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Dragons dispose of spirited Souths
Matt Prior carries the ball. Photo: Chris Lane
NOT even the presence of Russell Crowe could inspire his South Sydney team to a finals-clinching win over minor premiers St George Illawarra at Jubilee Oval last night.
Crowe and Souths chief executive Shane Richardson stood in the in-goal watching the Rabbitohs players as they warmed up on the field after learning that they needed to beat the Dragons by five points to leapfrog Manly into eighth place following the Sea Eagles' 30-24 loss to Canterbury yesterday.
A win by five points or more would have secured Souths a replay of last night's match at Kogarah next Sunday afternoon, an achievement that had seemed unlikely two weeks ago when they were thrashed 54-18 by Penrith after trailing 40-0 at half-time.
But much to the disappointment of Crowe and the Rabbitohs faithful, who will now have to wait at least another season to end a 39-year premiership drought, Souths got off to a similar start to the one they did at CUA Stadium as the Dragons raced to an 18-0 lead through three Ben Creagh tries in the opening 17 minutes.
Despite a second-half fightback, the Rabbitohs were left to think of what could have been after a season that promised so much following the much-hyped recruitment of star forwards Dave Taylor and Sam Burgess to the club.
In the end, injuries cruelled them and Souths coach John Lang last night had seven players unavailable.
Among them were star five-eighth John Sutton (shoulder), centre Beau Champion (broken leg), props Luke Stuart (hand) and Scott Geddes (knee), second-rower Ben Lowe (foot) and back-up hooker Beau Falloon (arm).
All have been ruled out for the season, while Taylor only returned from a broken collarbone last weekend against Parramatta in a bid to keep the injury-hit Rabbitohs' slim finals hopes alive.
Hooker Issac Luke has also spent time on the sideline this season with a dislocated shoulder, and he and Burgess had both incurred suspensions.
In addition, former Queensland Origin prop Ben Ross has not played at all this season after breaking his neck in the opening round of 2009 while playing for Cronulla.
Ross recently gained a clearance but Rabbitohs officials refused to consider him for selection.
However, they have re-signed him for next season and he is expected to make his debut for the club in next year's pre-season.
Last night's match was the last in South Sydney colours for veteran centre Colin Best, who is returning to Cronulla next season, while five-eighth Luke Capewell has been linked with a move to the Titans.
After being one of the big movers on last year's player-transfer market, the Rabbitohs have not signed any new players for next season but believe a number of players from their minor premiership-winning under-20s Toyota Cup team will step up to the grade.
Already, centre Dylan Farrell has established himself as a likely replacement for Best and fellow rookie Junior Vaivai has also tasted first grade football in the centres this season.