South Sydney Rabbits launch second-half comeback to beat Penrith Panthers 20-18 in NRL Classic
Latrell Mitchell helped South Sydney flip Penrith’s script to a 20-18 come-from-behind win over the defending Premiers at Stadium Australia.
Key Point:
- Mitchell scored Rabbit’s double in comeback win
- The Rabbits were eight points ahead of the Panthers with six minutes remaining.
- Stephen Crichton records all points scored for Panthers
In a thrilling finish, Rabbit trailed 18–10 with six minutes left in the match before Mitchell tried and scored a Lachlan Ilias kick.
Rabbit’s fullback was denied shortly after Nathan Cleary dragged him down from behind after a line break.
However, Rabbitt was able to deliver a final gasp effort to win the match when Alex Johnston off-roaded and Mitchell provided space to far left before Cody Walker brought in Isaiah Tuss. I made it.
It was the Rabbitohs’ second victory over Penrith in their last 12 games, and they’ve seen the Panthers fight back and win many times.
In some of Thursday night’s clashes, it looked like it was going to be the same old story again in South Sydney.
Stephen Crichton scored all 18 points for Penrith, including tries in the 66th and 71st minutes, to take them up from 10-8 to 18-10.
There was even something of a Crichton interception as Walker caught a kick from 5-8 and sent it down the field to attack the Panthers for back-to-back tries.
But while Crichton’s try hat-trick almost ensured victory for the Panthers, it was Mitchell who played a key role in helping the Rabbits score two contending points.
After playing a role in all four of Rabbit’s tries, he finished the match with 14 tackle busts and one line break.
He scored the home team with a front foot on his first attempt when he flicked a pass to Johnston before bouncing off dummy half on the next play.
He got the ball again late in the set before Damien Cook popped out of dummy-half.
Then, as the Rabbits trailed 8-6 early in the second half, Mitchell did everything to put his side back in the lead by scoring after a 10-metre scrum beating three Panthers. .
It all preceded his heroism in the final six minutes, re-emphasizing why he is one of South Sydney’s most important players of the century.
Ultimately, it was enough to cancel Crichton’s brilliance against Penrith and Jarom Luay’s threat on offense, giving the Panthers their third loss of the season and moving Rabbitt to provisional third on the ladder. rice field.
AAP
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-20/nrl-penrith-panthers-south-sydney-rabbitohs/102243570 South Sydney Rabbits launch second-half comeback to beat Penrith Panthers 20-18 in NRL Classic
