Rookie Rabbitohs run over Warriors
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Rabbitohs rejoice... Souths won their first match against the Warriors since 1999. (Getty Images: Phil Walter)
South Sydney pulled off only its second win of the season with a shock 35-28 win over the Warriors in the opening NRL clash of round 13 at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday evening.
In a see-sawing affair the Rabbits, led by debutants Chris Sandow and Jamie Simpson, showed the type of attacking prowess that has eluded them all season, with Souths' goal kicking separating the sides, who scored six tries apiece.
The victory was the Rabbitohs' first against New Zealand since 1999 while also denying the Warriors back-to-back wins after they clinched their first away win of the season last week.
Not only did Souths power to an emphatic victory, they did it after going down 14-0 inside the first 15 minutes when all signs pointed to the Rabbits being cooked like a traditional Maori hangi.
But to the surprise of the New Zealand faithful, Souths responded with three converted tries to take an unlikely 18-14 half-time lead.
The lead stretched to eight points when full-back Luke Capewell crossed following a terrible line drop-out before the Warriors mounted a comeback of their own to ignite a tumultuous second half.
Another three-try burst in eight minutes, including a third for winger Michael Crockett, had the hosts on top again, but their wayward kicking and sloppy handling proved their undoing as they could only open up a 28-22 gap.
Souths prop Luke Stuart made the Warriors pay when he crossed to equal the ledger once again before a four-pointer to Ben Lowe and the trusty boot of Sandow guided the Rabbitohs to a match-winning lead with seven minutes to play.
Sandow added the icing with a field goal in the dying stages to condemn the Warriors to their second consecutive loss at home.
Rabbitohs: 35 (J Simpson, F Talanoa, M Manuokafoa, L Capewell, L Stuart, B Lowe tries; I Luke 3, C Sandow 2 conversions, Sandow field goal)
Warriors: 28 (M Crockett 3, P Ah Van, A Kirk, J Ropati tries; P Ah Van, L Hohaia conversion)
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