A rollercoaster week has ended in defeat for the Dolphins as the team fell short by two points in a thrilling second half against former coach Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs.
Originally set to take place in Queensland, the Dolphins took to the field at CommBank Stadium with concerns around the landfall of Cyclone Alfred in the back of their minds.
But the nail-biting match did not come without its own concerns for the Rabbitohs, with one star forced back under an injury cloud while another awaits a result from being placed on report.
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Tyrone Munro and Cody Walker. Getty
Kristian Woolf’s men posed a tough challenge to South Sydney in the opening 40 minutes but were unable to withhold to power and agility of young winger Tyrone Munro.
Munro could not be stopped by visiting defenders as he crossed the line twice in 15 minutes to give the Rabbitohs an 12-4 lead into the break.
But the 20-year-old’s sensational first half efforts were absent in the second as he was forced off the field with a collarbone injury.
In what was a brutal blow for South Sydney, concern remains around the stability and severity of Munro’s injury given he underwent collarbone surgery last season.
Tyrone Munro sits on the bench after suffering a collarbone injury. Nine
Another concern for Bennett’s men emerged in the 60th minute as Jack Wighton was placed on report for a raised forearm in a tackle.
Wighton will await the match review committee’s report tomorrow, with his elbow appearing to make contact with Daniel Saifiti’s head.
Saifiti was forced off the field following the incident and was unable to return, having already undergone an HIA earlier in the match.
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Cody Walker of the Rabbitohs reacts with team mates after securing victory in round one. Getty
Earlier, the Dolphins took advantage of the changing Rabbitohs line, electing to lift the intensity and pressure on the wing in Munro’s absence.
Isaiya Katoa and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow teamed up on the edge to find a steaming Jamayne Isaako ready to pounce for his second try of the night.
“That is bread and butter for the Hammer when he gets in those situations,” Billy Slater said on Nine.
‘Too much speed and too much class.”
Isaako attempted to convert his effort in bid to narrow the score but was unsuccessful.
Katoa engineered a try opportunity for Max Plath in the 52nd minute to push ahead of South Sydney, but the lead was short-lived as Isaiah Tass crossed moments later.
“Everyone was performing their role (to set Tass up),” Slater said.
“He goes in in the corner and the Bunnies are back in front.”
The Rabbitohs looked to have sealed the scores in dying moments of the game but were denied the four points by the Bunker due to a strip in the build up to the try.
But the denied points proved to be of little concern for the home side as the final whistle blew with the score in their favour.
While the result was not the desired outcome for the Dolphins, the team was given some high-anticipated news that they would not be stranded in Sydney in wake of Cyclone Alfred.
The club confirmed that a charter flight had been organised to get the team home on Saturday morning.
