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Remember the day Trent Barrett played lock for St George Illawarra? Talatau Amone doesn’t. He wasn’t even born.
That was in April 2001, the last time the Dragons put together a first-half blitz quite like this.
The Dragons’ best first half in 21 years set up a 32-12 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at WIN Stadium on Wollongong on Thursday night.
That’s it for our updates tonight. Congrats once more to 300-game man Andrew McCullough, milestone games don’t get much better than that.
And that’s all she wrote. The Dragons needed less than half an hour against a Rabbitohs side that simply did not turn up, rattling up six tries from the first kick-off, and then nothing afterwards.
Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax and Blake Lawrie all very impressive in a team running amok, but can’t go past young Talatau Amone as a standout in this one – even with 10 minutes in the bin he looked a threat right throughout.
For the Rabbitohs, at least it’s over. Started with an error from the kick-off and little improvement beyond that.
Dragons 32 Rabbitohs 12
Hard to see the big fella making much of a difference in this one, even when Latrell Mitchell is one of the game’s most dynamic men.
But the best news we can offer Souths fans right now? He’s back in round 16 – after just 258 minutes of NRL football in nearly 10 months.
Latrell Mitchell returned to Souths training on Monday.Credit:Getty Images
Cameron Murray’s strolled through some worrying goal-line defence from the Dragons. That’s two tries in four minutes, and roughly the rate they need to keep going at with 17 minutes to play.
And tell you what, they almost do get a third with Junior Tatola ready to back his way over the line from short range. It’s a snap Ben Hunt intercept that prevents the try, without him the comeback is on. Big play.
Dragons 32 Rabbitohs 12
It took almost an hour, but the Bunnies are on the board. A bomb spilled by Cody Ramsey gives the Rabbitohs a chance.
Not much doing in the set but Damien Cook is able to burrow over from dummy-half late in the piece. Not a hint of celebration from he or his teammates, they know they’re in for a sombre trip back up the highway. For the record, their biggest comeback is a 24-point resurgence against the Cowboys in 2008 - a fresh faced Chris Sandow booted a final minute field goal for a 29-28 win.
Dragons 32 Rabbitohs 6
Talatau Amone is back on the paddock. Given the Dragons rattled up 32 points to zip in a 13-on-13 game, hardly seems necessary.
St George Illawarra immediately set up camp on the Rabbitohs line and we’re now delayed by a pitch invader. Blake Lawrie the man who eventually stops his progress. Jog on/off son, it’s been done.
Dragons 32 Rabbitohs 0
Tough night for Jason Demetriou as he heads back up to the coach’s box, was good enough to give Channel Nine a quick interview on the way.
Appealed for Souths to ‘show some pride in the jersey’ and briefly explained the decision to bench Lachlan Ilias before the break.
“We just need some energy, Blake (Taaffe) brings us energy”. We’re back underway now.
Blake Lawrie - 124 run metres at halftime.
Entire Rabbitohs starting pack - 105 run metres at halftime
Tatola – 28
Cook – 4
Burgess – 13
Koloamatangi – 27
Arrow – 27
Murray - 6
No. No they haven’t. Even with Amone sin-binned for a professional foul, the Rabbitohs can’t anything do on the scoreboard against 12 men.
It’s halftime and absolute carnage in the Gong. The Dragons have six tries and twice the running metres of South Sydney. The visitors, 21 missed tackles and not much else. Madness.
Dragons 32 Rabbitohs 0
Here for the Dragons sass, the Rabbitohs defence, not so much. We’re resorting to posting every two tries because we just can’t type fast enough.
Moses Suli with a fantastic take of a Ben Hunt bomb to keep things rolling, then Cody Ramsey on the scoresheet via another left-edge raid and poor defence out wide.
Young half Lachlan Ilias hooked by Jason Demetriou and cutting a pretty forlorn figure on the bench, joined by Cam Murray and Tom Burgess down there. Blake Taaffe out there, plenty happening, none of it good for the cardinal and myrtle.