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The throwback epic between arch-rivals South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters could have been played on Anzac Parade using a house brick instead of a Steeden.
Talk about an epic game with so many twists and turns, seven sin bins and almost 40,000 people at the new Allianz Stadium turning the venue into a Colosseum-style atmosphere.
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Granted, it wasn’t for the feint hearted. It was chaotic and unruly from the opening whistle given what was at stake in an elimination final between two foundation arch-rival clubs.
In between all the high shots, sin bins and carnage – when a game of rugby league threatened to break out – it was South Sydney who were able to adapt better to the conditions and execute their opportunities.
Of course Victor Radley shouldn’t have been sin binned for his minor set-to with Souths winger Taane Milne and Tom Burgess should have gone to the sin bin for his high shot on James Tedesco.
That’s on the bunker – not so much referee Ashley Klein.
As for the other six sin bins it’s hard to argue against any of them given the way the game continually threatened to boil over into an old-fashioned front bar fight.
Despite all the stoppages it was captivating theatre given the history and the rivalry between Souths and the Roosters.
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If anything South Sydney handled all the red-line chaos better than the Roosters with firebrand forwards Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Victor Radley clearly letting the emotion of the occasion boilover at stages.
We’re often critical of how the Rabbitohs stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker can let emotions rule in big moments but on Sunday it was JWH and Victor who lost their heads.
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The Bunnies win over the Roosters was a complete contrast to the ripping games submitted on Super Saturday when the Canberra Raiders rolled the Melbourne Storm and then the North Queensland Cowboys won a golden point thriller against Cronulla.
The Green Machine will roll into Friday night’s sudden death semi-final against Parramatta on a five-match winning streak full of self-belief as they look to move within 80 minutes of a grand final appearance.
Meanwhile the Cronulla Sharks must quickly re-group from a 93-minute marathon loss to the Cowboys to roll into sudden-death against an in-form South Sydney side on Saturday.
What were your likes or dislikes from the opening week of the NRL finals?
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