NRL: Merritt hattrick sets up Rabbitohs win

Chris McQueen of the Rabbitohs scores a try. Photo / Getty Images

South Sydney 47 Canberra 18

Nathan Merritt made it eight tries in six days as South Sydney kept their NRL finals hopes alive with a 47-18 drubbing of Canberra.

Merritt, who scored five tries in last Monday's 56-6 thrashing of Parramatta, added another three at Canberra Stadium as the Rabbitohs ran in eight tries to three in a match that won't be remembered for its defence.

Souths achieved the victory with star centre Greg Inglis, who scored two tries, missing the second half as he recovered from an early head clash with Raiders prop Brett White.

The Rabbitohs notched three straight wins for the first time in 2011 and are now just two points outside the top eight following Newcastle's 20-12 loss to the Warriors on Saturday night.

Next weekend shapes as crucial for John Lang's side, who meet North Queensland at ANZ Stadium, while the Knights will have a massive battle hosting third-placed Brisbane.

The Rabbitohs play the Knights in the final round of the regular season in a match that could determine eighth spot.

Against Souths, though, is their points differential - minus-five compared with Newcastle's 49.

As well as Merritt and Inglis, Dylan Farrell, Ben Ross and Chris McQueen scored tries for Souths with Sandow booting seven from nine and a field goal.

For Canberra, Blake Ferguson, Josh Dugan and Reece Robinson bagged four-pointers, while Jarrod Croker kicked three from three.

Souths led 24-6 at halftime and increased that to 36-6 with a Merritt double after the break before something of a Raiders comeback.

Dugan scored in the 58th minute and Robinson in the 64th before a Sandow field goal made it 37-12 in favour of the visitors.

Merritt got his hat-trick when he brilliantly collected a John Sutton kick in the 72nd minute and McQueen iced the cake in the 78th.

Earlier, an ominous afternoon looked on the cards for the Raiders when Souths came up with a 108m try from inside their own in-goal to score their first try in the ninth minute.

Sandow picked up a Sam Williams grubber and sprinted away before sending Farrell over under the posts.



SOUTH SYDNEY 47 (N Merritt 3 G Inglis 2 D Farrell C McQueen B Ross tries C Sandow 7 goals C Sandow field goal) bt CANBERRA 18 (J Dugan B Ferguson R Robinson tries J Croker 3 goals) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Steve Lyons, Tony De Las Heras. Crowd: 12,150.

- AAP