AS IT HAPPENED: Junior Tatola in trouble for chicken wing, Latrell Mitchell fires up crowd as Rabbitohs run riot

Thanks for following along - we'll be back next week as we work out who will take on who in the NRL grand final.

There'll be plenty more to come but you can read all about Latrell thanking fans at 'Trellianz' Stadium, while Souths will be sweating on the NRL's match review committee charge sheet after Tevita Tatola was reported for a chicken wing tackle.

The Rabbitohs will play Sydney's Accor Stadium in a grand final rematch next Saturday night while the Cowboys play host to Parramatta on Friday.

Latrell Mitchell is speaking after that big win - and is thoroughly enjoying the red and green takeover of Allianz Stadium.

"They're calling it Trellianz now, so I'll take that hey," he said afterwards.

"They turned up again, and you could just see they outdid the Sharks today," he said about the fans.

"We want them to keep doing it and keep turning up - I get goosebumps every time I run out and it's just the whole vibe and the passion just runs through me when I hear it, and I know the other boys get a kick out of it as well."

Mitchell wasn't present in either 2020 or 2021 when Souths were knocked out in each of those seasons by Penrith, and is desperate to be the difference maker this time.

"We take our learnings out of this game - you've always got stuff to work on, and it's an exciting one.

"We're on the right side of the draw."

"I feel like I'm back in Taree again running around in the backyard, plain and simple like that. I've been a lot more professional, got my head on my shoulders - I just love the game of footy."

He praised their vanquished opponents, who can hold their high despite the flat end to their season.

"Throw the old cliche out there and credit to the boys," Mitchell said.

"The Sharks, they want to be really proud of their effort and what Craig Fitzgibbon has been able to do there, and be able to bring joy back to the Shire.

"I know their fans will be disappointed and the players are definitely, but, yeah, got to give credit to them, where credit's due.

A dominant win for Souths, and that's now eight preliminary finals in the last 11 years.

"It was the defence," captain Cameron Murray said afterwards.

"We talked about keeping them to 14 points and under and we did that.

"We were under the pump in the first half and we were able 20 hold them out and really pleased with our defensive effort.

They'll move on to a grand final re-match next week against Penrith.

"They are probably the best, without a doubt," Murray said.

"So we will have to be good. We'll watch the tape during the week, see what their game plan is and we will give it our best."

A pretty strange try to extend the lead, but they all count!

Lachlan Ilias fires out a cut-out ball but it bounces along the ground, prompting the Sharks to pause - but Taane Milne then scoops it up and dives over to score.

It looked ugly, but it's all above board - another sideline kick from Mitchell and that is that!

That should be that!

It's brilliant work by Cameron Murray in the leadup to engage them in the line, before the five-eighth does the rest.

Once again, the tackling just isn't good enough. Barring a huge miracle, Souths will be getting their grand final rematch next week.

What a turning point this could be!

Souths are camped on the Cronulla line here and another try here would probably be curtains - but it's a 12-point swing instead.

Latrell Mitchell goes for that massive cut-out ball to the left, Jesse Ramien gets a touch to it and it goes backwards to Ronaldo Mulitalo, who has too much pace for anyone to get near him.

If that goes wrong it's 28 or 30-6. Instead, it's 24-12 with just over 20 to go.

A big moment here - a bomb goes up to Isaiah Tass on the wing, who is back there with Alex Johnston defending in the line.

The replacement winger spills it, but Jesse Ramien was offside and that's an easy call for the Bunker.

Johnston limps off shortly afterwards, and has a cork in his thigh - he's unlikely to return.

This is glorious rugby league from the Bunnies - and that Cronulla comeback bid didn't last long!

They chance their arm down the right, Campbell Graham splits them and eventually offloads to Latrell Mitchell - he fires it out to Taane Milne on the wing who in turn passes it to Lachlan Ilias, who dives over and scores.

Some sensational short side footy, and Latrell turns to the crowd with his arms raised as he slots the kick from out wide.

Cameron Murray coughs it up on the opening set - and Cronulla strike!

It's a perfectly placed kick from Nicho Hynes this time, Ronaldo Mulitalo beats Isaiah Tass in the air and taps it back to Briton Nikora, who dives over in the corner!

Nicho Hynes slots the sideline kick - is this game on?

A brutal blow for Cronulla - but that's really soft defending again in the middle!

The trademark move to the left doesn't come off, Cody Walker turns around and flings it back in to the middle of the park, and not long after that, the captain is running right through some very weak tackles and scoring right through the heart of the Cronulla line again!

That could be curtains for the Sharks, who will now have an 18-point deficit to come back from in the second half.