South Sydney are back in the top eight after a 24-12 win against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown on Sunday night.
The Rabbitohs looked set for an easy victory in Sydney’s west after racing to a 12-0 lead after 20 minutes via tries to Siliva Havili and Euan Aitken.
MATCH CENTRE: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs, teams, stats, video
However, Api Koroisau almost single-handedly dragged the Tigers back into the game with a try either side of half-time to make the score line 16-12 in the Rabbitohs’ favour with 11 minutes left to play.
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With Souths forward Tallis Duncan in the bin for a professional foul, Wests thought they had levelled the scores in the 76th minute when Lachlan Galvin raced over. However, the try was overturned after video reviews showed the teenage five-eighth had dropped the ball over the line.
Prop forward Jai Arrow ultimately sealed the game for the Red and Greens when he spun past Alex Seyfarth to score Souths’ fourth try with less than two minutes on the clock.
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The win lifts Wayne Bennett’s side to seventh on the premiership ladder, a massive effort considering they were missing key players Cameron Murray, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton through injury.
“I’m very proud of them [the players] and I have told them that this week,” Bennett said post-match.
“The way they have battled through all this [injury crisis].
“We had a bit of a bad game during the Magic Weekend in Brisbane [a 30-10 loss to Newcastle], it wasn’t where I wanted to be . . .[but] they’ve just picked up a little bit and gone up a notch.”
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Keaon Kills It
Keaon Koloamatangi may not have been selected in the NSW Origin side alongside teammates Latrell Mitchell (centre) and Campbell Graham (18th man) for Game One. Still, if tonight’s performance is anything to go by, he deserves a run sometime soon. Playing as a middle forward, the one-time Blue was an absolute colossus on Sunday night, churning through an incredible 329 metres from 27 runs, including 140 post-contact metres. He also racked up 51 tackles.
Almost an Api Ending
Despite being seemingly spurned by NSW coach Laurie Daley in favour of Cowboys rake Reece Robson, Koroisau proved that he is still one of the best rakes in the competition with a powerhouse performance against Souths. His first try, just in the shadows of half time, was a 70-metre solo effort which included a delicious sidestep that left Latrell Mitchell completely bamboozled. Additionally, his ability to make breaks up the centre laid the foundations for the Tigers’ fightback.
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Terrell and Luai in State of Despair
Koroisau wasn’t the only Tiger to experience selection disappointment. 2024 series winner Jarome Luai was overlooked in the halves in favour of Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary. Likewise, breakout front-rower Terrell May was also shunned, with Daley opting for Spencer Leniu and Max King as his bench props.
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