The second of the double-header in Sydney pitted Wigan Warriors againts the South Sydney Rabbitohs as the Super League looked to salvage some pride after defeats for the Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC.
Shaun Wane named a bench of thirteen players to back up a strong starting thirteen, emphasising that Wigan were treating this game as an early season trial themselves. The Rabbitohs were without a number of their stars as they continued their build up to the NRL season.
The ground had filled considerably as the Wigan fans left the bars to join the remaining Hull FC supporters in the stands.
It was a scrappy opening with both sides making unforced errors.
Tom Davies opened the scoring on five minutes when a Sean O’Loughlin kick to the corner confused the Rabbitohs defence and he got a hand on the bouncing ball to ground just centimetres from the dead ball line. Sam Tomkins failed to add the extras from the touchline.
Davies should have grabbed a second on ten but lost the ball in the act of scoring. The Rabbitohs made the visitors pay a minute later when Tom Burgess stretched out an arm to ground on the line. The Adam Doueihi conversion was missed and the scores were tied.
Campbell Graham gave Souths the lead on seventeen after a Hymel Hunt break outpaced Sam Tomkins before finding Alex Johnston who then passed to Graham for him to go over. Doueihi again failed to add the extras.
A professional foul from Liam Marshall saw him sin binned on twenty-eight minutes while Wigan desperately tried to defend their line. Two minutes later, Richie Kennar was on the overlap to outpace the Warriors defence to score in the corner. Damian Cook took over the kicking duties but was unable to add the extras.
On thirty-six Davies got his second of the match when he went twenty down the right wing to ground off a Morgan Escare pass. The referee refered the decision to the bunker as a ‘No Try’ but was overruled. Tomkins was again unable to kick the conversion, the fifth missed conversion attempt of the night.
It was an evenly matched first half contest with the Rabbitohs just about worthy of their narrow interval lead.
All the early pressure in the second half was on Wigans’ line but the defence held firm including a period where they repelled five consecutive sets of six. While their defence was outstanding, Wigan struggled to get out of their own half and take the game to Souths in the search for the try they needed.
Mawene Hiroti had a try ruled out on seventy five as referee Perenara adjudged a double-movement but a minute later Doueihi finally broke the tenacious Wigan defence to round behind the sticks for the Rabbitohs fourth try of the evening. He converted his own try for 18-8 to seal the win.
It was a valiant effort from Wigan and Shan Wane will have been delighted with the defensive effort. In the end the Rabbitohs were just too strong and smart on the last play and the amount of possession that they had denied the Warriors any reasonable time with the ball.
Wigan get back on the plane with a win and a loss in Australia and begin their preparation for a game against Warrington Wolves next weekend.
Rabbitohs: Johnston, Kennar (T), Hunt, Jennings, Graham (T), Doueihi (T, G), Farah, Burgess T (T), Cook, Nicholls, Fuimaono, Britt, Clark. Subs: Tracey, Ta’avale, Burgess G, Tatola, Hiroti, Gagan, Talakai.
Warriors: Tomkins S, Davies (2T), Sarginson, Gildart, Burgess, Williams, Powell, Clubb, Leuluai, Flower, Tomkins J, Farrell, O’Loughlin. Subs: Bateman, Sutton, Tautai, Isa, Escare, Marshall (SB on 28), Ganson, Shorrocks, Navarrete, Field, Hamlin, Mullen, Paisley.
Referee: Henry Perenara and Alan Shortall.
Half-Time: 12-8.
Full-Time: 18-8.
Attendance: .
