NRL 2022: Latrell Mitchell stars as South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Melbourne Storm
Latrell Mitchell was at his rampaging best as the Rabbitohs put the rest of the NRL on notice with a dominant win, while Storm coach Craig Bellamy made a stunning admission about his team.
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The Rabbitohs came into Saturday’s clash having won just five of their 36 matches against the Storm but it was the pride of the league who turned Melbourne into their bunnies with a performance that will put the rest of the NRL on notice.
The 24-12 scoreline didn’t do justice to their dominance as the Storm’s shocking slide down the ladder continued, raising questions over whether their incredible reign of dominance is starting to come to an end and forcing coach Craig Bellamy to ponder if his side can get its season back on track.
“We didn’t speak about the record,” Souths skipper Cam Murray said. “Everyone knows in the back of their head that we don’t have a good one against them.
“We spoke a lot about previous times coming up against Melbourne how we shot ourselves in the foot and we’ve been sitting in the changing room after we’ve lost to them being disappointed. I’m really proud of the boys.”.
Superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell was outstanding in his fourth game back, finishing the night with three try assists and some incredible touches as he torched the Storm on the edges.
Cody Walker had a rare off night after he was split in half early by a Justin Olam special, but that just opened the door for halves partner Lachlan Ilias to have his finest night in first grade.
The young No.7 was the best player on the field in a terrific sign for the Bunnies just weeks after he was benched against the Dragons.
Ilias controlled the game on the right, laying on one try and finishing off another when he backed up a break by Keaon Koloamatangi who had a blinder on the right edge and opened the scoring in the second minute.
“I’m really proud of Lachy,” coach Jason Demetriou said. “He’s had a lot on his shoulders this year, but through the support of our senior group, he’s handled that really well. He’s what we expected and hoped that he’d become.”
The result moves the Rabbitohs up to 24 competition points and level with the Melbourne Storm as they push for an all-important top-four finish.
SLOPPY STORM ARE SLIPPING
It might be time for Storm coach Craig Bellamy to push the panic button.
The perennial premiership contenders have dropped four games in a row for the first time since 2015 and there are no signs that they are going to turn things around.
They’ve dropped to fifth spot on the ladder and still have to play the Panthers, Broncos, Roosters and Eels to round out the season.
They will likely sneak into the top eight but it’s hard to see them doing any damage in September if they play like they have recently.
“I’m not confident we can turn it around,” Bellamy said. “There’s some stuff that you can’t get away with at this level, and you’ll pay a price.”
The Storm made eight errors in the first half, and the worrying thing was it was their senior players who let them down with Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Felise Kaufusi and Jesse Bromwich all turning it over deep in attack.
Stars Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster both kicked a 40/20 but they desperately need to recruit someone like Reece Walsh before the August 1 deadline if they are to be taken seriously in September.
MAGIC JOHNSTON
It’s not a matter of if, but when Alex Johnston breaks Ken Irvine’s try-scoring record.
The South Sydney winger is just 55 behind Irvine’s incredible tally of 212 and is on such a hot streak right now that he’ll put a huge dent in that by the end of the season.
Johnston has scored 13 tries in his past six games and will score plenty more if Mitchell continues to set them up on a platter for him on the left wing.
It was almost 14 after Mitchell audaciously kicked for him on the zero tackle inside his own 10 metres before Johnston toed it through again, but he just couldn’t ground the Steeden before it bounced dead.
NAS IN TROUBLE
Towering prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona could find himself in hot water again after he was placed on report in the first minute of the game for a high shot on Cameron Murray.
Raiders fans were blowing up that he was allowed to stay on the field for high contact on Jordan Rapana last week that saw him fined.
Now there’s a fair chance the Storm forward will at least cop a similar punishment, if not a ban that would see him miss next week’s trip to New Zealand.
