NRL: Rabbitohs down Panthers 36-12

Colin Best of the Rabbitohs dives over Ben McFadgean of the Panthers. Photo / Getty Images

Five-eighth John Sutton revived both his season and South Sydney's NRL finals campaign, starring in the Rabbitohs' drought-breaking 36-12 win over Penrith at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Starting the round in 11th spot, Souths have closed to within three points of eighth-placed Penrith.

Beaten in their last five games during which they conceded 187 points, Souths showed improved commitment to defence, while in attack it was Sutton who added the spark and class, featuring in three of their six tries.

Hooked by coach Jason Taylor during last week's 54-20 thrashing by West Tigers, the solidly built pivot displayed some of the form which made him a NSW Origin candidate earlier in the season.

He scored one try in each half and set up the Rabbitohs' opening four-pointer of the match with a defence-splitting pass to second-rower Eddy Pettybourne in the fourth minute.

Down 20-0 at the break, the Panthers looked headed for complete humiliation after Souths fullback Nathan Merritt sprinted away for a 44th minute try to set up a 26-point buffer.

But converted tries to hooker Paul Aiton and centre Geoff Daniela, both confirmed by video ref Phil Cooley, got the Panthers to within 14 points with 20 minutes remaining.

The resurgent Sutton then snuffed out any hopes of a full-scale Panthers revival by crashing over the line with 10 minutes remaining.

The Rabbitohs lengthened the margin even more when centre Colin Best scampered over in the left-hand corner with just under five minutes left.

Penrith were made to pay for missing some good opportunities during the 32 minutes between the Rabbitohs' first and second tries.

They bombed some good opportunities and were guilty of making more errors and missed tackles than their hosts.

Winger Jamie Simpson sprinted 90 metres after taking an intercept and Sutton added a third try just before the break after busting through two tackles.

Halfback Chris Sandow fleshed out the Rabbitohs' scorecard with six goals.

"I was probably just more switched on this week," Sutton said.

"Seeing how bad I played last week, I just wanted to come out here and prove I can play better."

Souths coach Jason Taylor revealed he had made wholesale adjustments to him team's preparations and routine and that his players had undergone an attitude change heading into the game.

"We were mentally weak up until tonight. the last five games we've been mentally weak," Taylor said.

He revealed he had given major consideration to the direction his coaching career was heading after last week's heavy loss.

"Come Sunday morning last week, I knew that my career as a coach was staring me in the face," he said.

"Not as far as being concerned about losing my job, but just where I was going, the direction in which my coaching career was heading, and I saw it was clear that I had to step up and get more out of the guys."

Souths skipper Roy Asotasi said "everyone was just more focused this week and we had to turn it around or our season was ending pretty quickly".

Penrith coach Matthew Elliott said his depleted team had only one training session together but were far more capable than they showed against Souths.

"We came up with some naive play and I guess the young side that we had and with the short turn around we had, it showed a little bit," Elliott said.

"I saw a lot of good stuff out there, so I'm not discouraged."

- AAP