The NSWRL is shining the spotlight on the 2019 Jersey Flegg Cup, selecting a weekly shortlist of the top five tries from every team in the top eight. Our team in focus this week are 2019 competition winners the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Check here every weekday for rolling coverage of the top five countdown.
Despite finishing the 2019 season narrowly outside the top four, the South Sydney Rabbitohs rose above expectations to make their way into the grand final against the Canberra Raiders. The Rabbitohs came out on top as 16-14 victors, becoming deserved premiers after holding out their opposition in a scoreless second half.
The 2019 champions finished third in the competition for points scored, amassing a total of 572, and they produced plenty of memorable four-pointers along the way.
#5
Rabbitohs number five try
Centre Jaxson Paulo was the sole point-scorer for South Sydney when he managed a hat-trick against Bulldogs in Round 22, and one of his tries came after halfback Lachlan Ilias kicked to the sky from 30 metres out.
The ball spent nearly five seconds in the air to give a charging Paulo more than enough time to perfect his run to the contest, taking a clean catch and spinning away from his opposing fullback before muscling past another defender to score.
#4
Rabbitohs number four try
While there wasn’t much complexity to this try, the circumstances surrounding Bradley Zampech’s match-winning effort against Cronulla-Sutherland provided the spark that pushed the Rabbitohs to premiership glory.
It was the second week of finals at Leichhardt Oval and the Rabbitohs trailed 31-30 with just two minutes remaining. Enter No.19 Bradley Zampech, after coming off the bench early in the half, who pushed up in defence on a last tackle kick from the Sharks’ 30-metre line and reaped the ultimate reward with a successful charge down and a try to seal the win.
#3
Rabbitohs number three try
Kane Allan scored an early brace to help the Rabbitohs to a flying start in their elimination final clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons.
The winger’s second try came in the 19th minute when the Dragons were threatening for second of their own. Allan was defending a three-on-one on the right edge and snatched an intercept to not only save try, but run 90 metres the other way to extend the Rabbitohs’ lead to eight.
#2
Rabbitohs number two try
Coming in at number two was Kane Allan’s opening try for South Sydney against the Dragons, which kicked off their third meeting of 2019 in Finals Week 1.
Hooker Josh Cook was scanning the St George Illawarra defence from inside the 40 before slicing through the line with a dummy and sending the ball inside to Allan, who skipped past the final chaser for the first try of the afternoon.
#1
Rabbitohs number one try
The South Sydney Rabbitohs produced try that had a bit of everything when the men in red and green took on the Parramatta Eels at Ringrose Park in Round 12.
The play started in the 58th minute with No.9 Peter Mamouzelos scooting out of dummy half for a short-side raid, then a tackle-break and late offload from Maila Chan-Foon to centre Nick Mougios along the sideline, followed by a last-ditch kick infield. And it all came together when the bouncing ball landed in the grasp of fullback James Tautaiolefua to fall over the try-line.
Full highlights reel
Rabbitohs full highlights
