NRL Good Friday: Bulldogs take on desperate Rabbitohs, Broncos ...
Here's all the big moments from the first Good Friday clash - if Souths can keep that left edge going every week they'll do their chances of winning no harm at all. It was a terrific display from Wighton, even accounting for his inexplicable error in the clear in the second half.
South Sydney have alleviated the pressure on under-fire coach Jason Demetriou by securing a face-saving 20-16 win over Canterbury.
Staring down the barrel of a fourth straight defeat to start the season, Souths overturned a slender halftime deficit to then hold on for victory at Stadium Australia.
It came on an at-times dramatic Good Friday, with the Bulldogs losing winger Josh Addo-Carr to a sickening 40th-minute concussion.
Charging down the left touchline, Addo-Carr's head was collected by Latrell Mitchell's leg as the Rabbitohs fullback came across in cover defence.
At that time the Dogs led 12-10, but Cameron Ciraldo's men were unable to add any points in the second half.
The win marked only Souths' fifth in 17 matches, with the club's form slump dating back to midway through last year when they at one stage sat atop the ladder.
And it was largely done on the back of their dangerous left edge.
Jack Wighton scored a double for the Rabbitohs, while Alex Johnston and Mitchell were also influential.
It was in that fashion South Sydney burst out to an early 10-0 lead, with Mitchell heavily involved early while being jeered by sections of the Canterbury-heavy crowd.
After Tom Burgess scored the Rabbitohs' first through a gaping hole in the middle, Mitchell and Johnston combined in the lead up to Souths' second.
Scooping up a long kick from Matt Burton, Mitchell got the ball away to Johnston who found space and helped the Rabbitohs break 80 metres down field.
From the ensuing attacking raid, it was Wighton who bagged his first when he went over at left centre.
And when the Bulldogs took the lead at 12-10, it was Wighton and Johnston who again combined after the break.
Wighton managed to put his winger into space, before he loomed up on the inside in support to score.
Souths resisted several second-half attacking raids, only relenting late after two penalty goals had given them an eight-point buffer.
It was hardly pretty from the Rabbitohs, but it was desperately needed.
Earlier, it had been Canterbury who looked the more dangerous with their own left edge threatening.
Burton scored their first when he hit a deep-running Viliame Kikau, who put Addo-Carr into space before Burton popped up on the inside to score.
Burton also kicked a booming 40-20 in the lead up to the Bulldogs' second, before Blake Taaffe stepped around Wighton and put on a pinpoint perfect chip-kick for Connor Tracey.
Kurtis Morrin had a chance to put them 18-10 up before the break, but he dropped the ball as he charged over the line.
And from there the Dogs' attack ran out of gas when it mattered most, leaving both sides with one win from their opening four games.
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There's a spread to the right that looks promising for Canterbury and they're close enough for Burton to launch one of his crazy bombs but Mitchell takes it and that's the game. Souths are off the mark for 2024!
Crichton makes some metres down the right, Chee Kam puts in a second effort and gives away a penalty, Crichton taps quickly and goes again to Tracey who scores. Burton misses the kick and the Dogs will have one play to score a miracle.
The Dogs catch their own kick off and hope is alive....until Mahoney throws a short ball that Hughes drops. That'll be the game you'd think.
An error from Taaffe on a kick return might be the death blow against Canterbury. Mitchell forces a drop out with a grubber and the Bulldogs have to go short and hope...and it's a disaster, Tracey touches it before it goes ten metres and the Rabbitohs kick the goal and go up 20-12 with four minutes left.
The Rabbioths just completed a defensive stand that might win them the game - the Bulldogs had four sets in a row on their line, forcing two drop outs and getting a penalty, and Souths held fast. If they win, that's where they did it.
Tracey gets a penalty after Johnston takes him out after a chip kick. There's a fresh set once Kikau gets cracked by Milne off the ball. Feels like something is about to happen for Canterbury, they've worked their way back in the game.
And maybe it has - Kikau has plunged over but Salmon has obstructed Hawkins and it'll be disallowed. Souths penalty.
The Dogs get a fresh set in good ball after a high tackle on Salmon but Hutchinson takes them too sideways and Burton and Salmon mix things up off the back of it.
The Rabbitohs make a break almost straight away and Wighton's in the clear but he drops the ball for no reason. Crazy passage of play!
Unbelievably given how groggy he looked, Preston has passed his HIA and he'll be back out there. In the mean time, the Rabbitohs have lost their challenge after they wanted a change to a ruling on a kick chase.
The Bulldogs get pinged for offside and Mitchell takes the easy two to extend their lead to 18-12.
Kiraz, Crichton and Burton link up off a 20 metre restart and Burton's away - only Mitchell, standing incredibly deep, stops him scoring. From there the Bulldogs don't quite get it back and Morrin drops it to let Souths off the hook. It's end to end stuff right now and Morrin compounds his error with a spear tackle on Murray. He's on report and in the bin and Souths are on the attack.
Shaq Mitchell brings it back hard off the kick-off and his shoulder goes right into Preston's head and the Bulldog is out for the count. He's sitting up now, but that'll be the end of his afternoon.
Souths strike from deep in their own end - Wighton gets on the outside of Crichton and finds Johnston, who outpaces Tracey and finds Wighton backing up in support to score next to the posts. That's Wighton's second, he looks a lot better for the run after last week, and Mitchell converts for Souths to lead 16-12.
Souths recieve the kick off and they go through straight away as Cook knifes through the centre! The cover brings him down and Souths can't capitalize on it, but still - what a start!
Canterbury have a final attacking raid, with Hutchinson and Tracey nearly linking up for a try but their last chance falls short when Addo-Carr gets stopped short of the corner.
Mitchell came across and his hip got Addo-Carr in the head and Addo-Carr is down. He's back from a shoulder injury today and doesn't look anywhere near 100 per cent.
A penalty puts Canterbury on the attack again and Morrin hits an inside ball really hard and seems to have slammed it down under the posts but the referee rules he's knocked it on just short. Replays show it's the right call. Souths are praying for halftime.
Burton kicks a 40/20 to put the Bulldogs back on the attack and then Taafe finds Tracey with a kick of his own and the former Rabbitoh does very well to catch it, twist through the tackle of Johnston and score! Canterbury are back level...no, they're not, they're in front cause Burton has kicked it from touch. Bulldogs up 12-10.
Mann gets hit high by Shaq Mitchell on the 4th tackle and the Bulldogs will get another attacking set.
A set restart and a Souths knock on helps them build pressure and Kikau tries to plunge over from dummy half but he's held up. Mann almost slithers through and he pops a pass to Preston who strains against the defence but puts it down as he's pushing for the line. There's a suggestion of a hip drop but the ref says play on.
After a good set where the Bulldogs change the point of attack and get a couple of offloads going they sweep down their left, Kikau puts Addo-Carr away down the sideline and he's got Burton in support down the middle for the try. Much better attack, that's more of what Canterbury need. Burton converts his own try and he narrows the gap to 10-6.
