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How the Rabbitohs survived 'the play of the year'

Jul 26th, 2019
How the Rabbitohs survived 'the play of the year'
Jul 26th, 2019

The Rabbitohs have survived what Gus Gould labelled "the play of the year" to down the Dragons 20-16 in a last-gasp thriller at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

With the game drawing to a finish, and the visitors trailing a composed Rabbitohs outfit, Dragons hooker Cameron McInnes charged down an attempted Adam Reynolds field goal. It turned into a footrace, three players against the ball, squirelling and screwing downfield.

Rabbitohs down the Dragons on the bell, 20-16 (AAP)

For all money, it looked like the Rabbitohs would secure possession on halfway and re-settle things. From nowhere, McIness dove under two players, and re-secured possession of his own charge-down. Two passes off the quick play the ball later, and debutant Jason Saab scored as Gus Gould cried "the play of the year" in the commentary box.

It gave the Dragons a fighting chance, and Gareth Widdop's clutch conversion and 77th minute penalty looked like it may have been enough to secure a famous victory, but it wasn't to be - as Campbell Graham scored off the short kick-off in the 80th minute to seal things for the home side.

Earlier, Dane Gagai broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, his first of two tries for the evening.

The Dragons looked out on their feet in the dying stages of the first half, and were lucky to only trail 6-2 at the break.

'Play of the year' sets up Saab

The game opened up considerably in the second half, and when Gagai scored in the 55th minute after Cody Walker also dotted down, it looked like it would be a long bus-ride back to Woolongong for the visitors.

However, the Dragons lifted, and worked their way back into the contest.

However, despite McInnes' play of the year, and Widdop's go-ahead penalty, they got run down at the post - a severe dent in their finals ambitions.

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