The Brisbane Broncos have been thrashed 46-0 by South Sydney, while prop Payne Haas may miss State of Origin II after being placed on report twice in his side’s heavy defeat.
Key points:
- Haas was put on report for a high shot and a crusher tackle
- The Rabbitohs scored eight tries in the convincing win
- The Broncos have lost four straight matches
Haas was placed on report in the first half at Lang Park for a high tackle on New South Wales teammate Cameron Murray, but it is a second charge which may lead to him missing Origin II in Brisbane on June 27.
Haas was placed on report for a crusher tackle on Rabbitohs prop Mark Nicholls in the same tackle that led to Broncos interchange forward John Asiata being stretchered off the field following a clash of heads.
Under NRL guidelines, the base penalty for a grade-one crusher tackle is 200 points, meaning if Haas is charged the only way he would be free to play for the Blues would be to fight the charge successfully.
Haas’s worries were just one of several dramas for Broncos coach Kevin Walters as the Rabbitohs ran riot in Brisbane.
As well as Asiata, the Broncos lost outside backs Jesse Arthars and youngster Selwyn Cobbo in the first half to head knocks, as second-last Brisbane slumped to a fourth straight defeat.
Broncos back rower Tevita Pangai Junior, who has been given permission to speak to rival clubs, was also placed on report for a crusher tackle on Murray in the first half.
The Rabbitohs, who welcomed back Origin quartet Dane Gagai, Jai Arrow, Damien Cook and Murray, opened the scoring in the 10th minute when a clever inside ball from Cody Walker allowed Latrell Mitchell to bash his way through the Broncos’ tryline defence.
Further tries to Gagai and Campbell Graham extended the lead to 18-0 at half-time.
A rare highlight for the Broncos in the first half was a wonderful chase and tackle by Xavier Coates when Gagai snared an intercept and ran 80 metres, before being hauled over the touchline by his Queensland teammate.
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Hame Sele barrelled past both Haas and Matt Lodge to score his first NRL try early in the second half, before a quick-fire double to Alex Johnston took the Rabbitohs winger to the top of the try scorers list above Josh Addo-Carr with 17 four-pointers so far this year.
When Graham reached out to complete his double in the 62nd minute, the Broncos had conceded 40 points for the sixth time this year.
The victory is the Rabbitohs’ biggest win over the Broncos and a fitting way for Wayne Bennett to mark his 200th match as a coach at Lang Park.
AAP
