Milne, Montoya shine but Rabbitohs steal win

Fiji Bati winger Marcelo Montoya and centre Taane Milne scored a brace of tries each for their respective teams but the Sydney Rabbitohs secured a slender 32-30 win against the New Zealand Warriors in round 10 of NRL yesterday.  

 

The Rabbitohs made an impressive start through back to back tries through Milne inside 13 minutes and started the onslaught with the winger benefiting from two right side raids to send him over untouched but conversion failed.

 

Errors from the Warriors gave away more opportunities to the Rabbitohs and it was Alex Johnston and Blake Taaffe who extended the visitors' lead before Damien Cook took advantage of a quick play the ball scored the side's fifth and Blake Taaffe converted twice.

 

Minutes later, the Rabbitohs were denied a sixth try through Lachlan Ilias after the Bunnies halfback lost the ball in the greasy conditions.

 

The Warriors got on the board with three seconds left before half-time - Marcelo Montoya returning from a four-week ban by going over in the corner and Reece Walsh converted.

 

The Rabbitohs continued with their strong play in the second spell and this time Ilias made sure he got the try for the Rabbitohs in the 49th minute and Taaffe’s conversion extended the lead.

 

The Warriors made a strong comeback with four unanswered tries from Adam Pompey, Jazz Tevaga and Daejarn Asi while Montoya doubled his try in the 78th minute and Walsh  slotted the conversions.

 

By Romeka Romena