Red-hot Rabbitohs defeat Sharks to win a shot at NRL grand final

Written off as easybeats when their coach and captain departed at the end of last season, South Sydney continue to defy the critics, marching into a fifth consecutive preliminary final with a red-hot 38-12 demolition of Cronulla at Allianz Stadium.

The Rabbitohs flew out of the blocks in this must-win final and were never truly challenged, as they delivered a six-try trouncing of the Sharks that sets up a rematch with Penrith, the team who pipped them by two points to win the 2021 premiership.

Souths were on the scoreboard within three minutes when a high tackle penalty gifted them field position and hooker Damien Cook fired a pass to veteran prop Mark Nicholls, starting in place of the suspended Tom Burgess, who blasted through Toby Rudolph and crashed over to ignite the scoreboard.

The Sharks swished from sideline to sideline, probing for panic, but were repelled. Cronulla had had the bulk of possession and Souths were making mistakes but charge after charge, the men from the Shire were held back by the red and green wall.

After 20 minutes, Cronulla were still pointless. With the South Sydney big men absorbing so much of the defensive pressure, it was their little men standing tall. Pint-size halfback Lachlan Ilias, filling the boots of former skipper Adam Reynolds, saved a try with a brave bootlaces tackle then rattled the ball loose by getting under the ribs of Wade Graham.

Defence may win premierships but South Sydney’s charge under first-year coach Jason Demetriou this year has been built on their attack. Every time Cody Walker and Cameron Murray combined, sparks flew. And when Damien Cook unleashed Latrell Mitchell down the sideline, the ‘Taree Ferrari’ was hitting high-revs when he was swamped by five defenders,