It was a high-scoring affair between the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs in the Jersey Flegg Cup, while the NSW Cup side was pipped against their cross-town rivals.
The Kaiviti Silktails were also unable to claim a victory against Cronulla, while the Ron Massey Cup were unsuccessful on return after two weeks.
NSW Cup: Bulldogs 22 def by Rabbitohs 36
by Stewart Moses, NSWRL.com.au
The South Sydney Rabbitohs twice overcame first half deficits to put a dent into the Canterbury Bulldogs' finals aspirations with an upset 36-22 win at Accor Stadium this afternoon.
Having trailed 8-nil and then 12-6 at the main break, the Rabbitohs stunned the Bulldogs with a five unanswered tries in the second half to reverse their Round Seven 62-18 trouncing at the hands of their opponents and in the process move off the bottom of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup ladder.
The loss for the Bulldogs, minus a plethora of NRL experienced personnel, means they drop back to seventh spot on the ladder and are now three points behind top five rivals, the Panthers and Jets.
The Bulldogs started brightly enough, taking advantage of some early HIA issues suffered by the Rabbitohs' Matt French and Fletcher Myers, to open the scoring when winger Jordi Mazzone scored over on the eastern side of the field in the 10th minute, to give the Blue and Whites an early 4-0 advantage.
NSW Cup Highlights - Round 15, 2025
Off the back of a Souths turnover, the Bulldogs doubled their lead midway through the opening half when quick hands from back rower Logan Spinks and half Joseph Teaupa, resulted to a try to winger Jonathon Sua in the northwest corner, again unconverted by five-eighth Cassius Tua to leave the visitors 8-0 up.
Souths hit back with a try of their own in the 28th minute when a deft grubber into the in-goal was pounced upon by replacement forward Henry O'Kane and with the successful conversion from five-eighth Ashton Ward, the Rabbitohs despite being outplayed for much of the half, suddenly trailed by just the two points.
The Bulldogs replied with their third unconverted try when a kick ahead into open spaces was regathered by centre Danny Gabriel, who went over in the corner untouched to extend the lead back out to six, with eight minutes remaining to the main break.
Having trailed 12-6 at halftime, Souths turned the game on its head early in the second half, scoring five unanswered tries to take control of the game.
The first of those tries came when quick hands left enabled interchange replacement Leonard Skelton to score in the north west corner and with Ward's conversion, score were level, 12 a piece after 45 minutes.
From the ensuing set, Souths were in again when the Bulldogs defence were unable to stop a strong charge at the line by Ward, with the Rabbitohs crashing over next to the posts to give the Rabbitohs a massive boost in confidence suddenly leading 18-12.
Match: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
Round 15 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
12th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
7th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Midway through the second half, Souths stunned the Bulldogs with their third consecutive converted try, after O'Kane was rewarded for a determined effort, with his second try for the afternoon, pushing the home side further in front with the biggest lead of the game, 24-12.
Two more converted tries to the Rabbitohs, through Daniel O'Donnell in the 64th minute and Tim Johannssen in the 68th minute, put the game beyond the Bulldogs' reach trailing 36-12.
The Bulldogs finally stemmed the flow of points to their opponents when a regather from the kick-off allowed centre Enari Tuala to score untouched in the south west corner in the 71st minute, again unconverted. A late try to Gabriel on the stroke of full-time, his second of the afternoon, converted by Sua, added some respectability to the 36-22 scoreline.
Talking Points
- Souths came into this clash in last place having won just three games all season prior to today's clash, against their sixth-placed opponents and looking to avenge a heavy 62-18 Round Seven loss at the hands of the Bulldogs.
- The Bulldogs enjoyed 9-1 win-loss advantage over their opponents coming into this game.
- Souths' stunning win came despite early HIA's suffered by Fletcher Myers and Matt French, the latter required to be replaced by 18th man Leonard Skelton.
- The Bulldogs were missing the likes of Blake Taaffe, Blake Wilson, Drew Hutchinson, Jake Turpin and Kurtis Morrin.
- Souths' five-eighth Ashton Ward, had a productive afternoon, scoring 16 points from a try and six conversions from as many attempts.
Key Moment
The Bulldogs had the better of play in the first half to lead 12-6 at the break. But once Souths got their act together and cut the mistakes from their game, their enthusiasm shined with five unanswered second half tries to stun their more fancied opponents.
The two tries scored off consecutive sets to Skelton and Ward, within the opening ten minutes of the half, put the Rabbitohs into the lead for the first time, and were never headed from there.
What's Next?
The seventh-placed Bulldogs will host the Canberra Raiders at Belmore Sports Ground next Saturday while the Rabbitohs will be desperate to record back-to-back wins when they take on the Manly Sea Eagles, later in the day at Accor Stadium.
Jersey Flegg Cup: Bulldogs 34 def Rabbitohs 30, Silktails 10 def by Sharks 46
Match: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
Round 15 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
13th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
6th Position
Venue: Redfern Oval, Sydney
The Bulldogs held off a fast-finishing South Sydney at Redfern Oval, claiming a high-scoring 34-30 win on Saturday afternoon.
The boys from Belmore shot out to a 22-12 lead at the break thanks to braces to Jope Rauqe and William Afualo, and that extended further early in the second half with a try to Patrick Young.
However, the home side finished with a wet sail, with a try to Damon Marshall in the 60th minute proving to be the difference.
The Bulldogs will face the Canberra Raiders on Saturday afternoon at 1:45pm in Round 16.
Jersey Flegg Cup Highlights - Round 16
Meanwhile, the Kaiviti Silktails were unable to return to the winners' circle in Round 15, downed 46-10 at Sharks Stadium against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
Despite scoring the first try in the 27th minute with Isoa Lakepa touching down, the Silktails trailed 10-6 following two quick fire tries from the hosts to end the first half.
Unfortunately, it was the home side who continued their momentum, scoring five tries in the ensuing 20 minutes to extend their lead - with Asalusi Nagicu touching down for a consolation try late in the match.
In Round 16, the Silktails host the Sydney Roosters at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Ron Massey Cup: Bulldogs 22 def by Mounties 58
It was a tough return back to the field for the Ron Massey Cup side after two weeks on the sidelines, defeated 58-22 to Mounties at North Sydney Oval.
Match: Mounties v Bulldogs
Round 11 -
home Team
Mounties
away Team
Bulldogs
Venue: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Unable to shake off the cobwebs, the Bulldogs climbed back from a 16-nil deficit early to claw their way back to 20-12 in the first half, however despite tries to Khalil Rahme (18th minute), Tanu Nona (33rd), Lleyton Borg (50th) and Blair Tagi-Fuimaono 58', the side were unable to secure the two points.
The Bulldogs will turn their attention to the Hills Bulls in Round 12.
