The Rabbitohs' narrow 20-16 victory over Wests Tigers on the Central Coast came with a heavy price, as both halves for the visitors left the field injured during a tense final quarter that saw South Sydney's composure tested repeatedly.
Jarome Luai limped off with 13 minutes remaining with a knee injury, followed soon after by Adam Doueihi, who clutched at his right hamstring as the Tigers chased the game with two minutes left. Both players are expected to require scans to determine the extent of the damage.
The match itself told a story of two distinct phases. The Rabbitohs came out firing at Polytec Stadium, racing to a 12-0 lead in the opening stages. Yet the momentum shifted late in the first half with Wests Tigers scoring two tries in the final three minutes, leaving South Sydney stunned when the teams headed to the sheds with the Tigers leading 14-12.
What unfolded in the second half was a performance marked by South Sydney's clinical finishing against the Tigers' dominance in field position. At the break, Wests Tigers had 55 per cent of possession, completing 18 of 23 sets compared to South Sydney's 16 of 22. Yet the Rabbitohs converted their chances when they mattered most.
Alex Johnston extended his record as the NRL's all-time leading try-scorer to 214 tries after collecting a Cody Walker grubber kick to set up the winning score. The winger's crucial plays in attack and defence proved the difference, having now scored 20 tries from 18 games against the Tigers.
For Benji Marshall's Tigers, the loss represented a squandered opportunity despite their work rate. The club arrived in Gosford sitting sixth on the ladder after posting an impressive 44-16 victory over North Queensland in round two, full of confidence. Instead, they depart with serious injury concerns hanging over a new halves combination that had only recently clicked together.
The pairing of Luai and Doueihi had clicked immediately in the Tigers' commanding win over the Cowboys, prompting optimism about sustained improvement. Now Wests faces uncertain availability for both playmakers heading into the following week.
The Rabbitohs, meanwhile, secured their footing after losing to the Roosters in Round 2. The victory demonstrated the capacity to win ugly when precision deserted them; South Sydney was far from their best but found a way to close out a tight contest against a team that refused to go away.