All young fullbacks should make a point of watching what Jye Gray did in the 49th minute on Saturday night.
The South Sydney No. 1 made no shortage of breaks against the Eels, but it was his defensive effort during three straight plays that was nothing short of phenomenal.
Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray.Credit: Getty Images
Gray was the last line of defence when he chopped down Isaiah Iongi who was travelling at speed. He dusted himself off, got back in the line, then found himself having to stop Dylan Walker when he stepped off his right and angled back towards the smaller opponent.
Again, Gray held up Walker before two Souths teammates completed the tackle.
Gray then sprinted to his left on the last play and was there to scoop up a Mitchell Moses grubber.
The 21,395 fans inside Allianz Stadium appreciated what they had just seen, and applauded the man wearing the white headgear. They were on their feet again when he stopped Iongi with two minutes remaining.
The Bunnies triumphed 20-16, and Gray produced the greatest 80-minute performance by any Rabbitoh this season.
It was fitting the proudest Indigenous club, with 11 First Nations’ players, triumphed in Indigenous Round.
They will not play finals football, and were in the spoon race just a week ago, but it is nice to see them string a couple of wins together.
Alex Johnston failed to score a try, and remains three adrift of record-holder Ken Irvine. He never looked like scoring, and will go again next Thursday against St George Illawarra.
Tyrone Munro bagged the first four-pointer of the night, which the Gomeroi man would have loved, especially given he was named as 18th man at the start of the week – he only got the call-up once Latrell Mitchell went down – and especially given the significance of the round.
For those who might forget, Munro was the young player who lost his mother, Kirawhan Fernando, before a game against Penrith late last season, then his uncle, Raymond ‘Dunka’ Caldwell, on the actual day of the game. He finished that game with two tries, a heavy heart, and a lot of admiration from rival fans.
Munro also put a few decent shots on his good friend Josh Addo-Carr.
Cody Walker looked good when coming off the bench in his comeback game from injury, while Tallis Duncan bagged a double, including a second which was a result of his desperation to dive on a loose ball a few plays earlier.
Jacob Host was placed on report twice for a shoulder charge and hip-drop, and will do well to avoid suspension. But Mitchell and even Cameron Murray could be back on deck.
The Eels had no dramas making metres, but could not convert the field position into points.
Zac Lomax finished with a double, and they were pushing for the winning try late, only for Dylan Brown to spill the ball. It capped a rough night for Newcastle’s future $13m man, who also put a kick too deep, conceded a penalty, and was wrong-footed by Gray.
