By PETER ROWE
2025 Ken Allen medalist Samsoni Langi returned to the game for Kalamunda at Charlotte’s Vineyard on Saturday afternoon, leading the Dogs to a solid first of the season win over the Rabbitohs.
“He was certainly a big difference,” Rabbitohs coach Dan Manning said.
“But we didn’t start well. Off the first set we made errors and they scored.”
Winger Steven Bradley crossed for the first of his two tries before hooker Zion Wetere found the whitewash and the subsequent conversion saw them take a brief lead.
The Dogs didn’t seem too worried and quickly regained the advantage as Bradley scored his second in the corner.
Then off a penalty the visitors created space again down the right as Langi offloaded to centre Regan Howley to dive over.
Joel Alatimu added the extras as the Dogs looked to take took control. But it was the Bunnies who were next to cross after a clever short pass from Chase Rye set up backrower Sioeli Vaituulala.
For the home side though it was to be the last time they would see the try line as Braithen Thompson converted.
Seven minutes before the break winger Dyshan Simpson squeezed his way down the left edge to push out the margin in a performance that pleased coach Duane Gwiazdzinski.
“We improved a lot from last week,” Gwiazdzinski said. “We missed a few opportunities and still have plenty to work to do.
For the first 23 minutes of the second half it became a back and forth arm wrestle with neither side able to gain the ascendancy.
Then a man down after Slade Long was sinbinned for slowing down the ruck, the Rabbitohs couldn’t stop Howley from crossing.
“We were in the battle for that period of the second half and the sin bin didn’t help us,” Manning said.
Two late tries as Ellenbrook tired, from centre Stan Tuipulotu and backrower and captain Josh Ngapuhi on the siren sealed the match.
“We are still learning,” Gwiazdzinski said post game.
‘Soni made a difference. He’s only had one training run with the boys, so it will take time.
‘We’ve now got a couple of weeks to change a few things. Se need to improve our kicking game as we missed five conversions and in some games that could be the difference between winning and losing.”
Ngapuhi was his best on field, with lock Ceejay Patelesio and prop Alec Campbell also named.
For Manning it was a disappointing day, but like his opposite number it was also about learning.
“As a first grade team now we are learning fast,” he said.
“Christian Bavadra was the player’s player of the match. A lot of hard work. It was our first real hit out in first grade. A lot of contact and it was brutal at times. This year it’s all about being competitive and growing as a club.”
