Game Summary
The South Sydney Rabbitohs produced a stunning last-gasp finish to defeat the Melbourne Storm 22-16 in a thriller at Seabrook Reserve in Round Eight of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
Thomas Fletcher sealed a dramatic victory with a hat-trick try on the siren, sending the Rabbitohs to five consecutive wins in their 2026 campaign.
The Storm started the brighter of the two sides, opening the scoring when five-eighth Keagan Russell-Smith's perfectly weighted grubber found Moses Leo, who pounced to score in the corner. A fortuitous bounce off a Russell-Smith chip kick then fell perfectly for edge back-rower Preston Conn to touch down, putting the home side 8-0 in front.
The Rabbitohs hit back through some clinical left-edge play, with Thomas Fletcher crossing for his first try after halves partner Ashton Ward drew the defence and fed him into open space. Winger Edward Kosi then finished a well-constructed movement to level the scores at 8-8, before fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hape's conversion edged the visitors in front.
It was Mitch Jennings who swung the pendulum back in Melbourne's favour right on half-time. A sharp pass from hooker Lazarus Vaalepu sent Jennings around the corner and over the line in the final seconds, sending the Storm to the sheds with a 14-10 lead and momentum firmly in their grasp.
A penalty goal to Eli Morris early in the second half extended the Storm's advantage to six points, and for a period they looked capable of running away with the contest. However the Rabbitohs refused to buckle, with Jonah Glover's return from a head injury assessment providing a boost as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.
Fletcher struck again with a try on the left edge to level the scores at 16-all with 13 minutes remaining, converting a looping Liam Le Blanc pass after the Storm defence was spread thin. Bentley-Hape added the conversion to tie the match, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.
With the game in the balance and under a minute remaining, the Rabbitohs were awarded a penalty deep in their own half. Ashton Ward took the all-or-nothing option down the short side and found Fletcher unmarked on the edge. The powerful back-rower crashed over on the siren, completing his hat-trick and handing South Sydney a stunning 22-16 victory that will live long in the memory at Seabrook Reserve.
Bentley-Hape added the conversion in the final seconds as a formality, capping off a remarkable comeback win.
Talking Points
Thomas Fletcher was the undisputed match-winner, completing a hat-trick on the siren after shaking off an ankle complaint midway through the second half. The 22-year-old's ability to finish in traffic was the hallmark in a performance that underlines his rapid rise through the ranks.
Keagan Russell-Smith was outstanding in the halves for the Storm, laying on two first-half tries with the boot and consistently threatening with ball in hand. He will be a player to watch as the season progresses.
Jack Hetherington was a handful for the Rabbitohs from the opening exchanges, regularly producing offloads and post-contact metres that put the defence on the back foot.
The returns of Ward and Glover from injury gave the Rabbitohs plenty of energy in attack. Both showed sharp signs of form in their return to action and will only improve as match fitness builds across the coming weeks.
Key Moment
With the scores locked at 16-all and under a minute on the clock, the Rabbitohs received a penalty in their own half. Rather than taking the safe two points, Ward chose to attack down the short side and delivered a pinpoint pass to the charging Fletcher, who crossed untouched on the siren. It was a match-winning decision that sealed South Sydney's fifth consecutive win.
What's Next?
The Storm now turn their attention to a trip to Newcastle in Round Nine, while the Rabbitohs will enjoy a well-earned bye before returning to action against the Newtown Jets at Coogee Oval in Round 10.
