Greg Inglis of the Rabbitohs looks to pass during the round three NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Photo / Getty Images.
Greg Inglis of the Rabbitohs looks to pass during the round three NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Photo / Getty Images.
A barnstorming performance at fullback from Greg Inglis has helped South Sydney to their first NRL win of the season, a 40-24 mauling of Penrith today.
South Sydney shot out of the blocks at Penrith, crossing three times in the first 13 minutes and always looked in control of thematch despite clocking off and conceding two tries just before halftime.
Queensland and Australian representative Inglis, playing his first club game at fullback since round 12, 2007, looked a different player at the back.
He was involved at every opportunity, making 170 metres and throwing defenders off him at will on kick returns.
He looked a fearsome prospect when he nabbed a try to start the second half after bursting onto a pass, running 35 metres before trampling over Panthers fullback Lachlan Coote and touching down in the corner.
Coach Michael Maguire would've held his breath in the 64th minute when Inglis limped out of an awkward tackle, but those fears would have been erased when Dave Taylor crossed for his second try moments later - as Inglis indicated he would be right to play on.
The Rabbitohs opened the stronger, with debutant winger Andrew Everingham enjoying a dream start to his NRL career by scoring with his first touch after just 80 seconds thanks to a lovely flick pass from centre Matt King.
South Sydney continued the razzle dazzle footy when Roy Asotasi finished off a 50-metre play when he backed up a John Sutton run to score next to the posts.
And Taylor stamped his mark on the game.
The 122kg second-rower grabbed the ball from dummy-half 10 metres out from the tryline, grubbered for himself and then beat Coote and Travis Burns to the ball to score inches inside the dead-ball line to give the visitors an 18-0 lead.
The whole-hearted Burns scored twice, while hooker Kevin Kingston and lock Nathan Smith also crossed for the home side.
South Sydney kicked two goals just before halftime when Sam McKendry, who was put on report, and Chris Armit were penalised for two separate instances for late tackles on the kicker, which gave the Rabbitohs a 10-point buffer at the break.
