Panthers relieve the pressure
South Sydney’s early attacking raid is brought unstuck by a forward pass from Latrell Mitchell. Penrith have a chance to relieve some pressure now. They came out firing in defence early but the Rabbitohs have had better chances to strike so far.
South Sydney with plenty of energy
As if there was ever any doubt, South Sydney are willing to chance their arm and throw the ball around in search of a chink in Penrith’s armour. The reality is they’ll do well to find too many. But they’ve got a chance to tighten the vice as Dylan Edwards goes touch in goal in these greasy conditions.
Kick-off
And we are underway here at Accor Stadium. The Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs square off for a place in the NRL grand final, with the Parramatta Eels watching from afar.
Can Nathan Cleary cook up another masterclass like he did a fortnight ago? Will Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker unlock the Rabbitohs’ freakish potential? We’re about to find out.
It’s almost showtime
Penrith are chasing another title.Credit:Getty
Cody Walker holds a key for Souths.Credit:Getty
Who are you signing in this lock battle?
‘I had to grow up’: How Milne turned his life around after drugs dramas
Taane Milne considers where he is now, the opportunities squandered and those only recently taken, and sums up his journey this way.
“Before I was a boy,” Milne said. “I’m a man now.”
Taane MilneCredit:Getty
Milne has done a lot of growing up since he began his footballing career. The South Sydney winger is just one win away from a grand final appearance, a destination that appeared inconceivable after his Wests Tigers contract was torn up in 2018. Having come to the joint-venture outfit after a stint at the Roosters, where his dedication was questioned, he almost blew a promising career when he was sacked for failing a second drug test.
He tells Adrian Proszenko he is determined to make the most of his chance.
Taking the fifth: The four Bunnies who are September specials
They were all on the park when Cooper Cronk and his dodgy shoulder inspired the Sydney Roosters in 2018.
Ditto Josh Papalii for Canberra in 2019. Add to that the loss to Penrith in 2020, then the blowout victory over Manly last year.
The bulk of the Panthers have come through the juniors together and played in plenty of big games, but South Sydney will have four of their own players feature in the club’s fifth straight preliminary final.
Cameron Murray, Damien Cook, Cody Walker and Junior Tatola certainly know what finals football is all about.
How Demetriou dodged the Bennett curse
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou first visited Latrell Mitchell on his farm in Taree in 2020.
He has been back a few times. Demetriou even organised a training camp on Mitchell’s property before Christmas, only for Tom Burgess to be struck down by COVID-19 and the playing group forced to return to Sydney a few hours later.
One of the best things Demetriou has done in his first year as head coach at Souths since taking over from Wayne Bennett is establish a solid relationship with club superstar Mitchell.
“He came to Taree to see what I was about and we found that mutual ground and respect early,” Mitchell told the Herald. “I look up to him. He’s done really well for himself, but even he will tell you the job isn’t done.”
Like Demetriou, predecessor Bennett always appreciated the need for human connection
Vindication in Ilias’ early axing
‘I’ll back myself’: Journeyman Kennar ready to replace Johnston
Richie Kennar says he will “back himself completely” to replace injured South Sydney star Alex Johnston in one of the most unexpected journeys to finals football in NRL history.
Kennar has the task of replacing Johnston, on track to be the greatest tryscorer of all time, in what will be just his second NRL appearance this season against Penrith.
It marks an unlikely rise for the Samoan-born three-quarter, who debuted at Melbourne as one of the Storm’s only genuine juniors; failed to make the grade at Canterbury after shifting to Belmore; sought a release from South Sydney to go on a Mormon mission after breaking into the first-grade side, spent two years at the Broncos and then returned to the Rabbitohs at the start of the year.
The second stint at Redfern almost didn’t happen; Kennar came agonisingly close to signing with the Waratahs during the summer. Instead, he arrived for preseason at Redfern on a train-and-trial deal, where he lost eight kilograms in a bid to crack coach Jason Demetriou’s side.
