GOLD COAST TITANS 18 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 20
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Cbus Super Stadium, Sunday
SOUTH SYDNEY leapfrogged Gold Coast as Alex Johnston’s double proved key in this bottom-two shoot-out.
Johnston scored his 208th and 209th NRL tries to move to within three of the all-time Australian record of Ken Irvine which has stood for more than 50 years.
Both were provided by Latrell Mitchell, who was excellent for the Rabbitohs on his return from a quad injury.
Mitchell gave a quick pass for Johnston’s first after three minutes, then saved a try at the other end by knocking the ball from Jayden Campbell’s grasp over the try-line.
Jayden De Groot hit back for Gold Coast nonetheless, from a Jojo Fitia offload, and then Beau Fermor stumbled over to make it 10-4 to the Titans.
Campbell gave them another two points from tee but their ill-discipline allowed Wayne Bennett’s men to dominate the rest of the half.
Bayleigh Bentley-Hape was played into the corner for a try, converted it and followed up with two penalties to edge South Sydney 12-14 ahead at half-time.
Johnston’s second try – set up by Mitchell after leaping to retrieve a Jamie Humphreys kick – and Bentley-Hape’s fourth goal established an eight-point cushion on the hour.
Sam Verrills darted from dummy-half and Campbell kicked his third goal of the day to set up a nervy finish but the Rabbitohs worked tirelessly to hold on.
TITANS: 1 AJ Brimson, 2 Jaylan De Groot, 3 Brian Kelly, 4 Jojo Fifita, 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Jayden Campbell, 10 Jaimin Jolliffe, 9 Sam Verrills, 15 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11 Chris Randall, 12 Beau Fermor, 13 Klese Haas. Subs (all used): 14 Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 16 Iszac Fa’asamaleaui, 17 Josh Patston, 20 Tukimihia Simpkins
Tries: De Groot (11), Fermor (14), Verrills (66); Goals: Campbell 3/4
RABBITOHS: 1 Jye Gray, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Isaiah Tass, 22 Latrell Mitchell, 5 Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, 6 Ashton Ward, 7 Jamie Humphreys, 10 Siliva Havili, 14 Peter Mamouzelos, 10 Sean Keppie, 4 Tallis Duncan, 12 Jacob Host, 8 Jai Arrow. Subs (all used): 13 Lachlan Hubner, 15 Liam Le Blanc, 16 Brandon Smith, 17 Thomas Fletcher.
Tries: Johnston (3, 60), Bentley-Hape (27); Goals: Humphreys 0/1, Bentley-Hape 4/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 6-4, 10-4, 12-4, 12-10, 12-12, 12-14; 12-20, 18-20
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Titans: Sam Verrills; Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell
Penalty count: 4-5; Half-time: 12-14; Referee: Todd Smith, Attendance: 14,957