Rabbitohs rampage rudderless Raiders

South Sydney have moved into second position on the NRL ladder, after a rampaging 34-18 victory over the Canberra Raiders in front of 9,526 fans at Canberra Stadium.

In a weekend where upsets reigned supreme, it moved to Canberra, a place that teams dislike playing at, in the best circumstances but could there be another giant-killing in the offing. Rabbitohs were looking to secure second position just behind the Sea Eagles while Raiders were looking to create distance between them and fellow spoon contenders. 

The Raiders, much like the whole of season 2014, showed glimpses of form, as they slotted an early penalty goal to lead two-nil before it came all crumbling down once again. The handling errors flowed faster than moss covered boulder which was taken with glee by a South Sydney side, brimming with attacking talent. 

It was the energetic pairing, of Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston, who tore apart the Raiders defense, with consummate ease. Walker got outside his man in the 7th minute and it was good night. Johnston found himself, on the end of an impressive chip kick from Adam Reynolds, who had a impressive night, after his benching last week, at least in general play. 

Bryson Goodwin added his name to the scoresheet, in the 28th minute after a plethora of Raiders errors, kept inviting the Rabbitohs back into their attacking zone. A positive start unraveled once again for a Raiders team, who are under scrutiny with Anthony Milford leaving and troubles signing players. 

The lax attitude in the Raiders line-up continued into the second half. Anthony Milford deciding to hop over the ball instead of clearing it, so Alex Johnston snuck under his guard, putting the ball down inches inside the dead-ball. The winger has amassed an impressive 11 tries in the same number of NRL appearances this season.

Canberra got a slight respite, with Sami Sauiluma adding himself, to the honours board of wingers scoring impressive tries, now the corner post has been taken out of the equation. Briefly it was 16-eight and game on.

The revolution, was short lived. South Sydney woke up once again, scoring thrice in eleven minutes with two wonderful supporting efforts from Adam Reynolds, backing up the electrifying backline talents of Inglis, Walker and Johnston to score twice right under the sticks. Between that, was Bryson Goodwin strolling through the Raiders backline, like a bus conductor, as the lime green men stood, waiting, like the ball was a bus waiting to open it's doors. 

Looking for a few moments, that it would blow out. Canberra added some respectability to the final score, as Jarrod Croker and Anthony Milford were on the finishing end of two long range efforts, that started with Josh McCrone sending a winger away. The question remains where was the attack when it was only eight the difference, not when the game was out of sight.

That is a question for Ricky Stuart to ponder, as the coach looks to avoid the dubious honour, of 'winning' back-to-back wooden spoons with different sides. For South Sydney, they sit alone, in second position and in a good situation, to play September football, once again.

Match Details
Canberra Raiders 18 South Sydney Rabbitohs 34
Venue: GIO Stadium
Crowd: 9526
Halftime Score: Canberra Raiders 2 South Sydney Rabbitohs 12

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Dylan Walker
2 points - Adam Reynolds
1 point - Alex Johnston

CANBERRA RAIDERS (18)
Tries: Jarrod Croker, Sami Sauiluma, Anthony Milford
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (1/1)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (34)
Tries: Dylan Walker, Adam Reynolds (2), Alex Johnston (2), Bryson Goodwin (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/7)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to a frosty Canberra Stadium tonight for the last fixture of Round 20. We have Canberra, who will looking to inch themselves away from the wooden spoon, after both Cronulla and Newcastle were victorious over the weekend. It's coming into the time of year, where Canberra is cold, wet and no one (besides the hosts) wants to play there, so can they provide the upset?

At the other end, we have South Sydney, who with a win tonight could move into second position, after the weekend of upsets we endured. The Rabbitohs will be looking for back-to-back victories following their demolition of Parramatta last Friday and will want to make the frozen tundra, feel colder than your ex girlfriend's heart for the Raiders. Join us at 7pm AEST for LIVE coverage and SCORES.

TEAM CHANGES: There are none. Both Canberra and South Sydney are 1 through to 17, as named on Tuesday afternoon.

Here come the sides onto a constantly plummeting Canberra Stadium. South Sydney first out, in their white away strip, led by John Sutton to a suitably frosty reception from the locals. Next is the home side, with the familiar strains of 'Green Machine' ringing through while they run out in the jersey of the same colour. Kick-off is moments away.

KICK-OFF! Raiders with first use.

1: First PENALTY within the first set and Canberra right on the attack.

2: Another PENALTY for the Raiders, as South Sydney were errant on the tackler. They opt for two.

3: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS
Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
It should be a gimme for Croker and he duly pokes it through.

5: PENALTY South Sydney! Isaac Luke sprung out, like a jack in a box there, catching the defense on the hop.

7: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Walker. Kick to come.
That was too simple for the Rabbitohs. They got Dylan Walker into some space and the energetic centre, just got to the line through his leg speed and reached out for the four pointer.

8: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Adam Reynolds, from the sideline pushed it wide.

11: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Well worked by the Rabbitohs. They suckered them in with some big charges before Reynolds kicked for Alex Johnston to gleefully run onto and score.

12: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds fresh from his try-assist, hits the upright and out.

13: From diamonds, to rocks. Adam Reynolds looking for a 40/20 puts too much on the kick and it's out on the full.

15: PENALTY against the Raiders for some backchat after Keary cleaned up the Raiders kick.

18: PENALTY Canberra, for a dubious strip.

19: VIDEO REFEREE: Sauiluma claiming one after a hooked kick from McCrone.

19: RED LIGHTS..NO TRY! Knocked on Sauiluma.

21: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Paul Vaughan makes an unforced error.
Vaughan got a rush of blood there, looking for the offload, spilling it.

23: Beware the rushed kick. South Sydney were rushed on last, so it was shunted out to Dylan Walker put in a deft kick to force a dropout.

24: Campese pulls a trick from his bag though, with a dropout that forced Johnston to knock it on.

24: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
David Shillington makes an unforced error.
Raiders are making ground in good style here but errors are killing them.

25: Can't come off the ball Shaun, so it's a PENALTY South Sydney.

27: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Sami Sauiluma makes an unforced error.
Alex Johnston baulks Sami Sauiluma, as the winger looks to take the ball. He just spills it though, so it's another set for South Sydney.

28: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Bryson Goodwin. Kick to come.
Scrum play! South Sydney take some advice from Beyonce, sending it to the left, to the left to put Bryson Goodwin over in the corner.

29: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds with another tough assignment, from out side. The halfback steps in and pushes it left.

31: A raking kick from Campese, just bounced enough for Goodwin to be forced to play at the ball. The winger was swamped by the defence for Canberra to earn their first repeat set.

33: Another kick from Canberra, another result. Milford grubbering one through.

33: PENALTY Raiders, as George Burgess refused to move.

35: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Paul Vaughan makes an unforced error.
Paul Vaughan stunts the Raiders momentum, after getting up to play the ball too quickly.

35: PENALTY South Sydney, Raiders caught not square at marker.

39: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Ben Lowe makes an unforced error.
Ben Lowe was a duck out of water there.. in the playmaking position and duly knocked on.

40: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Josh McCrone makes an unforced error.
Raiders are lucky to be completing at over 50%. Josh McCrone throwing a pass he was never entitled to and dropped it in transit.

40: HALFTIME :: Rabbitohs 12 lead Raiders 2.

40: KICK-OFF in the second half.

43: VIDEO REFEREE: Alex Johnston might have scored the impossible here.

43: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Alex Johnston gets reward for persistence and put it down just inside the dead-ball.

44: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds hasn't had any easy kicks tonight. This one no different.. he walks in and hooks it again.

51: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Adam Reynolds makes an unforced error.
Shaun Fensom adds himself, to the elongated list of Raiders knock ons.

52: That was a lackluster and just agreeable tackle to force Johnston over the sideline. Reprieve for the Raiders.

53: A good run from Papalii sent the Raiders almost through but they were covered. McCrone rolls it in for a repeat set.

54: VIDEO REFEREE: Sami Sauiluma with a leaping effort.. referees say TRY.

54: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Sami Sauiluma. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Not enough evidence and superman Sauiluma is given the green light.

55: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker unsuccessful.
Croker looking to put it down to eight.. and fades it right.

56: Jarrod Croker resembled gumby for a moment there, splayed everywhere and landed on his head. PENALTY.

58: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Terry Campese makes an unforced error.
Jarrod Croker shot the ball out and only had to draw his man and send Sauiluma in for his second but he spilled it back for Campese to knock on.

60: PENALTY Canberra. Here they come.

63: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Adam Reynolds. Kick to come.
Rabbitohs have put the Canberra resistance to bed. Walker and Johnson combine to send the halfback. Adam Reynolds in for the score that should settle the game.

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Finally an easy kick and Reynolds puts one through the sticks.

65: VIDEO REFEREE: Bryson Goodwin might have a second, checking interference.

65: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Bryson Goodwin. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! What was doing there Canberra? They were standing around, like it was a bus stop. They dawdled and Bryson Goodwin snuck under their guard for a double.

65: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds adds the elementary two.

70: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Adam Reynolds. Kick to come.
The Raiders have wilted now. Greg Inglis found space just behind the markers before underarming it Reynolds for the easy try.

71: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
He slammed through another.

72: PENALTY South Sydney. This could get uglier.

72: Strip PENALTY against the Raiders. More possession for the Rabbits.

73: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Ben Lowe makes an unforced error.
Ben Lowe loses the ball in trying to get up too quickly.

74: PENALTY Souths - Reynolds taken in the air.

77: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking the touchline after an electrifying run from Robinson down the sideline, sent Croker in.

77: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jarrod Croker. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Early ball, gave Robinson room to motor and the winger, kept himself in, passed inside to McCrone who stabbed the kick in Croker's direction and the centre just had to pick it up and put it down.

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker adds the extras.

78: VIDEO REFEREE: We're going up.. for something?

78: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Anthony Milford. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Milford got the ball down after once again, McCrone unleashed Kennedy down the wing.

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker some late action here, puts it over.

80: FULLTIME :: South Sydney run out convincing winners 34-18.