Rabbitohs overcome depleted Sharks

South Sydney beat the Sharks 18-0 at Remondis Stadium. Source: Brett Costello / News Corp Australia

SOUTH Sydney fans will be cheering after the Bunnies pushed their way into the NRL top eight — but make no mistake Michael Maguire's men still have some work to do before they can be rated a serious premiership force.

In a scrappy and lacklustre Monday night clash in Cronulla the Rabbitohs were never seriously under threat as they closed out a 18-0 shutout of the NRL's bottom placed team.

South Sydney's Sam Burgess on his way to scoring a try. Source: News Corp Australia

But given the Sharks were without seven of their best players and lost another two players before and during Monday night's encounter, the three tries to nil win over the Sharks won't go down as the Bunnies' most impressive performance of the season.

The Rabbitohs managed just one first half try to Sam Burgess to lead 8-0 at half-time before Kirisome Auva'a and Cameron McInnes added two more within six minutes midway through the second half to finally put the Sharks out of their misery — at least for another week.

South Sydney's Adam Reynolds opt for a grubber kick on the 5th tackle. Source: News Corp Australia

But coming off last round's disappointing loss to Melbourne, Souths' fans can at least be thankful that the win pushes them into seventh on the table ahead of next Monday night's game against the under siege St George Illawarra.

The Sharks were far from disgraced but for all their effort they just didn't have the quality to match their star-studded opposition.

Cronulla had won their previous three games at home against the Bunnies but Souths were always going to be a massive assignment in veteran John Morris' 300th NRL game.

A Sharks fan cheer for John Morris who played his 300th NRL game. Source: Getty Images

Already without Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis due to Origin commitments and with five big name stars including Todd Carney and Andrew Fifita also missing through injury, the last thing the Sharks needed before kick-off was another casualty.

But they lost David Fifita to injury during warm-up and then stand-in five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth's first two clearing kicks were charged down and the third travelled straight into touch.

Cronulla's David Fifita leaves the field with an injury during warm up. Source: News Corp Australia

Still they managed to hold off the Rabbitohs until midway through the first half when little Apisai Koroisau belted Sosaia Feki with a bone-crunching hit that forced a turnover just 10 metres out from Cronulla's line.

From the next set the Rabbitohs bounced.

A neat short ball from Adam Reynolds putting Sam Burgess one-on-one with Jeff Robson and the big Englishman crashed over for his side's first try.

But in the countdown to half-time Cronulla had a change of luck when Rabbitohs sensation Alex Johnston looked to have scored a length of the field try only to have it called back for a knock on.

Cronulla's Sosaia Feki is wrapped up in a tackle by Souths' Sam Burgess. Source: News Corp Australia

It came after Feki couldn't handle a Jeff Robson cross field kick but Johnston was also ruled to have knocked on when the ball accidentally rolled off his left arm.

But soon after Reynolds slotted a penalty goal to make it 8-0 at half-time.

To their credit Cronulla managed to stay in contention through sheer desperation but without their class players they just lacked the polish to penetrate Souths' tryline defence.

Jeff Robson is tackled by Sam Burgess. Source: Getty Images

But with only Greg Inglis, Chris McQueen and Ben Te's missing from the Rabbitohs side the performance was still a long way short of where Michael Maguire would want them right now.

While Souths' scrambling defence saved them on numerous occasions the fact the severely depleted Sharks were still in the contest midway through the second half told the story of how the Bunnies' attack is still missing the creativity that is going to worry the best teams.

South Sydney's Kirisome Auva'a celebrates after scoring a try. Source: News Corp Australia

Dylan Walker eventually set up his team's second try in the 56th minute when he sprinted into space before offloading to his centre partner Kirisome Auva'a raced away to make it 12-0 heading into the final quarter.

SOUTH SYDNEY 18 (K Auva'a S Burgess C McInnes tries A Reynolds 3 goals) bt CRONULLA 0 at Remondis Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Grant Atkins. Crowd: 8,137

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