Ricky Stuart delivers 'rocket' to young winger after bizarre showboating before try
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has been praised for "great coaching" after delivering a spray to winger Savelio Tamale who bizarrely stopped short before scoring for his side.
11 minutes to go in the first half with the Raiders leading 6-4, the Rabbitohs allowed a loose ball to fall to the ground on the halfway line before Tamale picked it up and ran towards the tryline.
Tamale had too much pace but decided to stop just before the line and was tackled by Cody Walker. The winger managed to get the ball down but copped words from Walker who punched the ball in frustration.
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"What is he thinking there?," Fox League caller Matt Russell said on Tamale's actions.
"If it's not an injury, how do you explain that?"
Stuart, coaching from the sideline, immediately called over Tamale and had a few choice words.
Ricky Stuart and Savelio Tamale. Fox League
"He's definitely got a rocket there, that's for sure ... it was great feedback by the coach," Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said at half-tikme.
Cooper Cronk also praised the "great coaching" from Stuart, describing Tamale's act as "show-off-manship".
The showboating did nothing to stop a dominant half from the Raiders in Perth as Kaeo Weekes and Hudson Young added more points to make it 24-4 at the break.
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South Sydney must have received a trademark Wayne Bennett address at half-time, with Cody Walker, Jamie Humphreys and Latrell Mitchell all scoring to make it 24-22 in the 57th minute.
The Raiders started to defy the comeback as Weekes and Ethan Strange scored. However, the Rabbitohs continued a see-sawing trend, with Alex Johnston and Jack Wighton all scoring to setup a grandstand finish at 36-34 in Canberra's way.
A final play on at full-time came with Mitchell kicking to Johnston in the corner. The winger couldn't take a clean break to give the Raiders a much-needed win.
The Rabbitohs also copped a blow in the match when Jye Gray left the field in the first half with an AC joint injury. The fullback was spotted in a sling post-match.