South Sydney Rabbitohs ended their two-match losing streak with a commanding 28-6 victory over the Warriors at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.

Strong Start Amid Adversity

The Rabbitohs faced challenging conditions in New Zealand, with a packed crowd and poor weather adding to the difficulty of the match. Compounding their challenges, they were without regular centres Campbell Graham and Isaiah Tass. The Warriors initially capitalized on three early penalties, putting the Rabbitohs' defence to the test deep in their territory. However, South Sydney's defence held firm during the opening ten minutes.

Despite the Rabbitohs' defensive resilience, the Warriors managed to score first when Marcelo Montoya touched down in the corner in the 16th minute. South Sydney struggled to gain possession due to further penalties, but they finally received a chance to attack after a knockdown led to a repeat set in the 22nd minute. They quickly capitalized, with Cody Walker and Richie Kennar combining to set up Alex Johnston for a try, narrowing the gap to 6-4.

Turning the Tide

As the first half progressed, the Rabbitohs began to shift momentum in their favour. A high shot on Cameron Murray resulted in Addin Fonua-Blake being sent to the sin bin in the 34th minute. The Rabbitohs took advantage of the situation, leveling the scores with a penalty. Shortly after, they took the lead when Murray powered over from close range, bringing the score to 12-6 as they headed into halftime.

The second half saw South Sydney come out strong, applying pressure on the Warriors' line as the rain intensified. The Rabbitohs extended their lead when Walker and Johnston connected again, with Walker delivering a perfect kick for Johnston to score, pushing the lead to double digits.

Debut Delight and Defensive Resolve

A potential try from Dallin Watene-Zalezniak in the 57th minute was ruled out by the Bunker for a knock-on, but South Sydney's defence continued to perform well, forcing errors from the Warriors. Local junior Tyrone Munro capped off a dream debut by scoring his first NRL try in the 67th minute, chasing down a Lachlan Ilias chip to extend the Rabbitohs' lead to 22-6.

Despite a questionable escort call against Kennar, the Rabbitohs' defence remained resolute, successfully repelling further Warriors' attacks. This victory marks a significant turnaround for South Sydney as they look to build on this performance in the coming weeks.