A slew of injuries could have ended any hope of Jason Demetriou hanging onto his job as Rabbitohs coach, but his injury-ravaged team put on a gutsy performance in a close loss against the Sharks that could buy him some time.
It was reported Demetriou had 80 minutes to keep his role and by halftime he had already lost Tyrone Munro and Tevita Tatola for the game and Jacob Host, rookie fullback Jye Gray and Cameron Murray for periods due to HIAs.
MATCH CENTRE: Rabbitohs vs Sharks teams, scores, videos, updates
Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
‘I expect to be coach next week’ | 07:23
Murray was ruled out of the match completely in what was a huge blow.
The Rabbitohs were down 16-6 at the break and almost clawed back in the dying stages, eventually losing 34-22.
BAD LUCK BUNNIES
The Rabbitohs couldn’t have had it tougher on the field, with a HIA to Host in the 4th minute after a head clash with Jack Wighton the first injury domino to fall.
Host came back, but Tyrone Munro (shoulder) and Tevita Tatola (ankle) were both ruled out of the game midway through the first half.
Ronaldo goes berserk against Bunnies | 01:00
Debutant fullback Jye Gray suffered whiplash in a tackle in the 28th minute and also had to go off for a HIA, though he was also able to return in the second 40.
With eight minutes to go in the first half, Tom Burgess was the only player left on the South Sydney bench, with Jack Wighton moving to fullback and second-rowers Michael Chee Kam and Cameron Murray covering in the centres.
Murray also went off for a HIA in the dying stages of the first half after a dubious tackle from Sione Katoa that went on report.
He cut a forlorn figure as he joined the rest of the injured players on the bench in the second half.
But the Rabbitohs showed signs of life and tries to Taane Milne in the 56th minute, another to veteran Tom Burgess in the 70th minute and one to Isaiah Tass in the 75th that rattled the Sharks.
MULITALO MOTORS ON
Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo continued his fine vein of form with two tries, eight tackle-breaks and a line-break.
He’s scored 12 tries in 10 games and sits fifth on the list of Cronulla’s all-time tryscorers, as well as shooting up the NRL’s top tryscorers list so far this year.
He was also strong in defence, stopping a certain try in the first half and forcing a handover early in the second.
The only blip for the Cronulla side was an injury to Jack Williams that forced him off the field with 20 minutes left.
Relive all the action in our blog below! Can’t see the blog? CLICK HERE
Milford FLOORS Walsh in wild brain fade | 00:35
MATCH PREVIEW
The South Sydney Rabbitohs need nothing less than a victory against the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday evening to avoid spending another week at the bottom of the NRL ladder.
The Rabbitohs are 1-17, while for the Sharks Toby Rudolf replaces Billy Burns on the bench.
The Bunnies, coached by the under-fire Jason Demetriou, registered just one victory in the opening five rounds of the 2024 season, fresh off a 34-4 thumping against the New Zealand Warriors.
Meanwhile, the Sharks could finish Round 6 at the top of the ladder if they topple the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium this weekend.
Earlier this week, superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell accepted a three-match ban for dangerous contact during last week’s loss to the Warriors, meaning he won’t feature in Saturday’s contest.
The game is scheduled to get underway at 7.35pm AEST.
Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Tyrone Munro 3. Jack Wighton 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Michael Chee Kam 15. Siliva Havili 16. Shaquai Mitchell 17. Davvy Moale. 18th man: 19. Jacob Gagai
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 15. Jack Williams 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Toby Rudolf. 18th man: 18. Daniel Atkinson
Source Agencies
