Albert Einstein thought he knew the definition of insanity. Did he ever think of what it would be like when the Roosters and Rabbitohs play, circa 2022? They do the same thing over and over again, and each time it gets a little madder, a little better.
This time, in the first week of the NRL finals, the old rivals set a new NRL record with seven sin-bins in the one game, featured a team down to 11 men outscoring 13, an old-fashioned kicking duel and the game’s most durable player being ruled out with concussion before being joined by two others.
In the end, the Rabbitohs ended the Roosters’ season, avenging their final-round defeat at the opening of the new Allianz Stadium just nine days ago, with a barely believable 16-point win.
The Book Of Feuds will dedicate an entire chapter to Sunday’s clash once Russell Crowe gets around to it.
The Rabbitohs will play the Sharks at the same ground next Saturday night, but how many players they have might be a different story.
Roosters lock Victor Radley and South Sydney winger Taane Milne were both sin-binned twice, and were joined by Tricolours hardman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Rabbitohs props Tom Burgess and Junior Tatola to break the previous record of six sin-bins in a single match.
The Rabbitohs celebrate one of Alex Johnston’s two tries at Allianz Stadium.Credit:Getty
A rugby league game tried to break out, but will have to wait until they meet again next year.
It capped a pulsating opening week of the finals, with the Rabbitohs just 80 minutes away from a grand final qualifier against minor premiers Penrith if they can beat the Sharks.
But how much will this street fight take out of them?
A week after they opened the new venue, the two old rivals came back to the ground the Rabbitohs want them to share next year. The Roosters and their Godfather, Nick Politis, are not ones for charity when it comes to the other side of Anzac Parade.
Neither is Radley. In a tangle with Milne which was more cage match than caged lions, the feisty Rooster landed a sneaky little rabbit punch as Milne’s South Sydney teammates circled. He went to the sin bin.
The Rabbitohs scored straight away – who else but Alex Johnston? – but by the time Radley had finished cursing his spell and returned to the field, the Roosters were in front. The 12 men had scored twice through Angus Crichton and Daniel Tupou, and if not for the wayward goalkicking of Sam Walker, would have led by more than two points.
Somehow, the Rabbitohs managed to top that.
Within 30 manic seconds, they had Tom Burgess and Milne sent to the sin bin for separate high shots. Burgess was firstly placed on report for a high tackle on James Tedesco, which forced the Roosters skipper out of the game with concussion, but was sat down in the very next minute for a tackle which was seemingly not as vicious on Matt Lodge. By the time he had made it up the tunnel, Milne was in his shadow, also banished for a high tackle on Joseph Suaalii.
Down to 11 against 13, the Rabbitohs not only held the Roosters to zero, they managed to score as well. And it was due to their left side with ex-Rooster Latrell Mitchell, who copped a smattering of boos in the pre game, crashing over on South Sydney’s favoured edge. If only Einstein could have seen it.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was one of a record seven sin-binnings in Sunday’s elimination final.Credit:Getty
Before the break, Waerea-Hargreaves crouched over Cameron Murray like a sumo wrestler after driving the South Sydney captain, returning after a concussion last week, into the ground, Sio Siua Taukeiaho was put on report for a high shot on Mitchell and Angus Crichton was taken out of the game after being concussed trying to tackle Burgess.
It was a masterpiece in rugby league madness, and no one enjoyed it more than the art dealer who finally got to see Joseph Suaalii at fullback in Tedesco’s absence.
Could it possibly be any more bonkers in the second half? Well, yes.
Johnston scored again, Waerea-Hargreaves was perhaps harshly sin-binned for an alleged head slam on Burgess, who failed his head injury assessment, Radley and Tatola were also sent for 10 minutes after another scrap and Milne followed soon after for clocking Connor Watson high.
The last blow was landed by the gentlest of humans, rookie Rabbitoh Isaiah Tass, who put the game beyond doubt in the final 10 minutes. The fight, finally, had ended.
Einstein has a new definition for insanity.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 30 (Alex Johnston 2, Latrell Mitchell, Jai Arrow, Isaiah Tass tries; Mitchell 5 goals) defeated SYDNEY ROOSTERS 14 (Angus Crichton, Daniel Tupou, Nat Butcher tries; Sam Walker goal) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein. Crowd: 39,816.
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