SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 20 WESTS TIGERS 16
TOM SMITH, Polytec Stadium, Gosford, Saturday

ALEX JOHNSTON was South Sydney’s hero once again as the Rabbitohs overran the Tigers in Gosford. 

Eight days after breaking the all-time Australian try-scoring record against the Roosters, Johnston’s 214th NRL score helped the Bunnies snatch a vital victory. 

Souths sprinted out of the blocks before an eight-point try thanks to a Latrell Mitchell lapse put Wests in front on the stroke of half-time. 

Then with the game locked 16-16, Johnston grounded a Cody Walker grubber to complete the simplest of tries and secure the lead. 

Rubbing salt in the wounds, star Tigers stand-off Jarome Luai limped off early with an ankle issue.

The outstanding Jye Gray tallied the first try of the night before the fullback sent Jack Wighton slashing through as the Rabbitohs raced to a 12-0 lead inside nine minutes. 

But with the clock ticking down to half-time, Api Koroisau’s bust led to Samuela Fainu’s reply. 

Then with seconds remaining, Moala Graham-Taufa dropped Adam Doueihi’s bomb to hand Heamasi Makasini four points and Mitchell’s high tackle in the put-down gave Wests an extra two points for the lead. 

The bunker denied Royce Hunt before Gray stopped a runaway Sione Fainu, then Johnston tapped down a Jamie Humphreys kick to Mitchell to score. 

Another Doueihi penalty goal squared things up until Johnston pounced on the Walker kick and his team-mates staved off the Tigers to clinch the two points. 

RABBITOHS: 1 Jye Gray, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Jack Wighton, 19 Moala Graham-Taufa, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Jamie Humphreys, 8 Tevita Tatola, 9 Bronson Garlick, 10 Keaon Koloamatangi, 11 David Fifita, 12 Tallis Duncan, 13 Cameron Murray. Subs: 14 Peter Mamouzelos, 16 Sean Keppie, 17 Jayden Sullivan, 20 Thomas Fletcher, 21 Latrell Siegwalt (not used), 22 Liam Le Blanc (not used)

Tries: Gray (4), Wighton (8), Mitchell (52), Johnston (67); Goals: Mitchell 2/4 

TIGERS: 1 Jahream Bula, 3 Jeral Skelton, 2 Sunia Turuva, 4 Heamasi Makasini, 5 Luke Laulilii, 6 Jarome Luai, 7 Adam Doueihi, 8 Terrell May, 9 Api Koroisau, 10 Fonua Pole, 11 Samuela Fainu, 12 Kai Pearce-Paul, 13 Alex Twal. Subs: 14 Jock Madden (not used), 15 Sione Fainu, 16 Royce Hunt, 17 Alex Seyfarth, 18 Tristan Hope, 19 Patrick Herbert (not used) 

Tries: Samuela Fainu (37), Makasini (40); Goals: Doueihi 4/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-14; 16-14, 16-16, 20-16

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rabbitohs: Cameron Murray; Tigers: Terrell May 

Penalty count: 5-7; Half-time: 12-14; Referee: Wyatt Raymond; Attendance: 19,940