28 Jul 2009

Souths thrash Roosters

6:25 am on 28 July 2009

South Sydney has moved to within a point of the National Rugby League's top eight with a clinical 40-20 dismantling of great rivals the Roosters at the Olympic stadium.

The Rabbitohs ran in eight tries, including a hat-trick to winger Jamie Simpson, for their third straight win.

They have well and truly turned their season around after preceding the three-match winning trot with a six-game losing streak.

Souths might have easily accounted for the Roosters, Broncos and Panthers in the last three weeks, but the road ahead is treacherous as they face five top-six opponents in the coming weeks, beginning with the second-placed Bulldogs.

The game was as good as over midway through the first half when the Bunnies opened up an 18-nil lead with some devastating finishing.

Anthony Minichiello made a successful return on the wing for the Roosters after 18 weeks out with a serious ankle injury.

The Roosters remain bottom of the standings.