After a slow start from both teams the Rabbitohs opened the scoring with tries to Yileen Gordon and Germaine Paulson and opened up a 12-0 lead after 29 minutes. The Rabbitohs certainly looked to be the stronger team in the first forty but conceded a late try against the run of play and found themselves ahead just 12-6 at the break.

The Dragons looked like a different team in the second half, and captain Mark Gasnier made the most of some shaky South Sydney defence to claim the lead for his side with two well-taken tries. It took the re-injection of hooker Issac Luke to spark the Rabbitohs back into action, although a nice try to Feluti Talanoa was answered almost immediately by Jamie Soward as the lead continued to change hands.

The final say of the match went to Craig Wing, the “Prodigal Son” of the Rabbitohs, who scored a powerful try in the 75th minute to reclaim the lead for his new side – and this time they were able to hold onto it, despite some desperate last-minute Dragons attack that saw replacement Lagi Setu denied by the video referee.

Overall it was a deserved victory for South Sydney, who looked very sharp around the rucks thanks to Issac Luke, Craig Wing and Eddie Paea. Roy Asotasi led the way up front, while Fetuli Talanoa and Yileen Gordon were also heavily involved from the back. Their only notable injury concern was a hamstring twinge for Nigel Vagana.

The Dragons took their time to get into this match, and relied heavily on Jamie Soward and Mark Gasnier to produce their attacking spark. Dean Young, Rangi Chase and Ben Creagh were also amongst their best, while their wingers Jason Nightingale and Brett Morris look like they could cause plenty of problems for opposition sides this year.

Match Details
Charity Shield 2008 - Full Time :: March 1st, 2008 8:00pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Homebush
Referee: Tony Archer
Crowd: 25,127
Halftime: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 St George Illawarra Dragons 6

St George Illawarra Dragons 20
Tries: Jamie Soward (2), Mark Gasnier (2)
Goals: Jamie Soward (1/2), Ben Hornby (1/2)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24
Tries: Yileen Gordon, Germaine Paulson, Fetuli Talanoa, Craig Wing
Goals: Issac Luke (4/5)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match
3 Points: Issac Luke (Rabbitohs)
2 Points: Jamie Soward (Dragons)
1 Point: Mark Gasnier (Dragons)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Welcome to ANZ Stadium for the most eagerly anticipated trial match of each season. There's a very healthy looking crowd in, and the conditions look perfect for Rugby League.

The Rabbitohs will take to the field as named earlier in the week: Fetuli Talanoa, Nathaniel Barnes, Nigel Vagana, Yileen Gordon, Germaine Paulson; Ben Rogers, Craig Wing; Michael Greenfield, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (c), David Kidwell (c), Luke Stuart, John Sutton. Reserves: Eddie Paea, Dean Widders, Eddy Pettybourne, Manase Manuokafoa, Ben Lowe, Jaiman Lowe, George Ndaira, Sam Huihahau.

There's a few changes to the Dragons - their team is as follows: Ben Hornby, Jason Nighingale, Mark Gasnier (c), Matt Cooper, Brett Morris; Rangi Chase, Jamie Soward; Justin Poore, Ben Ellis, Jason Ryles, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh, Chase Stanley. Reserves: Ricky Thorby, Dean Young, Lagi Setu, Kirk Reynoldson, Jarrod Saffy, Stuart Webb, Simon Woolford, Michael Lett, Dan Hunt.

Tony Archer gets us underway ... GAME ON!

2 min: The Dragons receive a penalty on their first set of six, but come up with a fumble on the first tackle after the tap restart.

4 min: The Rabbitohs force a goal-line drop out and are looking dangerous on attack.

6 min: Ben Creagh gives away a penalty 10 metres out from his own line, and the Rabbitohs take a quick tap - but David Kidwell knocks-on and the Dragons are off the hook.

10 min: Ben Ellis chips ahead into the Rabbitohs in-goal, and Ben Creagh gets his fingertips to the ball - but can't gather it in to score. 20 metre tap restart for the Rabbitohs.

14 min: VIDEO REF - possible Rabbitohs try ...

14 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Ben Rogers (who has shown some nice touches with his boot tonight) puts a high chip-kick into the corner, Germaine Paulson taps it back and Yileen Gordon forces the ball to open the scoring. Issac Luke converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0

17 min: Ben Hornby tries a miracle offload in traffic and the Rabbitohs come up with the ball.

19 min: Jamie Soward comes up with a beautiful chip-and-chase, regathers the ball, but can't quite link up with Mark Gasnier on his outside. Possession is currently running 61%/39% in the Rabbitohs favour.

23 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Rabbitohs pass it through the hands this time, drawing in Dragons defenders and creating space for Germaine Paulson to score in the corner. Some of the Dragons seem a bit hesitant to tackle at the moment for some reason. Issac Luke's conversion attempt bounces away off the posts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10-0

28 min: ON REPORT - Kirk Reynoldson and Ricky Thorby are penalised for a lifting tackle on Yileen Gordon. Thorby looks to be the main offender and could be in trouble later on.

29 min: PENALTY GOAL South Sydney Rabbitohs
Simon Woolford gives away a stupid penalty in front of his own posts, and Issac Luke adds another two points.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-0

31 min: Yileen Gordon makes a break out wide and links up with Ben Rogers, who kicks ahead for Germaine Paulson to chase - but Brett Morris does well to get in the way as the ball crosses the tryline, and Dean Young is on hand to knock the ball dead.

33 min: Tony Archer reverses a knock-on decision against the Rabbitohs thanks to input from the Video Ref, and instead awards a penalty for a stripped ball.

37 min: VIDEO REF - possible Dragons try ...

37 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Jamie Soward chases a nice grubber kick from Rangi Chase and just wins the race to the ball ahead of Nigel Vagana to score. Soward converts his own try.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-6

39 min: Ricky Thorby drops the ball cold as he's getting up to play it.

HALFTIME: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 St George Illawarra Dragons 6

The Rabbitohs have been the dominant side in the first half but don't have a great advantage on the scoreboard to show for it. Their halves combo of Ben Rogers and Craig Wing have started strongly, and Yileen Gordon looks sharp out wide. For the Dragons, Mark Gasnier is trying hard and getting plenty of ball but they look a little more dangerous when Jamie Soward gets involved.

The second half is underway!

43 min: Jason Ryles is penalised for a marginally high tackle - he'll probably get a nine-week suspension for it.

44 min: John Sutton chases a Ben Rogers kick into the Dragons in-goal on an early tackle, but the ball just wins the race to the dead ball line.

45 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Mark Gasnier gets the ball out wide with a little bit of space, and that's all he needs as he somehow slips through three defenders to score. Jamie Soward misses the conversion attempt from out wide.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-10

51 min: Plenty of fumbles in the game now. Both teams (but more notably the Rabbitohs) have dropped a gear in the second half so far.

56 min: Matt Cooper claims an attacking Rabbitohs bomb and streaks away upfield but is roped in by Dean Widders - who then conceded a penalty for lying on him for too long.

57 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Rangi Chase puts a nice grubber kick ahead for Mark Gasnier, who picks up the ball and scores the try without a Rabbitoh defender in sight. Ben Hornby misses the conversion attempt.
St George Illawarra Dragons 14-12

62 min: VIDEO REF - possible Rabbitohs try ...

62 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
The best try of the night so far! A nice offload from Michael Greenfield starts a sparkling movement involving Issac Luke and Eddie Paea before Fetuli Talanoa finishes it off right under the posts. Issac Luke converts, and the Rabbitohs reclaim the lead.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-14

65 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons respond with a long range try of their own - Michael Lett makes a huge break from dummy half before offloading to Jamie Soward, who manages to just skip away from Craig Wing to score out wide. Ben Hornby nails a great kick to add the extras.
St George Illawarra Dragons 20-18

68 min: The Dragons go the full length of the field on their next set of six and force a goal-line drop out.

CROWD: 25,127

72 min: Sam Huihahau is stopped just inches short of the Dragons tryline on the last tackle. Eddie Paea and Issac Luke are combining well around the ruck and creating plenty of chances for the Rabbitohs at the moment.

74 min: Jamie Soward nearly claims an intercept pass but can't reel it in, and the Rabbitohs will have six more tackles only ten metres out.

75 min: VIDEO REF - possible Rabbitohs try ...

75 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Craig Wing puts his foot down and finds a hole in the Dragons defence before showing good strength to get over the top of Brett Morris and score a try. Issac Luke converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-20

78 min: VIDEO REF - possible Dragons try ...

78 min: NO TRY - Lagi Setu charges towards the line and forces the ball, but Chase Stanley had managed to get in the way and an obstruction is ruled instead.

80 min: The Dragons have possession twenty metres out from their own line - it's the last throw of the dice.

FULLTIME: South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 St George Illawarra Dragons 20

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