11 Aug 2014

Souths beat Manly

10:11 am on 11 August 2014

Second-placed South Sydney have revived their hopes of winning the National Rugby League's minor premiership with an emphatic 23-4 victory over leaders Manly.

On a night to forget for the Sea Eagles, the Rabbitohs closed to within two points of the competition lead on the back of an inspiring performance from English forward Sam Burgess.

Burgess was nigh unstoppable and rode roughshod over Manly in an ominous display that should have super coach Wayne Bennett eating humble pie.

It was Bennett who claimed after Souths put his Newcastle side to the sword on Sunday that the Rabbitohs couldn't win a Premiership with their predictable power game.

On that basis, Manly won't either after simply having no answers to the Rabbitohs' strength and power.

Manly also lost backline enforcer Steve Matai inside five minutes, the New Zealand Test centre suffering an apparent dislocated left shoulder in a suspect tackle from Souths pair Issac Luke and George Burgess.

In Friday night's other game, the sixth-placed Canterbury Bulldogs were beaten 41-10 by the Broncos in Brisbane, who climb up to ninth as the race for the NRL playoffs intensifies.