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JACKSONVILLE - A vastly depleted South Sydney produced a stirring second-half comeback to lose 26-24 to English Super League champions Leeds in the Australia Day rugby league challenge in Jacksonville today.
A full-strength Leeds team, including several Great Britain and New Zealand Test stars, scored five tries to lead 26-0 at halftime in the match played over four quarters at Hodges Stadium.
With the new Super League season due to start next week, Leeds was more match fit after three pre-season trials, while Souths were having their first run of the year.
The Rabbitohs didn't field up to nine of their leading players, including NZ Test representatives Nigel Vagana, Jeremy Smith, Roy Asotasi, David Faalogo and David Kidwell, plus Kangaroos star and prize recruit Craig Wing.
Regular first graders Nathan Merritt, Dean Widders and Scott Geddes also sat out the match, but the Australian outfit was still able to mount an impressive comeback in the second half.
Leeds opened the scoring through Great Britain hooker Matt Diskin after six minutes and led 12-0 at quarter time after a long distance try to NZ Test star Brent Webb, after a pass from Souths five-eighth Ben Rogers was intercepted by winger Lee Smith.
In the second quarter kicks from five-eighth Danny McGuire and Diskin set up a try to halfback Rob Burrow and GB Test centre Keith Senior also crossed as Leeds bolted to a 26-0 halftime lead.
Souths squandered some good scoring opportunities, but also let themselves down by committing too many turnovers.
While Leeds rested some players in the second half, the youthful Rabbitohs capitalised on improved ball retention to score four converted tries.
Converted tries to Rogers and hooker Isaac Luke cut the deficit to 26-12 at the final break.
The revival continued in the final quarter, with Eddie Paea scything thru the defence for the Rabbitohs' third try and replacement George Ndaira also crossing, with Luke and Ndaira adding conversions.
A crowd of around 12,000 included golfer Greg Norman, former NBA star Dennis Rodman, seven-time world women's surfing champion Layne Beachley and award winning actor and Souths co-owner Russell Crowe.
- AAP
