Rabbitohs crush Broncos in NRL season opener
Getty
What was supposed to usher in a new Broncos era under coach Wayne Bennett only marked more of the same from NRL defending premiers South Sydney.
The Rabbitohs made an ominous start to their title defence by outmuscling Brisbane 36-6 at Suncorp Stadium in the season opener on Thursday night.
The stage had been set for the Broncos to make a bold statement under seven-time premiership-winning mentor Bennett in his first game back with the Brisbane reins since 2008.
• Toovey still hopeful Cherry-Evans will stay
• Bumper NRL season preview
Especially with backrower Corey Parker becoming just the second Brisbane player to shatter the 300-game barrier.
However, the portents weren’t good from the outset when a power outage sabotaged the pre-match entertainment by singer Guy Sebastian.
The only ones on song from there were the Rabbitohs as nothing else went to plan for the hosts in front of 36,057 fans.
South Sydney led 10-2 at halftime before the floodgates opened for the visitors, defying steamy conditions.
John Sutton (43rd minute), the man who replaced him as skipper Greg Inglis (48th), Luke Keary (58th) and Joel Reddy (69th) all piled in for second-half tries to silence a rabid Brisbane crowd.
Broncos forward James Gavet was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Rabbitohs rake Issac Luke, resulting in a final penalty goal on fulltime for the visitors.
In the only concern for Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire, South Sydney forward Ben Lowe was placed on report for a 52nd-minute crusher tackle on Sam Thaiday.
The Broncos hardly fired a shot despite boasting what was supposed to be an exciting new halves pairing in Ben Hunt and big name recruit Anthony Milford.
Inglis admitted they wanted to make a statement in their first game and show they were not suffering a premiership hangover.
“We definitely did,” he said.
Brisbane’s Lachlan Maranta tries to bust through a tackle. Photo: Getty
“But I can see major improvements.
“And last year is last year.
“We are extremely happy now but our eyes are back on the big prize.”
It was yet another win for the Rabbitohs which has racked up the Auckland Nines, the World Club Challenge in the UK and the Charity Shield since notching their first title in 43 years last season.
Bennett was disappointed by their unforced errors that marred Justin Hodges’ debut as Broncos sole skipper but almost sounded relieved that their first game was against the NRL yardstick.
“We needed a game one. We had trained well, not put a foot wrong but didn’t know how we would play under pressure,” Bennett said.
“In a cynical way I am glad we played them first to see where we are.
“We’ve just got to get the unforced errors out of our game.”
Bennett had copped flak for calling South Sydney “predictable” last season, a call he later reckoned was a compliment.
He didn’t change his tune on Thursday night.
“What you saw out there is what they have been doing the last two to three years,” he said.
“And what you saw from us is what we have been doing the last two to three years.
“They are predictable. We are unpredictable – it’s enough to drive a coach insane.”
-AAP