Rabbits take the win at Telstra Stadium
South Sydney produced a spirited defensive effort to fend off North Queensland's late advances and clinch a thrilling 20-14 victory at Telstra Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Rabbitohs centre Nigel Vagana produced the telling play with little more than a minute left on the clock when he jarred the ball loose in a tackle to force a North Queensland turnover.
Winger Fetuli Talanao then saw out the contest after the full-time siren had sounded when he pounced on a last-gasp Matthew Bowen kick to ensure victory and breathe life into the Rabbitohs' season.
Determined not to let another winning opportunity slip past them after falling short in Parramatta last Sunday, the Rabbitohs youngsters laid the platform for the victory with exciting trio Eddie Paea, Isaac Luke and Ben Rogers all scoring tries for the hosts.
Nathan Merritt added two conversions and two penalty goals, his last two-pointer putting the Rabbitohs out by a converted try with just five minutes remaining.
The Cowboys pressed hard in the final stages in search of the six points required to force the match into golden point extra-time but they were let down by a wayward Johnathan Thurston pass in a strong attacking position.
North Queensland's final opportunity was thwarted by Vagana's courageous effort, the visitors' numerous attempts to add to their three tries from Ashley Graham, Bowen and Scott Minto ultimately proving to be futile.
The six-point result lifts the Rabbitohs into ninth position and just one win outside the top eight, while the Cowboys can hold on to fourth spot if the Eels defeat the Broncos on Monday night.
South Sydney: 20 (E Paea, I Luke, B Rogers tries; N Merritt 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
North Queensland: 14 (A Graham, M Bowen, S Minto tries; J Thurston conversion)
On a more personal note: good work guys, you played a good game!
*diclaimer-information from abc news artile*
Rabbitohs centre Nigel Vagana produced the telling play with little more than a minute left on the clock when he jarred the ball loose in a tackle to force a North Queensland turnover.
Winger Fetuli Talanao then saw out the contest after the full-time siren had sounded when he pounced on a last-gasp Matthew Bowen kick to ensure victory and breathe life into the Rabbitohs' season.
Determined not to let another winning opportunity slip past them after falling short in Parramatta last Sunday, the Rabbitohs youngsters laid the platform for the victory with exciting trio Eddie Paea, Isaac Luke and Ben Rogers all scoring tries for the hosts.
Nathan Merritt added two conversions and two penalty goals, his last two-pointer putting the Rabbitohs out by a converted try with just five minutes remaining.
The Cowboys pressed hard in the final stages in search of the six points required to force the match into golden point extra-time but they were let down by a wayward Johnathan Thurston pass in a strong attacking position.
North Queensland's final opportunity was thwarted by Vagana's courageous effort, the visitors' numerous attempts to add to their three tries from Ashley Graham, Bowen and Scott Minto ultimately proving to be futile.
The six-point result lifts the Rabbitohs into ninth position and just one win outside the top eight, while the Cowboys can hold on to fourth spot if the Eels defeat the Broncos on Monday night.
South Sydney: 20 (E Paea, I Luke, B Rogers tries; N Merritt 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
North Queensland: 14 (A Graham, M Bowen, S Minto tries; J Thurston conversion)
On a more personal note: good work guys, you played a good game!
*diclaimer-information from abc news artile*