try of his own about the 15 minute mark. Reynolds took
the line on as he did with the first try, but placed a grubber straight through
the defensive line for Farrell to fly in from nowhere to score.
The man who could be the next NSW Origin halfback Reynolds
converted both tries.
They had the Cronulla defence grabbing at shadows, and could
easily have gone on to post a cricket score.
But whether it was the effects of an 11 day turnaround, or
they simply believed the match was already won, the Rabbitohs let Cronulla off
the hook.
Cronulla’s attack seemed to click in parts and only
desperate defence held the Sharks out. They started making massive metres when
they had the ball and forced the Rabbitohs to earn every inch – which they
didn’t do easily.
The Sharks struck back only three minutes later when
fullback Michael Gordon sliced through the defence. Gordon, who is potentially
the most valuable recruit in season 2013, managed to slip through the tiniest
of gaps in the Rabbitoh defence to put Cronulla on the board. His conversion
made it 12-6 after 18 minutes.
From there the points dried up and the arm wrestle began.
Heavy hitting saw the ball dislodged before the fifth
tackle, the referees warmed their whistles up and either indecisiveness – or
desperate defence – forced several turnovers.
A penalty on the stroke of half time for holding down saw
Reynolds extend the lead to 14-6, and it would also be the last time the
Rabbitohs troubled the scorers.
Simple errors cost the Rabbitohs any momentum in the second
half. What momentum they did have – which ended in two disallowed tries – was
squandered due to simple mistakes.
Merritt seemingly sealed the game at the hour mark until the
video referee noticed an obstruction in the lead up play.
The penalty count drifted up against the Rabbitohs and
Cronulla put themselves in the box seat for an assault on victory.
Countless attacking raids saw the Rabbitohs defence muscle
up and repel the invaders, while others contributed to the Sharks’ lofty error
count (which ended up at 18).
The Rabbitohs somehow got themselves into an attacking
position and had a chance at more points in the 65th minute. That was
until a wayward pass hit the deck and was scooped on by Sharks flyer Beau Ryan,
who raced 92m to put his team within striking distance.
Gordon’s conversion made it 14-12 and set up a grandstand
finish.
Souths would rekindle their relationship with the video
referee when Adam Reynolds looked to have scored a match-sealer. Replays showed
Isaac Luke interfered with the marker, and the try was disallowed.
With full time called, Souths remain one of only three
undefeated teams in the competition while the Sharks have made a home
mid-table.
Some commentators have suggested these close, scrappy games
are the ones that premiership contenders have to win to make the big dance.
While the performance wasn’t ideal, Souths can take solace from the fact they
managed to secure the win, even if on the back of what they hope is their worst
performance of the year.
The Sharks can take many positives as they continue to play
under enormous pressure thanks to the ASADA investigation, but will be
concerned they couldn’t score – or handle the ball – on the back of superior
possession.
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