Hot Bunnies outlast struggling Raiders to continue NRL win streak

Dynamic winger Alex Johnston scored two tries for South Sydney who outclassed and outlasted Canberra 34-20 at GIO Stadium on Thursday night.

Johnston starred for the Rabbitohs alongside fullback Cody Walker, veteran playmaker Benji Marshall and captain Adam Reynolds, who crucially kicked five conversions and two penalty goals.

The Rabbitohs’ Benji Marshall looks to evade a tackler. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images

The Raiders – who suffered their fourth loss in a row – made a late surge however two tries by five-eighth Jack Wighton were denied by the bunker, to the dismay of the majority 14,260 crowd in Canberra.

The Raiders managed to keep their cool after halfback George Williams was a late withdrawal due to a hamstring injury suffered during the warm up, forcing Jordan Rapana to take stand-in kicking duties and other changes to the lineup.

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In a seesawing first half, the home side slightly out-muscled Souths and opened the scoring with winger Rapana completing a strong sweeping move in the sixth minute, which included a bullet pass from Wighton.

After a fumble by rookie fullback Caleb Aekins, the Rabbitohs capitalised on 17 minutes through Johnston after taking a wide pass from five-eighth Marshall.

Stand-in Raiders No.6 and captain Elliott Whitehead crossed in the 21st minute and centre Sebastian Kris extended the lead four minutes later.

But a bursting run by Campbell Graham saw the visitors hit back late in the first half and the Reynolds conversion took the sides to the sheds with Canberra up 16-14.

Dane Gagai crossed in the corner early in the second half and in another major show of strength, Johnston scored his second try out wide off a Walker pass.

Reynolds successfully converted taking the score to 26-16 and then the Bunnies hit full throttle, with versatile second-rower Jaydn Su’A seemingly putting the contest to bed on 59 minutes.

But in another late fightback, Raiders winger Rapana scored his second of the night in the 65th minute to set up an exciting finish before the two disallowed tries.

In further bad news for the hosts, winger Bailey Simonsson was placed on report for a dangerous lifting tackle.