http://http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchreport/rabbitohs-turn-back-clock/2007/03/31/1174761818557.html
COACH Jason Taylor was wearing nappies the last time South Sydney started a season with three straight wins. That was 1972, but this year they've done it again - in style.
With enough Kiwis in their ranks to warrant a pre-match haka, the Rabbitohs embarked upon a flyer and stayed on it. Fullback David Peachey got the ball rolling in the sixth minute when, despite two defenders attempting to throw him on to Talon Hill, he snuck the ball down inches from the corner post to the satisfaction of video referee Graeme West for a 6-0 lead.
Then winger Nathan Merritt put on the afterburners to scoot over in the 16th minute. The Rabbitohs were already on a roll at 10-zip. It's an understatement to describe Merritt as quick. Whatever faster than quick is, that's him. But his best work was still to come. Nothing in this world can beat confidence. Souths were oozing it, conjuring up a 75-metre try that will make every TV highlights reel tonight.
Prop Peter Cusack went gallivanting 45 metres up the middle and offloaded to Peachey, who slung a one-handed ball for hooker Daniel Irvine to score under the posts. The Rabbitohs weren't just winning, they were winning with the kind of flair which might even get disgruntled former chairman George Piggins to consider jumping on the bandwagon. We emphasise the word "might".
Sharks winger Luke Covell leapt high to pull in a crossfield kick from Brett Kimmorley and at least the hosts had a remote sniff at 16-4. But then Merritt sliced through the Sharks on his own 20-metre line and set sail on a sizzling long-distance run for another four-pointer to put Souths ahead 20-4 when everyone went off to suck oranges at half-time. Merritt could do no wrong.
Five-eighth Jeremy Smith coughed up the ball deep in his own half. The Souths defence held firm for one set of six tackles but not a second as Isaac de Gois went over to make it 20-10. Another sniff for the Sharks and with 25 minutes left, another test of how strong the Rabbitohs really were. For most of those barren years since 1972, this was the situation in which they would routinely crumble, finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Co-captain David Kidwell took matters into own hands. Try. Souths were up 26-10 after Joe Williams put his conversion attempt over the black dot.
You cannot beat momentum, you cannot beat the kind of boyish mood Souths were in, you cannot break a forward pack featuring Kidwell and Roy Asotasi and you cannot haul back a 16-point deficit against the 2007 version of the Rabbitohs.
Sharks enforcer Lance Thompson had a try disallowed and halfback Kimmorley, operating without his injured five-eighth Adam Dykes, kept searching for a hole in Souths. They could find only one. Twelve wins from 26 matches are likely to get a team into the finals this year and Souths are as close to getting there as anyone.
COACH Jason Taylor was wearing nappies the last time South Sydney started a season with three straight wins. That was 1972, but this year they've done it again - in style.
With enough Kiwis in their ranks to warrant a pre-match haka, the Rabbitohs embarked upon a flyer and stayed on it. Fullback David Peachey got the ball rolling in the sixth minute when, despite two defenders attempting to throw him on to Talon Hill, he snuck the ball down inches from the corner post to the satisfaction of video referee Graeme West for a 6-0 lead.
Then winger Nathan Merritt put on the afterburners to scoot over in the 16th minute. The Rabbitohs were already on a roll at 10-zip. It's an understatement to describe Merritt as quick. Whatever faster than quick is, that's him. But his best work was still to come. Nothing in this world can beat confidence. Souths were oozing it, conjuring up a 75-metre try that will make every TV highlights reel tonight.
Prop Peter Cusack went gallivanting 45 metres up the middle and offloaded to Peachey, who slung a one-handed ball for hooker Daniel Irvine to score under the posts. The Rabbitohs weren't just winning, they were winning with the kind of flair which might even get disgruntled former chairman George Piggins to consider jumping on the bandwagon. We emphasise the word "might".
Sharks winger Luke Covell leapt high to pull in a crossfield kick from Brett Kimmorley and at least the hosts had a remote sniff at 16-4. But then Merritt sliced through the Sharks on his own 20-metre line and set sail on a sizzling long-distance run for another four-pointer to put Souths ahead 20-4 when everyone went off to suck oranges at half-time. Merritt could do no wrong.
Five-eighth Jeremy Smith coughed up the ball deep in his own half. The Souths defence held firm for one set of six tackles but not a second as Isaac de Gois went over to make it 20-10. Another sniff for the Sharks and with 25 minutes left, another test of how strong the Rabbitohs really were. For most of those barren years since 1972, this was the situation in which they would routinely crumble, finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Co-captain David Kidwell took matters into own hands. Try. Souths were up 26-10 after Joe Williams put his conversion attempt over the black dot.
You cannot beat momentum, you cannot beat the kind of boyish mood Souths were in, you cannot break a forward pack featuring Kidwell and Roy Asotasi and you cannot haul back a 16-point deficit against the 2007 version of the Rabbitohs.
Sharks enforcer Lance Thompson had a try disallowed and halfback Kimmorley, operating without his injured five-eighth Adam Dykes, kept searching for a hole in Souths. They could find only one. Twelve wins from 26 matches are likely to get a team into the finals this year and Souths are as close to getting there as anyone.
