NRL: Undermanned South Sydney beats Newcastle Knights - ABC Local

Updated June 01, 2013 21:49:01

South Sydney bounced back from a last-round loss and proved their depth with a 25-18 win over Newcastle at the Olympic stadium on Saturday night.

Five days after their defeat to Cronulla and having lost Greg Inglis, Ben Te'o and Chris McQueen to State of Origin and Sam Burgess to suspension, the Rabbitohs started slowly in greasy conditions with light rain falling throughout the clash.

Conceding a 12-0 deficit after 17 minutes, South Sydney was shocked into action and scored four converted tries to seal a win that maintains its place at the top of the table.

With the scores level at 12-12 at half-time, Souths interchange forward George Burgess broke the deadlock in the 54th minute with a devastating run that has become his trademark in his debut NRL season.

Collecting the ball 25m out from the tryline, Burgess brushed off five defenders on his way to his fifth try of the season as his big brother Sam celebrated in the coaches' box.

Another four-pointer to centre Dylan Walker 10 minutes later and a massive 45m field goal from Adam Reynolds either side of Knights winger James McManus's try steered the Rabbitohs home.

It was only the 10th time the Rabbitohs have beaten Newcastle in 35 attempts and continues the Knights' miserable record of one away win for 2013.

A try and two conversions from Knights winger Josh Mantellato, a 26-year-old Italian international on his NRL debut, had helped Newcastle to an early 12-0 advantage.

The Central Coast-based personal trainer dived over in the corner after taking a flat pass from winger Kevin Naiqama in the 16th minute.

That effort came after Knights five-eighth Jarrod Mullen kicked a 40/20 the set following Alex McKinnon's opening try three minutes earlier.

New South Wales discard John Sutton then charged over from 10m out in the 27th minute and centre Beau Champion crossed after a strong right-edge burst.

McKinnon left the field on a stretcher late in the first half with a suspected broken leg in the same tackle that left him bloodied from a head clash with Souths interchange forward Josh Starling.

South Sydney: 25 (J Sutton, B Champion, G Burgess, D Walker tries; A Reynolds 4/4 conversions; 1/1 field goals)

Newcastle: 18 (A McKinnon, J Mantellato, J McManus tries; J Mantellato 3/3 conversions)

AAP

Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, newcastle-2300, redfern-2016, nsw, australia

First posted June 01, 2013 21:26:09