Western Suburbs Magpies have powered to a 42-24 victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 24 of the NSW Cup at Redfern Oval, overcoming an early deficit to run away with the points.
Match: Rabbitohs v Magpies
Round 24 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
13th Position
away Team
Magpies
8th Position
Venue: Redfern Oval, Sydney
Souths struck first in the 4th minute when winger Haizyn Mellars soared high to collect a bomb and score.
Three minutes later, Mellars again showcased his aerial skills, offloading brilliantly behind his head for second-rower Cody Kelso to crash over.
But the Magpies responded strongly, with Charlie Staines crossing in the 16th minute off a sharp cut-out pass from Brent Naden.
Momentum swung Wests’ way soon after when a spilled bomb deflected into the arms of hooker Tristan Hope, who scored under the posts.
Front-rower Peter Taateo then added to the tally off a short ball from Hope, putting the Magpies ahead 18-8.
Souths narrowed the gap through Mellars’ second try in the 29th minute, before a late penalty goal from Kurt Falls gave Wests a 20-12 half-time lead.
The Magpies continued their surge after the break.
A Souths error under a high ball allowed Elie El-Zakhem to offload for Luke Laulilii to score, before fullback Heath Mason broke the line off a clever inside pass from Falls to extend the lead.
Souths hit back through Fletcher Myers and prop Salesi Ataata, closing the gap to just eight points with 12 minutes to play.
But Wests had the final say.
Izaac Tu’itupou finished a slick left-edge movement in the 72nd minute, before a late offload from Hope sent Falls under the posts to seal the 42-24 win.
Adding to the occasion, teenage prop Christian Taupau-Moors made his NSW Cup debut, impressing against a big Souths pack.
Magpies 42 (Staines, Hope, Taateo, L. Laulilii, Mason, Tu'itupou, Falls tries; Falls 6/7 goals, L. Laulilii 1/1 goal) defeated Rabbitohs (Mellars 2, Kelso, Myers, Ataata tries; Humphries 2/5 goals) at Redfern Oval.
