NSWRL grand finals: South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs share in premiership glory

In the under-21s, the minor premiership winning Roosters tackled the Canterbury Bulldogs in the Jersey Flegg Cup decider.

Then in the NSW Cup, foundation clubs North Sydney and South Sydney went head to head.

Here’s our wrap of each match, plus photo gallery.

SOUTHS STRIKE LATE, BREAK 40-YEAR DROUGHT

South Sydney’s mid-season NSW Cup revival has gone all the way to the title after rising Rabbitohs winger Tyrone Munro struck late to sink North Sydney 22-18 in a pulsating grand final.

Just as Jason Demetriou’s NRL outfit was taking a turn for the worse, Joe O‘Callaghan’s reserve graders were finding their feet, gearing up for a nine-game winning streak that has seen the club claim its first second-tier title since 1983.

The last time these two proud foundation clubs battled for silverware was in 1926, and with five minutes to go and leading 18-16, it looked like the Bears quest for NRL inclusion was about to grow another leg.

But in the hands of a motley trio of South Sydney backs, North Sydney’s title dreams quickly evaporated in a puff of smoke before 10,133 fans.

With the clock nudging 75 minutes. Budding half Dean Hawkins stayed calm, and instead of a last play kick from close range, the No.7 found departing fullback Blake Taaffe, who then hit an unmarked Munro on the chest for the premiership winning try.

It was another dagger to the heart of Bears diehards, who last tasted reserve grade success in 1993.

“It was a play me and Taaffey had been working on all game,” said a relieved Hawkins.

“Just that long pass, we knew they had been sliding on their line, and I knew Taaffe was waiting for it, and then it just opened up.”

It was 12-all at halftime, and both sides had plenty off chances but were cursed by errors in the run home. Jesse Marschke was outstanding at times for the Bears, scoring a first half solo try and almost getting his side across the line in the closing stages.

SPOILER ALERT

Norths set the early pace and looked to have drawn first blood when Roosters regular Terrell May barged over the line in the fifth minute.

The burley prop was held up, but Norths fans were back on their feet a minute later when winger Alfred Smalley squeezed into the left corner for the opening try.

Then with 11 minutes to go, it looked like Norths were headed to the promised land after Reuben Porter ran an inside line off Marschke, planting the ball under the posts for a two-point advantage.

FOND FAREWELL

For the Bulldogs bound Taaffe, in addition to his late heroics, the No.1’s all-round performance proved enough to be awarded the player of the match.

It was a fitting farewell for the durable 24-year-old who has come through the Rabbitohs pathways.

“It’s been a pretty crazy year, dropping in and out of grade,” said Taaffe.

“We didn’t start to well in Cup, but we hit our straps and I can’t fault any of the boys and coaching staff. And it has been one of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve played.”

FEAST OR FAMINE

The victory means Souths fans can crank up the club song for another week.

With a spot on NRL grand final day now booked, the Rabbitohs will tackle Queensland Cup champs Brisbane Tigers in a curtain raiser for the State Championship.

Ironically, the Tigers downed Burleigh Bears last week to break a 32-year-old drought of their own.

Now when the final siren sounds at Accor Stadium next Sunday, the winner will have swept aside more than three decades of heartache with consecutive titles in almost as many weeks.

BULLDOGS OVERCOME MINOR PREMIERS

Canterbury’s next generation of stars have put their names in lights after the Bulldogs held out a fast finishing Roosters 22-20 to hoist the club’s 10th Jersey Flegg Cup at CommBank Stadium.

In a magic day for the Canterbury pathways program, the under-21s overcame a four-point halftime deficit to add the Flegg trophy alongside the Harold Matthews Cup won by the under-17s earlier in the year.

For Bulldogs coach Luke Vella, the win was a culmination of hard work that has the club on target for a bright future.

“There‘s some good people that are in charge of our pathways which has really helped,” said Vella.

“It’s a testament to the club because they put so many resources and time into the pathways, and we are now seeing the seeing the fruits.

“And for the players, I can’t be more proud. Everyone's got a backstory, and worked so hard, I’m just happy that they get to enjoy themselves.”

After Roosters winger Xavier Chatfield-Mooka opened the scoring in the 10th minute, Canterbury immediately hit back along the left edge, a lovely tap-on by backrower Harry Hayes was backed up five minutes later when the No.11’s solo effort gave Canterbury a 10-4 lead.

In a game of tit for tat, the tricolours then struck twice to lead 14-10 at the break.

The second half was end-to-end as the Bulldogs halves pairing of man of the match Joseph O’Neill and young NRL star Karl Oloapu jousted with their opposites Cassius Tia and Jake Elliot.

Joash Papalii was dangerous all day, and when the Bulldogs fullback combined with Oloapu to put Danny Gabrael over five minutes after the break, Canterbury led 16-14 and were never headed.

Winger Jordi Mazzone then extended the margin to eight before Roosters interchange player Salesi Foketi scored to get the Roosters within two in the closing stages.

THIRD TIME LUCKY

Canterbury winger Jordi Mazzone had already scored in the first half, and the speedy winger could easily have finished the day with another three.

With the Dogs up by two in the second half, Mazzone was then held up over the line before he was then brought down a blade of grass shy of the stripe.

But it was third time lucky when an early ball from Hayes saw the speedster out pace the cover to the left corner.

“I was glad to see Jordi head straight for the corner,” said Hayes in the afterglow of victory.

“It was a huge scramble from everyone out there. It’s insane, especially after we beat the Roosters a fortnight ago too.

“Now we have our own history and legacy at the club.”

MINOR PREMIERS FALL SHORT TWICE

The loss was a bitter pill for the Roosters to swallow.

Following on from last season, when they also finished top of the ladder, the club would be disappointed to have nothing to show for two outstanding seasons.

PHOTO GALLERY

NSW CUP

JERSEY FLEGG

Originally published as NSWRL grand finals: South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs share in premiership glory