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28 Jun 2003 Turn the clock back and South Sydney are the most successful club in the Australian league premiership. One of the eight foundation clubs in 1908, Souths have won 20 premierships, including the first, and have finished second in 12 seasons, but the last time they made their mark was in 1971. Since then, they have had money worries, management worries, coaching worries and player worries. The high-profile businessmen and politicians of Group 14, who took over the board with Rabbitohs' icon George Piggins, have yet to turn the club around. Once more, the plan is to go into the market to secure a winning team. Former player Terry Hermansson, now the coaching director for the Canterbury Rugby League, feels they need to buy a couple of key players, especially an international frontrower and a smart halfback or five-eighth. But, he said, the problem was that the club had a losing culture. "Winning is a habit - you know what it takes, you know you can push yourself a bit more, and you're confident that if you stick to your structure and do the little things right, the game will flow your way eventually. "Losing is the same - you start to expect it. Little things don't go your way and you don't even notice it, but your body language starts to help the opposition. Your head drops a bit and then your effort drops. "It might only be two or three per cent, but it comes in critical areas of the game, in effort areas, not chasing a kick that goes past you or something. "You're thinking, 'here we go, we're going to get beaten again'." New coach Paul Langmack appears to have won the job on the basis of a couple of reasonable efforts by the team when he was caretaker after Craig Coleman had been dumped. It was no way to make the decision. Players can lift for a game or two, but then the culture sets in again. The best candidate was former Gold Coast coach Phil Economidis, but he didn't even get an interview. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3509847&thesection=sport&thesubsection=rugbyleague 26 Jun 2003 South Sydney captain Bryan Fletcher played a defining cameo role for New South Wales in last night's second and series-deciding State of Origin match. Fletcher, who didn’t play in the Blues' win in the opening match in Brisbane, came into the side once Newcastle prop Josh Perry had been suspended. Once 29-year-old Fletcher made the move from premiers, the Sydney Roosters, to Souths, it was thought he had been put out to pasture but the former backrower showed he had not lost his offloading ability when he released centre Jamie Lyon into a gap that resulted in a try to fullback Anthony Minichiello, giving the Blues a psychologically damaging 16-0 lead. "The first half set it up for us," said Fletcher. "And we shut them out in the second half. That was the main thing Gus (coach Phil Gould) spoke about [at half time]." But Fletcher's 13th Origin appearance did come with a piece of bad luck: he was forced from the field soon after Minichiello's try with a hamstring injury. The New South Wales training staff immediately took Fletcher up the player's tunnel and gave him some intensive treatment, hoping to put him back out on the field. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=47135 22 Jun 2003 Recently returned winger Nathan Blacklock registered a hat trick of tries in St George Illawarra's 34-20 win over South Sydney at WIN Stadium – the Dragons second victory over Souths this season. Blacklock showed he has not lost the scoring touch that saw top the NRL's try scoring list for three successive seasons and he has now scored five tries in two first grade games. The Rabbitohs might have told a different story had they not made errors at crucial moments but the Dragons had control of the match from the outset. Souths were not far off the hunt for a fair portion of the first half and some of the second as scores were tied at 6-6 midway through the first forty minutes before Blacklock's first helped give St George Illawarra a 14-6 halftime lead. A try early in the second period from Mark Minichiello meant that South Sydney were back within two points before the home side pulled away. Tries to Brett Firman, Blacklock for a second time and Lance Thompson gave the Dragons a stranglehold on the match. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=47107 St George Illawarra 34 South Sydney 20 NATHAN BLACKLOCK scored a brilliant hat-trick to lead St George Illawarra to victory over South Sydney in an eventful match at WIN Stadium. Blacklock crushed the Rabbitohs' hopes of posting rare back-to-back victories with trademark strikes in the 36th, 54th and 77th minutes. It was the former Test winger's eighth try in five games since making his comeback to league following his dalliance with rugby union. He scored in three premier league matches in a row before almost being the hero for St George Illawarra with a double on his return to the top grade in last week's last-second defeat at Newcastle. It was also Blacklock's seventh hat-trick for the Dragons joint venture. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6633878%255E23209,00.html 18 Jun 2003 The theory: A footballer must play at a successful club, preferably a premiership contender, to attract the attention of State of Origin selectors. The exception: Bryan Fletcher. Barely a day after earning his 13th NSW call-up - his first since joining the embattled Rabbitohs - Fletcher admitted to feeling an additional sense of pride. Already this season the South Sydney skipper has watched one-time teammate Chris Walker leave the club in preference for the Roosters, supposedly to improve his representative chances. But having made the opposite move over the off-season, switching from the defending premiers to lead the Rabbitohs, Fletcher now feels that myth has been dispelled. "You always hear that selectors look at sides going well, and that's the way it's always been," Fletcher said. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/17/1055828330740.html 17 Jun 2003 Peters back but Walker gets another run at halfback Willie Peters has been passed fit to take the field for the South Sydney Rabbitohs but he has been named on the bench for this weekend's match against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Souths' coach Paul Langmack has preferred former Brisbane Broncos' hooker Shane Walker to Peters in the starting role at the scrumbase, maintaining the halves combination that saw them defeat the Melbourne Storm ten days ago. Peters has been out for more than a fortnight with shoulder and facial injuries, which he suffered the last time these two sides met – at the Sydney Cricket Ground in round eleven. The Rabbitohs have had a week off, with the bye, since scoring the upset win over Melbourne but they also welcome second rower Justin Smith back into the side, who has been recovering from medial ligament injury. Souths new signing Luke MacDougall won't walk straight into the starting line up this weekend but both the club and player are hoping he will see some time in first grade very soon. MacDougall has moved to the Rabbitohs after spending the beginning of this season with Brisbane's Queensland Cup feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales. “We feel that Luke MacDougall is an immensely talented young player,” said Rabbitohs' CEO David Tapp. “Luke comes from a very illustrious rugby league family and has returned to Sydney to get an opportunity here at Souths. “We welcome him to the Club for the rest of the 2003 season, with a club option for a second year with South Sydney http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=47092 ONE of rugby league's hardest men, South Sydney legend John Sattler, was reduced to tears yesterday after his son Scott was selected to debut for Queensland in Origin II. The ball-playing Penrith lock was one of three debutants chosen in the Maroons squad to meet NSW when the series goes on the line in Sydney next Wednesday. Sattler, 31, will become the oldest Origin rookie since Arthur Beetson led Queensland to victory in 1980. His father John will forever be remembered for playing in the famous Souths 1970 grand final win over Manly with a broken jaw. "Dad was in tears – I thought I was happy until I spoke to him," Scott said. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6608238%255E2771,00.html South Sydney captain Bryan Fletcher says he is thrilled to be back in the New South Wales State of Origin side. Fletcher received the call-up after Newcastle prop Josh Perry was ruled out of next week's second match in Sydney due to suspension. Fletcher says is grateful selectors did not take South Sydney's poor season into account when choosing the squad. The Rabbitohs skipper says he is in better form this year than he was when playing for the Blues in 2002 and 200, despite South Sydney being on the bottom of the National Rugby League ladder. "Obviously we haven't had the best of years but I mean coming into this training, training with these guys it does prepare you because they're so good quality of players," he said. "I just have to worry about myself rather than at Souths where being the captain I suppose I've got a few more things on my mind." Perry, meanwhile, says he is devastated to miss Origin II. "I'm absolutely shattered", he said http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s881834.htm 16 Jun 2003 Fletch gets the call as Perry cops plea South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Bryan Fletcher has been called into the New South Wales State of Origin squad after Newcastle prop entered guilty pleas for two judiciary charges. Fletcher will join the New South Wales squad immediately while prop Perry has gone into hiding since making the announcement. Newcastle coach Michael Hagan has given Perry two days off training after the prop plead guilty to a grade one careless high tackle and a grade one striking charge from Friday night win over St George Illawarra. "I'm absolutely shattered", Perry said after entering the plea. "I had one of the best weeks of my life last week it's the sort of thing you play football for, and now I will be watching from the sideline." "I will be doing my best in the next couple of games for Newcastle to make sure I'm picked for Game 3," he added. Perry's early guilty plea for both charges earned 67 demerit points per charge plus he had 50 carry over point from a previous offence, meaning he had accumulated 184 demerit – more than enough for a one match suspension. New South Wales had earlier ruled out adopting the ploy carried out by Queensland last year when they left a position "unselected" while Lote Tuqiri served a one match suspension for the Broncos and then after the suspension was served included the winger in the side. Fletcher, a previous New South Wales representative, may count himself lucky to be selected ahead of Manly back rower Steve Menzies, who travelled with the Blues as an emergency reserve for Origin I. New South Wales will finalise their squad for Origin II on Wednesday when injuries to a number of players become clear. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=47088 Former Test rugby league front rower Mark Carroll has come to the aid of a man who had a seizure while sitting next to him on a plane. Carroll, who was dozing when the man began having an epileptic seizure, said at first he did not realise what was happening. "I was sitting in the front exit seat near the door and unfortunately this gentleman started having a seizure," Carroll said after landing in Sydney. "I looked up and he'd bitten his tongue and there was blood pouring from his mouth. "I thought he was attacking me at first - I mean, he was a 100kg bloke - he looked like he was about to collapse so I helped him to the ground." The man was travelling with a nurse, who was in the aircraft toilet at the time of his seizure. She returned immediately and dealt with her patient, who was met by an ambulance when the aircraft landed. "She was really good, unbelievable," Carroll said. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?ArticleID=5919 15 Jun 2003 WHEN Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe excused himself from a dinner with South Sydney players at a recent bonding session, the Rabbitohs had no idea what was to happen next. As they cleaned up the last of their expensive meals in a private room at the swank W Hotel in Woolloomooloo, the players looked up to see the Hollywood star approaching them with a dusty old football tucked under his arm. They were then challenged by their 39-year-old host to a game of "knee footy". What was to happen next was extraordinary. Crowe and the players dropped to their knees and turned on one of the most physical games of rugby league seen in Sydney since last year's grand final. This included Crowe, an unabashed Rabbitohs fan, being put into a wall in a fierce driving tackle, believed to be the product of Souths captain Bryan Fletcher. A game of cricket also broke out, no doubt inspired by earlier motivational talks by legendary duo Shane Warne and Merv Hughes, who were flown to Sydney by Crowe to speak to the players at dinner. A table leg was used as a cricket bat and staff were asked to move all furniture out of the room. The night ended after 3am, with Crowe picking up the meal and drinks bill of around $15,000. With footballs being kicked around there was inevitable damage done to the room, with a similar bill paid for immediately by Crowe. The Gladiator star, who owns a $14 million apartment upstairs from the bar, returned the next day to give all staff who worked that night a $400 tip. Three days later the Rabbitohs went out and played their best football of the season, thrashing hot favourites Melbourne by 41-14 at Aussie Stadium. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6596465%255E2771,00.html 13 Jun 2003 The Allight South Sydney Rabbitohs have secured rising star Brett Kearney for a further three National Rugby League seasons. Kearney, 19, has been employed primarily in the dummy half and halfback roles for Rabbitohs coach Paul Langmack during NRL season 2003, his first in South Sydney colours. The Kincumber product and former North Sydney Bear has impressed many with his speed, enthusiasm, and utility play - as either a starter or off the bench - in the nine first grade games he has played for the club. Souths CEO David Tapp sees a bright future for Kearney and the Rabbitohs. "I'm delighted to announce that Brett Kearney has re-signed with the South Sydney Club until the end of the 2006 NRL season," said Tapp. "Brett has shown in just nine first grade games that he is a tremendously talented young player with a very big future in the game. "We envisage possible representative football for Brett in later years and feel that he will be an important building block in restoring the Rabbitohs to the upper echelons of the NRL," Tapp concluded. http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=384 8 Jun 2003 THE words of inspiration that led South Sydney to their best win since returning to the NRL last year came from an unlikely source: disgraced Australian Test cricketer Shane Warne. Serving a one-year ban for failing a drugs test, Warne addressed the Rabbitohs during a team dinner at a restaurant in Woolloomooloo on Thursday night on the invite of actor and avid Rabbitohs' supporter Russell Crowe. Souths weren't about to credit all of their crushing 27-point win over Melbourne at Aussie Stadium yesterday to the king of spin or their most high-profile and visible supporter. But the Rabbitohs admitted Warne, who has had his share of problems, and Crowe helped put Souths back on the winning path after just one win this season. Rabbitohs five-eighth Owen Craigie said Warne's message was simple: to relax, enjoy playing the game and appreciate the opportunity it offers. "He gave a talk about enjoying yourself, that a lot of people would love to be in our position," said Craigie, who clearly enjoyed his game. The skilful five-eighth featured in the lead-up to nearly every try and outpointed Melbourne Test opponent Scott Hill. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6566001%255E2722,00.html Something to crow about Rugby league will never be the stuff of Hollywood movies, but the two Russells gave South Sydney's win yesterday a touch of feelgood drama, write Steve Mascord and Brad Walter. As South Sydney rampaged to their biggest victory since returning to top-flight rugby league yesterday, actor Russell Crowe leant over and told coach Paul Langmack he would make him famous. That was in the Rabbitohs' enclosure on the western side of Aussie Stadium. Forty rows back and a little to the left, Souths' loyal fans were queuing up to hurl abuse at the Melbourne coaching box and trying to catch a glimpse of the expansion team's managing director, Super League architect John Ribot. As they pointed and shouted, it must have looked like a scene from a particularly aggressive silent movie to Storm coach Craig Bellamy and assistant Greg Brentnall, who were behind sound-proofed glass. The scoreline, South Sydney 41 Melbourne 14, was of greater concern to them, however. Langmack said of Crowe: "He thinks he's a supercoach now. He's just said to me, 'You're going to be famous now, all around the world". I said, 'Really?' and he said, 'I'll make sure I get you in all the magazines'. That's all he said." Crowe had taken the Rabbitohs to dinner on Thursday night to the W Hotel at Woolloomoloo - his new home. Suspended cricketer Shane Warne had also spoken to the last- placed sentimental favourites in the days after their round-12 flogging by Parramatta. But much as celebrity-watchers would like Crowe to have evoked his Gladiator role in a stirring speech or shown them the gory bits of Romper Stomper, the Oscar winner said "not much at all", according to Souths skipper Bryan Fletcher. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/08/1055010876653.html 8 Jun 2003 The South Sydney Rabbitohs have secured their second win of the season with a convincing 41 – 14 victory over top eight side, the Melbourne Storm at Aussie Stadium today. With Souths on a seven game losing streak, the victory would be a huge confidence booster to the Redfern based club. With the scores locked at 14 – 14 at half time, the game clearly could of gone either way, but Souths showed clear determination to rip apart a Melbourne outfit which didn’t show up past the 40 minute mark. Souths winger Kativerata dominated the first half, with tries in the 12th, 29th and 39th minute to give his side their 14 points. Melbourne’s tries came off some Scott Hill brilliance who had signed with the Storm for another five years, sending Marcus Bai over in the 4th minute and Matt Geyer over in the 15th. The other try of the first half came off a Nathan Merritt drop ball which was scooped up by Kirk Reynoldson, who crossed in the 18th minute. The Rabbits continued their momentum they gained at the end of the first half, and with Luke Stuart and Nathan Merritt both crossing, they raced to a 24 – 14 lead in the 54th minute. The Storm paniced and in the end just handed over the ball to the Rabbitohs. Prop Andrew Hart and fullback, Brad Watts, capitalised with both scoring a double, and Owen Craigie made sure the game was beyond doubt kicking a field goal with 15 minutes to spare. http://nrl.rleague.com/news/index.php?id=12216 The Allight South Sydney Rabbitohs have claimed their second scalp of the 2003 NRL season, with a dominating 41-14 victory over the Melbourne Storm at Aussie Stadium. The Rabbitohs ran away with the match in the second half, after trailing Melbourne 14-6 at one stage during the first stanza. In their best performance of the year many Rabbitohs stood out, with Owen Craigie, Jamie Fitzgerald, and hat trick hero Wise Kativerata particularly impressive. The match began badly for the Storm, prop Kirk Reynoldson was placed on report in the 4th minute for a spear tackle on Russell Richardson. Soon after though Melbourne took the lead, re-signed five eighth Scott Hill put Steve Bell into space, and he drew the defence of Rabbitohs fullback Brad Watts to put Marcus Bai over under the posts. Matt Orford added the extras, making the score 6-0 after five minutes. In the 12th minute Souths hit back through winger Wise Kativerata, after Shane Walker and Andrew Hart linked up well on the right to suck in Melbourne’s defence. Owen Craigie added the extras from the sideline to tie up the scores at 6 apiece. http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=376 Rabbitohs record worst start to season since 1946 Paul Langmack's South Sydney side is off to its worst start to a season since 1946, but the Rabbitohs have $1 million to spend in the off-season to turn things around. And if that wasn't bad enough, they were forced to drop centre David Fa'alogo this week because he failed to front for a training session on Thursday. The Rabbitohs have just one win from 12 games, their sole victory being over the Tigers. In 1946, they lost 14 of 14 and in 1945, they won just one of 14 games. Souths CEO David Tapp said he was unaware of the statistic. "I didn't realise that, that's not great," he said. "When I first came into the job I wasn't aware of how difficult things would be for us, but we are sticking together and we will get through all of this. "I was speaking to [former Parramatta player] Jason Taylor at the football about the task we face and he was saying it can take years to turn something like this around. We had to start from scratch and now we have to realise that it will take a bit of time." Tapp said the club had a list of players it was aiming to sign with five-eighth being the Rabbitohs' main priority. "We've had some problems in the No. 6 and we have some options there," he said. "We will have some money to spend, probably only the Wests Tigers will have more and there are groups of players that we have identified." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/07/1054700444811.html A hat trick to winger Wise Kativerata has seen the South Sydney Rabbitohs win for the second time this season defeating the Melbourne Storm 41-14 at Aussie Stadium. The win signifies another achievement for the Rabbitohs as it is the first time they have ever beaten the Storm, since the Melbourne side came into the competition in 1998. Kativerata had completed the hat trick of tries by half time setting up a strong second half performance from Souths as they held the Storm scoreless. Melbourne five-eighth Scott Hill, who has just agreed to a new contract, seemed to be steering the Storm in the right direction as he guided his side to an early 10-6 lead, having a hand in Marcus Bai's and Matt Geyer's tries. When forward Kirk Reynoldson extended the Storm's lead before the halfway point of the first half, the pattern was becoming worryingly familiar for Souths. But Kativerata's second and third tries before halftime meant that the scores were locked at 14-all for the halftime break. The Rabbitohs then proceeded to run in six tries in the second half, Andrew Hart crossing twice, and five-eighth Owen Craigie iced the cake with a field goal when Souths were "only" 22 points up. Despite going close on several occasions, South Sydney have not won a match since round five when they defeated the Wests Tigers for the first win of the season. The Rabbitohs now have the bye next weekend and if the Parramatta Eels are unable to overcome the New Zealand Warriors in the coming round then Souths will draw level with them on the NRL ladder thanks to the two automatic competition points that come with a week off. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=47046 South Sydney scored a major upset and a major win with a 41-14 victory over the Melbourne Storm at Aussie Stadium only the club's second National Rugby League win of the season. The Rabbitohs scored five second-half tries, turning a 14-14 deadlock into a one-sided drubbing to record their biggest win since returning to the competition last season - and probably their most impressive. Winger Wise Kativerata scored a first-half hat-trick, five-eighth Owen Craigie had the Midas touch and the Rabbitohs' forward pack finished all over the Storm. http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,196177-2-19,00.html SOUTH SYDNEY played a perfect second half defeat Melbourne Storm at Aussie Stadium today - the club's second NRL win of the season. The Rabbitohs scored five second-half tries, turning a 14-14 deadlock into a one-sided drubbing to record their biggest win since returning to the competition last season - and probably their most impressive. Winger Wise Kativerata scored a first-half hat-trick, five-eighth Owen Craigie had the Midas touch and the Rabbitohs' forward pack finished all over the Storm. There was no hint today of what was coming in the opening 20 minutes, with the Storm making the perfect start. They completed their opening 13 sets of six and held onto a 14-6 lead at the midway point of the half before interchange forward Jamie Fitzgerald produced the defining moment of the match, a bone jarring tackle which forced a turnover. http://adserver.news.com.au/html.ng/site=sport§ion=nrl&adsize=300x250&pagepos=1 South Sydney has scored a surprise 41-14 win over Melbourne in the National Rugby League match played at the Sydney Football Stadium. Wise Kativerata scored a hat-trick as the Rabbitohs broke a seven-game losing streak. The bottom of the table Rabbitohs put in an impressive second half display after the two teams went to the break level at 14-14. The Storm, on the other hand, made too many mistakes and the Bunnies made them pay. Rabbitohs captain Bryan Fletcher led from the front while Shane Walker and Owen Craigie impressed in the halves. Melbourne gained the early advantage with a try to winger Marcus Bai in the fourth minute. Matt Orford added the extras to give the Storm a 6-0 lead. Kativerata responded for the Rabbitohs, posting the first of his three efforts in the 12th minute. Craigie kicked the conversion to see the Rabbitohs level at 6-6. Melbourne then the made the most of its opportunities, Matt Geyer (15th minute) and Kirk Reynoldson (18th minute) crossing for quick fire tries. http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s874892.htm 5 Jun 2003 Craig Field yesterday agreed to play the remainder of the season with Newtown but the Jets say his signing is not a backdoor entry to South Sydney for the former Rabbitohs, Manly and Wests Tigers playmaker. Field, who last played at NRL level three years ago before testing positive to cocaine, has been starring in the French competition for Pia Donkeys but returned home last month when their season ended. He will make his debut for the Jets on Saturday at Henson Park against a St George Illawarra premier league side that includes Nathan Blacklock on the wing. Newtown, who field teams in the premier league and Jim Beam Cup, have a close relationship with Souths, and former Test centre Russell Richardson plays for them, despite being under contract to the Rabbitohs. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/04/1054700278872.html RUGBY league halfback Craig Field yesterday signed with Newtown – opening the way for a return to his first club, South Sydney. The Jets, who play in the NSWRL Premier League, and Souths are affiliated and there is every chance the Rabbitohs might use Field this season. Injury has forced Souths coach Paul Langmack to name hooker Shane Walker as a makeshift halfback for Sunday's match against Melbourne. Field, 30, played A grade for Belrose in the Manly-Warringah junior league last Sunday after returning to Australia from a playing stint in France. A story in The Daily Telegraph alerted Newtown officials to Field's desire to play rugby league in Australia again. Field, an Alexandria Rovers junior, came into grade football with Souths in 1990 and played 84 first-grade matches before leaving for Manly in 1996. Newtown have been searching for a halfback since the club parted company with Darrell Trindall several weeks ago. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6544366%255E2771,00.html 3 Jun 2003 Death, Walker out to break hoodoo Shane Walker has been named at halfback and Jason Death at hooker as the South Sydney Rabbitohs try to break their hoodoo against the Melbourne Storm this weekend. Souths have never beaten the Storm since the Melbourne side joined the competition in the 1998 season. The record is helped by Souths' omission from the competition for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. For Walker, a former Brisbane Bronco, it will be the first time he has played in the number seven jersey and it will be Death's first start at hooker since Paul Langmack took over as coach of the club. The Rabbitohs have won only once this season, despite some near misses, and will be hoping to catch the Storm off-guard. The Storm has publicly declared their intention to keep their undefeated record against Souths intact. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=47028 SHANE Walker has become the fourth South Sydney halfback in as many weeks after being named in the No.7 jersey for Sunday's National Rugby League game against Melbourne. With Brett Kearney (fractured eye socket) and Willie Peters (shoulder) out of action, Walker has been moved from the hooker's spot for the clash with the in-form Storm at Aussie Stadium. http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,6538170-23214,00.html 1 Jun 2003 Parramatta winger Matt Petersen has crossed for a career-best four tries to spearhead the Eels’ comfortable 28-4 win over a disappointing South Sydney at Parramatta Stadium. Petersen crossed for two tries either side of half-time as Parramatta emphatically ended a five-game losing streak stretching back to round six. It was the Eels’ first home win since the round three triumph over Newcastle. Parramatta scored six tries to one and never looked in danger of defeat. The hosts led 16-0 at half-time after scoring three tries in an enterprising start to the match. Petersen opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he crossed out wide. He doubled his try tally nine minutes later when he trailed replacement David Vaealiki’s 50-metre break to score. Fullback Brett Hodgson killed off any hope of a Rabbitohs’ revival when he claimed a Michael Witt grubber to plant the ball down three minutes from half-time. Hodgson converted for a 16-0 lead. Petersen’s fellow winger Ashley Graham got into the act after the break, pouncing on Witt’s kick to extend Parramatta’s lead to 20-0. Souths finally troubled the scoreboard attendant shortly after when centre David Fa’alogo crossed for an unconverted try in the 53rd minute. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=39033 Four tries to winger, Matt Petersen, has seen the Eels absolutely destroy the South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 – 4 at Parramatta Stadium. The Eels hadn’t won a game in the Telstra Premiership since their victory over the Wests Tigers at Telstra Stadium as part of the Easter Double Header. Parramatta dominated the match, and never looked in trouble, scoring six tries to one. Their first came in the 10th minute, when Petersen went into fro his first in he corner. His second came in the 19th minute when he collected the ball as a support player to David Vaealiki, running 50 metres to score. Hodgson ensured that the Eels would go into the sheds at half time with a convincing lead, diving on a Michael Witt grubber in the 37th minute to put the scores at 16 – 0 at half time. The second half was similar to the first, with it all being Parramatta. Other winger, Ashley Graham, opened the scoring soon after the change of ends, pouncing on a Witt kick to make it 20 – 0, before Souths had their small moment of glory, when David Fa’alogo crossed for an unconverted try in the 53rd minute. Petersen ensured the match would be all Parramatta’s crossing for two more tries in the final quarter of the match. The victory is Parramatta's third for the 2003 season, meanwhile it is another loss for the Rabbitohs who must be wondering what they have to do to get some pride back in their jersey. http://nrl.rleague.com/news/index.php?id=12090 Rabbitohs second-rower Justin Smith left the field in the 25th minute with a leg injury. The Eels continued their roll in the second half and led 20-0 after winger Ashley Graham outleapt Damon Alley-Tovio to score off a Witt cross-field bomb. Souths finally got on the board after 52 minutes through centre David Fa'alogo, who caught an Owen Craigie bomb and then stretched out to plant the ball over the line to reduce the gap to 16 points. But Petersen capped a memorable night when he scored further tries in the 61st and 69th minutes to bury the Rabbitohs. He counted four tries on his hand for the cameras when he scored off a John Morris grubber with 11 minutes remaining. http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,194481-2-19,00.html |
