South Sydney centre Dylan Walker, centre, celebrates a try against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Mark Evans Source: TheAustralian
CANTERBURY forward Tim Browne is expected to come under scrutiny from the match review committee after he pulled the leg of injured South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis in last night's match at ANZ Stadium.
Browne might not be the only Bulldog with a case to answer next week after backrower Frank Pritchard and five-eighth Josh Reynolds were both placed on report for separate shoulder charge incidents.
Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire declined to comment on the Inglis incident after the match even though it came only a week after he lost forward Jeff Lima in a similar incident for twisting the leg of injured Manly backrower Anthony Watmough.
The only comment Maguire was prepared to make about Inglis was admitting that he could rest his star player now that the club has secured a top two finish and all important home final.
"Greggy has battled with that knee all week but we've got to be aware of how we train him," Maguire said. "He hasn't trained a lot this week so to get out and do the things he did tonight is a real credit. We'll assess it after tonight and go through the week and if there's that chance (to rest him) we'll look at that. Greg himself wants to play so we'll assess that as the week goes by."
Pritchard already has form for shoulder charging following a similar incident with Penrith winger David Simmons at the start of last season which led to the tactic being banned from the game. The Bulldogs could ill afford to lose another forward with Sam Kasiano and Greg Eastwood already sidelined through injury until the first week of the finals.
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler admitted he was concerned over the charges, particularly if loading was added for previous offences. Pritchard could be missing anyway after he left the field in the second half with a knee problem.
Maguire described last night's performance as a good dress rehearsal for his club with the finals only two weeks away. South Sydney certainly started the game in strong fashion and raced out to a 14-0 lead before Canterbury launched one of its trademark fightbacks. Unfortunately every time the Bulldogs scored a try to reduce the deficit - they got within four points on two occasions - the Rabbitohs would respond almost immediately.
"I think it's really good practice for us," Maguire said.
"They're big games, obviously, playing against teams like Canterbury and Manly but they're great games for us and the boys really enjoy playing in them too.
"They're good practice for us and they give us a good look of what we need to work on."
The result means the Rabbitohs have ensured themselves of a home final. As for the Bulldogs, they should make the finals but a top four finish looks beyond them. They need Manly to lose their remaining games to have any hope.
Souths were in control of the first half from the moment Adam Reynolds coolly landed a 40/20 kick - only his second one for the season - in the eighth minute. The Rabbitohs didn't score on that occasion but the signs were ominous. A short time later John Sutton found winger Dylan Farrell - who had come infield hunting for some action - to open the scoring for the home team.
Reynolds landed a penalty goal in the 35th minute to make it 14-0. At that point it looked like it was going to be one way traffic but the Bulldogs had other ideas.
"The boys tried really hard ... but we've probably got about five bullets in our foot because we just kept shooting ourselves there," Hasler said.
"I'm pretty pleased with how we fought back in the second half. I'd love to play them again."
South Sydney 28 (D Farrell B Goodwin I Luke D Walker tries; A Reynolds 6 goals) Canterbury 20 (M Brown 2 D Halatau S Perrett tries; T Hodkinson 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referees: Matt Cecchin, Gavin Reynolds.
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