SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 32 CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 24
TOM SMITH, Accor Stadium, Friday

LATRELL MITCHELL tallied 20 points as the Rabbitohs ran over the Bulldogs in their traditional Good Friday clash. 

Canterbury led 18-12 at the break before South Sydney produced a near-perfect second half, culminating in Mitchell’s second try sealing the win. 

The Bunnies completed near 100 percent after the restart, whereas the Dogs coughed up error after error – twelve in total. 

This match-up has become one of the highlights of the NRL calendar, drawing the biggest ever regular-season crowd twelve months ago, and another 49,813 fans rattled through to turnstiles to see Mitchell put on a show. 

The Rabbitohs had won the last six Good Friday clashes before the Bulldogs snapped the streak in 2025, but normal service resumed here. 

As well as Mitchell – who bagged two tries and six goals – stand-off Cody Walker stood out with two assists, winger Alex Johnston added to his record try tally and notched three line breaks, and rampaging back-rower Tallis Duncan also punched through Canterbury’s line three times and scored a four-pointer of his own. 

Canterbury’s loss was compounded by losing captain Stephen Crichton to a shoulder injury early in the second half. 

Fresh off the bye, Bunnies coach Wayne Bennett welcomed back Campbell Graham from a shoulder injury on the wing. 

Bulldogs boss Cameron Ciraldo, on the other hand, lost forward Josh Curran to a rib complaint a week after his side’s shock loss to Newcastle on home turf. 

Johnston snaffled a Josh Tracey pass and galloped 90 metres to register the opening try on five minutes. 

But despite Souths controlling much of the opening 20 minutes, Canterbury gained a foothold once Marcelo Montoya beat Johnston up the other end. 

Mitchell grounded a clever Walker chip on the end of a Duncan bust, then booted his first penalty goal when the Dogs took too long to pack a scrum. 

But Canterbury enjoyed their best period of the contest as the clock ticked down to half-time. 

First Lachlan Galvin regathered his own grubber kick, which ricocheted off his intended target Sitili Tupouniua. 

Then they gained another two points off Crichton’s boot thanks to an offside infringement. 

And the Bulldogs took a six-point lead into the sheds when Tupouniua struck after Johnston spilled a towering Galvin bomb and Crichton landed his third goal.

The second half, though, was almost entirely red and green. 

With Crichton off following an awkward tackle, stand-off Matt Burton shuffled to left centre — and that was exactly where Duncan burst through off a neat Jye Gray pass. 

Halfback Jamie Humphreys laid four points on a platter for his skipper Cameron Murray with a perfect grubber, clinching the lead for South Sydney. 

And with 14 minutes remaining, the competition points were all but secured when Tracey mishandled a Walker kick and Mitchell pounced. 

Sean O’Sullivan – on for Crichton – caught Gray high, gifting Mitchell another two points. 

With 60 seconds left, Tracey finished a consolation try and Burton converted to put the finishing touches on the scoreline.

GAMESTAR: Latrell Mitchell racked up 20 points, including the match-sealing try off a Cody Walker kick. 

GAMEBREAKER: After scoring his second try, Mitchell booted a penalty goal to stretch the margin to an unassailable 14 points with less than ten minutes remaining. 

MATCHFACTS

RABBITOHS
1 Jye Gray
2 Alex Johnston
3 Latrell Mitchell
4 Jack Wighton
5 Campbell Graham
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
15 Lachlan Hubner
16 Sean Keppie
17 Liam Le Blanc (not used)
18 Jayden Sullivan (not used)
19 Moala Graham-Taufa (not used)

Tries: Johnston (5), Mitchell (23, 66), Duncan (47), Murray (57)
Goals: Mitchell 6/7

BULLDOGS
1 Connor Tracey
2 Jacob Kiraz
3 Enari Tuala
4 Stephen Crichton
5 Marcelo Montoya
6 Matt Burton
7 Lachlan Galvin
8 Max King
9 Bailey Hayward
10 Samuel Hughes
11 Viliame Kikau
12 Jacob Preston
13 Jaeman Salmon
Subs
14 Kurt Mann
15 Sitili Tupouniua
17 Sean O’Sullivan
19 Bronson Xerri (not used)
20 Lipoi Hopoi
22 Logan Spinks (not used)

Tries: Montoya (20), Galvin (31), Tupouniua (37), Tracey (79)
Goals: Crichton 3/4, Burton 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 10-6, 12-6, 12-12, 12-14, 12-18; 18-18, 24-18, 30-18, 32-18, 32-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell; Bulldogs: Bailey Hayward

Penalty count: 8-2
Half-time: 12-18
Referee: Todd Smith
Attendance: 49,813