Latrell Mitchell bagged a hat-trick in his 150th NRL game as the Rabbitohs smashed the Bulldogs 50-16 in the annual Good Friday clash at Accor Stadium.
It looked like it could have been the Dogs’ day when Jake Averillo sprinted 90 metres to score a try off a scrum in the third minute.
But things took a turn soon after when star winger Josh Addo-Carr was carried off the field with an ankle injury.
That opened the door for the Rabbitohs to attack the Bulldogs’ depleted left edge as Mitchell crossed for two almost identical tries in three minutes. He got his third 15 minutes into the second half.
It went from bad to worse for the Bulldogs as breakout star Jacob Preston was sin-binned for a hip-drop, but that didn’t dampen Matt Burton’s spirits, who stopped a fourth try to Mitchell as he intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field to score his second of the afternoon.
South Sydney put the icing on the cake when Campbell Graham crossed for his third of the afternoon — off a stunning ball from Mitchell — in the 78th minute.
HAT-TRICK HERO LATRELL STUNS IN MILESTONE MATCH
Latrell Mitchell celebrated his 150th NRL game in spectacular style, bagging a hat-trick and scoring 26 of the Rabbitohs’ 50 points.
Mitchell scored two tries in three minutes in the first half and added a third in the 66th minute. He also set up two tries, got two linebreak assists, four tackle busts and ran for 146 running metres.
It came after coach Jason Demetriou said before the game that he wanted the star fullback’s “hands on the ball a bit earlier” in the game.
Mitchell got his first after trailing in support of Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson before diving over the line untouched.
The Rabbitohs noticed the weakness on the Dogs’ left edge with Josh Addo-Carr sidelined so attacked down the same side with Mitchell crossing again in an almost identical try.
“Don’t poke the guy when he’s under pressure and have a look at this two tries in three minutes — he’s turned this game on its head,” Cooper Cronk said in commentary.
And then he went in again after hanging in support of Jed Cartwright.
“Latrell Mitchell knows where the ball is going to be and this afternoon he’s just finishing off all the breaks. All good fullbacks sniff an opportunity and he’s been there all afternoon,” Cronk said.
Speaking to Fox League after the game, Mitchell called it a “pretty special” game but didn’t want to make the fanfare about himself.
“I just did my job plain and simple. I did it for the team, humble in our wins and humble in our defeats. It was special,” he said.
“A lot of players went out and played their hearts out — that’s what the South Sydney Rabbitohs do.”
Asked if the occasion of his 150th game had sunk in Mitchell said: “Nah I’ve got 20 rounds to go.”
DOGS INJURY WOES GET EVEN WORSE
Just when the Bulldogs thought their injury woes couldn’t possibly get any worse they did when star winger Josh Addo-Carr was carried off the field 10 minutes into the game with an ankle injury.
Addo-Carr suffered the injury when he fell awkwardly while pulling up a chase for the ball. He stayed down clutching at his knee with Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane saying he looked to be in “awful pain.”
It turned out to be an ankle concern as a trainer was seen strapping his foot but Addo-Carr couldn’t play on and was carried into the sheds with what was reported as a possible syndesmosis injury.
He joins a long list of Bulldogs players already on the sideline. Viliame Kikau and Raymond Faitala-Mariner missed Friday’s game due to concussions, Nu Brown dislocated his elbow in Round 4 and Franklin Pele fractured his forearm in Round 5. Meanwhile, Tevita Pangai Junior (calf), Chris Patolo (knee), Bailey Biondi-Odo (knee) and Luke Thompson (foot) haven’t played a game this season.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo was forced to dig deep into his playing stocks just to fill the 17. Train-and-trial player Harrison Edwards started at lock and young forward Sam Hughes debuted off the bench. Meanwhile, four-game rookie Kurtis Morrin featured off the bench and Jackson Topine played his first NRL game of the season.
Cooper Cronk said the Bulldogs’ defence had “fallen to pieces” in the final 10 minutes of the second half as the Rabbitohs piled on tries but commentator Dan Ginnane said it’s “obvious” that “all the injuries are taking their toll.”
And the Dogs’ depth looks set to take another hit with young gun Jacob Preston facing time on the sidelines after being sin-binned for a hip-drop.
SOUTHS’ SPINE SIZZLES
Latrell Mitchell wasn’t the only member of the Rabbitohs’ spine to shine with halves Cody Walker and Lachlan Ilias as well as hooker Damien Cook all setting up tries in the 50-16 win.
Walker was especially potent with the veteran five-eighth finishing with a try, two try assists, a linebreak, four linebreak assists, five tackle busts and 51 running metres.
Cooper Cronk pointed out that that “whenever a try is scored Cody Walker seems to be the guy delivering the final pass.”
Walker’s experience was on show when he set up Campbell Graham for his first of three tries.
“That is beautiful to watch from Cody Walker and the right edge of South Sydney,” Cronk said.
“The passing ability to read the defence at the last minute. He had the numbers, he waited for Paul Alamoti to show his cue that he wanted to jam in and threw the ball straight across his face and Campbell Graham didn’t have to break stride.
“That is top-shelf ball-playing form the five-eighth”
While Cameron Murray didn’t technically record a try assist, the ball-playing lock played an integral role in several tries — especially in the first half.
“Cameron Murray is in electric form through the middle third and his ball-playing,” Cronk said.
“The threat to go into the line and create space for his halves out the back of his shape is outstanding play. While all the try-scorers get the raps, Cameron Murray has got the golden touch.”
TEAMS
Bulldogs: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Corey Waddell 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harrison Edwards 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Kurtis Morrin 17. Jackson Topine 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Reece Hoffman
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Taane Milne 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 16. Davvy Moale 17. Hame Sele 18. Michael Chee Kam
