SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 26 NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 24
TOM SMITH, Accor Stadium, Sunday

SOUTH SYDNEY survived a late scare from Newcastle on a day that will be remembered for Jai Arrow.

The Rabbitohs sat on a 26-6 lead with twelve minutes remaining before Kalyn Ponga inspired the Knights’ fightback.

Ponga scored twice in two minutes to make Souths fans nervous, then Harrison Graham set up the grandstand finish.

But the hosts held on to claim two vital competition points that keep them in the top eight.

It was a gutsy effort with Dayne Jennings (cut on his knee), Euan Aitken (shortness of breath) and Jayden Sullivan (head-injury assessment) failing to finish the 80 minutes.

Off the park, the match marked the ‘World’s Biggest Birthday Party’ for Arrow — the Rabbitoh forced into retirement by a tragic motor neurone disease diagnosis.

The NRL community wrapped their arms around the former Queensland Origin rep on his 31st birthday, with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, children’s band the Wiggles and Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’Landys on hand for the cutting of a giant cake.

The Bunnies aimed up for the occasion, despite some heart palpitations late.

Souths have frustrated their supporters with inconsistent form in recent weeks, as injuries – notably to strike weapons Latrell Mitchell and Alex Johnston – take their toll.

The Novocastians, on the other hand, had worked their way into the top four with three straight gritty wins on home turf.

Knights coach Justin Holbrook named Queenslander Ponga to back up four days after Wednesday’s Origin decider, but New South Welshman Bradman Best was rested. Rabbitohs counterpart Wayne Bennett also had captain Cameron Murray back on deck.

Bennett reshuffled his back line, with Matt Dufty going to fullback for Jye Gray, Jayden Sullivan replacing the suspended Cody Walker at stand-off, and Campbell Graham back from a calf complaint.

Holbrook swapped the fit-again Trey Mooney (calf) for the injured Jacob Saifiti (hamstring) on his teamsheet, and shuffled Fletcher Sharpe to centre for Best and Sandon Smith into stand-off. It left only five on the bench.

The Bunker denied Newcastle twice before Dufty sent Graham into the left corner for the first points.

Dom Young nearly set up Dylan Brown but placed his foot in touch, then was denied by Jennings’ desperate defence.

Instead, up the other end, Tevita Tatola crashed over from close range and Dufty combined with David Fifita on the right edge again.

With Jennings off and the diminutive Jye Gray marking Young on the wing, the England international exploited the mismatch for the Knights’ first points.

But Tallis Duncan struck on the stroke of half-time to make it 20-6.

Lachlan Crouch and Young threatened for the Knights but Gray found the first points of the second half thanks to Duncan.

Ponga pounced twice in two minutes – the second courtesy of a brilliant Dylan Lucas offload – before Graham backed up a Smith bust to put everyone on the edge of their seat.

A pair of captain’s challenges added late drama, but the Bunnies clung on.

GAMESTAR: Matt Dufty assisted three tries and notched a game-high 215 running metres to help the Rabbitohs get on top early.

GAMEBREAKER: South Sydney could only breathe easy once Kalyn Ponga’s pass to the unmarked Dom Young sailed into touch in the 80th minute.

MATCHFACTS

RABBITOHS
1 Matt Dufty
2 Dayne Jennings
3 Tallis Duncan
4 Jack Wighton
5 Campbell Graham
6 Jayden Sullivan
7 Ashton Ward
8 Tevita Tatola
9 Brandon Smith
10 Keaon Koloamatangi
11 David Fifita
12 Euan Aitken
13 Cameron Murray
Subs
14 Lachlan Hubner
15 Jamie Humphreys
16 John Radel (not used)
17 Liam Le Blanc
18 Jye Gray
19 Latrell Siegwalt (not used)

Tries: Graham (10), Tatola (18), Fifita (29), Duncan (40), Gray (64)
Goals: Ward 1/2, Humphreys 2/3

KNIGHTS
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Dom Young
3 Dane Gagai
6 Fletcher Sharpe
5 Greg Marzhew
14 Sandon Smith
7 Dylan Brown
8 Cody Hopwood
9 Phoenix Crossland
10 Trey Mooney
11 Dylan Lucas
17 Thomas Cant
13 Mat Croker
Subs
15 Tyson Frizell
16 Lachlan Crouch
18 Harrison Graham
19 Fletcher Hunt
20 Francis Manuleleua (not used)

Tries: Young (34), Ponga (68, 70), Graham (76)
Goals: Ponga 4/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 14-0, 14-6, 20-6; 26-6, 26-12, 26-18, 26-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rabbitohs: Matt Dufty; Knights: Kalyn Ponga

Penalty count: 4-9
Half-time: 20-6
Referee: Grant Atkins
Attendance: 30,113