As it happened: Rabbitohs run riot over Dragons

Post match

Dragons 

Rabbitohs

Fulltime: The Rabbitohs prove far too good for a drained Dragons side, running riot with a 40-0 win. Outside of the opening few moments of each half where the Dragons offered some resistance, for the most part it was a wholly lopsided affair, with the Bunnies putting in a clinical performance, finishing the game with a 95 percent completion rate. It seems the wind was really taken out of the sails of the Dragons in their close loss to the Warriors last week, with the side unable to lift to the challenge of the Rabbitohs this week. There were seven different try scorers for the Bunnies, including one to Alex Johnston, who draws ever closer to the all-time record. 

There were plenty of strong performers for the Rabbitohs in the win, including Jye Gray with a try, 357 run metres and three tackle breaks while Tallis Duncan had a try, a line break, three line break assists and a try assist. 

76th min: The one way traffic continues with Tyrone Munroe getting in on the act - showcasing an array of footwork to bamboozle the Dragons defenders. Stepping through the defence at the line, he shimmies his way down the field and then puts on five hot steps to confuse Gutherson before striding away to score, performing a swan dive for good measure. Ward converts and it's 40-0. 

72nd min: Fletcher runs over for a try of his own, skipping through some would-be tacklers and selling a dummy to Clint Gutherson at the back before diving through under the posts. Duncan helps set it up by taking the ball from the left all the way over to the right side of the field before the Bunnies cut back in to run through some tired Dragons defenders. Ward converts once more and it's a very dominant 34-0. 

65th min: More points for the Rabbitohs who have rarely be troubled in this match by the Dragons. Peter Mamouzelos runs over after a double pump to his right from young five-eighth Ward sets it up, with Thomas Fletcher running through before passing back inside to the Greek international to run in and score. Ward converts and it's 28-0. 

46th min: Tallis Duncan doesn't pass to his left to an unmarked Johnston and goes over to score himself to extend the lead. Again an error is costly for the Dragons, with Cody Walker - playing his second game back from injury - again playing a big role in the lead-up with his passing. Ward converts for a 22-0 lead. 

46th min: Dragons lose a captain's challenge, with the Bunker agreeing that Corey Allen knocks a ball on without it touching Johnston who was also up competing for the ball. 

45th min: Much more zest shown by the Dragons to start the second half, with a break through the middle from Jacob Liddle getting them into an attacking area, with Max Feagai almost able to pull a remarkable try out of the hat, trying to come from outside and in around Bunnies defenders trying to shepherd the ball over the line. It's must closer than originally thought, but he brings it down onto the line. Score remains 16-0. 

Half-time: The Bunnies are in full control at the break with a 16-0 lead, punishing the Dragons for their error and capitalising with points. After a steady start, the visitors gave up the first error of the match to give the Rabbitohs an advantage they held on to for the rest of the half, scoring three tries, including one to Alex Johnston who edges ever closer to breaking the all try record. With 56 percent of the possession with a 100 percent completion rate and only producing one error to the four from the Dragons, Wayne Bennett's men will be hoping to keep their momentum going in the second half. For the Dragons, who would have had to have done a lot of work to pick themselves up from last week's draining loss to the Warriors, they will be hoping to kick-start the game again in the second half and get back into the contest.

38th min: He inches ever closer to the record, with Johnston over for the Bunnies just before the halftime break. The Dragons are left to rue another error with Jacob Liddle turning the ball over in a tackle in his own half. The Bunnies attack go out to their left, with their reliable winger able to catch a ball flung out by Tallis Duncan. Ward can't convert this one from the sideline and the score remains 16-0. 

27th min: Another try to the Bunnies, with fan favourite Jye Gray sprinting over to score out on the left. Getting the ball back after some strong defence pulled the Dragons over the sideline when they were looking to get into some attacking form, it was instead the Bunnies would could pounce again. Going through the hands to the outside, the ball found Johnston who made a line break and while fans would have be willing him to go all the way, he passed it to his supporting fullback to extend the lead. Ward converts against for 12-0. 

17th min: The first error of the game helps bring about the first try of the match, with Jacob Host pouncing on a nice kick into the in-goal. After a solid back-and-forth start by both teams, the rhythm is shifted with a poorly-executed offload attempt from Emre Guler turning over possession and the Bunnies bounce up the field. Ashton Ward converts for a 6-0 lead.

AJ Watch: The Bunnies winger needs three more tries to draw equal with Ken Irvine's record number of tries.

Kick off: The Bunnies have first use of the ball as they kick off Round 25 against the Dragons. 

Another milestone in the career of supercoach Wayne Bennett, in charge of his 100th game for the Rabbitohs this evening.

Late Mail

Rabbitohs: Keaon Koloamatangi is set to make his early return from an ankle injury that threatened to end his season. There are no changes to the 1-18 named on Tuesday. Earlier, Latrell Mitchell's comeback from a pinched nerve in his back was put on hold until the last game of the season. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape was also been ruled out after being placed in the concussion protocol. Tallis Duncan will line up in the centres after switching mid-game last week. Lachlan Hubner is back on deck and will line up at lock, with Jai Arrow shifting to the second row. Coach Wayne Bennett confirmed on Wednesday that Cody Walker will again come off the bench after last week's return from injury.

Dragons: A few late changes for the Dragons with Jacob Liddle to start at hooker, moving Damien Cook to starting lock. Ben Murdoch-Masila pushes back to the bench. Raymond Faitala-Mariner comes from the reserves to the bench, with Tyrell Sloan to fulfil 18th player duties. Earlier in the week, young gun Jacob Halangahu was named to start for the first time in his NRL career as St George Illawarra navigate a growing injury crisis. The Dragons will be without Jack de Belin, Hamish Stewart and Hame Sele, who all suffered concussions last week.