In front of a very solid crowd estimated at more than 5000, the Rabbitohs were able to make too many metres around the edges of the ruck, to keep Riverina on the back foot on the way to a 52-10 victory.

Struggling for field position and possession, the local footballers had few chances early in the game and the slick Souths side scored three tries in each of the first three quarters to set up victory.

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But Riverina were tireless and at times gallant in defence in trying to stay in the game. They worked their way into the contest and finished strongly to give the supporters a little to cheer about, the elite opposition something to think about, and themselves a little pride to carry home. 

“I thought the Riverina guys done an exceptional job,” Souths’ matchday coach, Shane Millard, said.

“They won the last quarter there, two tries to one. They hung in there, playing against a professional outfit. They done a really good job and they tested our guys at times and come up with some smart plays.”

While Bennett was watching on, Millard had the clipboard and called the shots for Souths and was pleased.

His side opened with two tries in the first eight minutes, through prop Junior Tatola and exciting fullback Corey Allan.

Allan was on the end of some slick passing to the right hand side to score, and then involved just before quarter-time in the lead-up to halfback Connor Tracey’s for an 18-nil lead at the first break. 

If Riverina were struggling to adjust to the speed of their NRL opponents in the first quarter, the second was no relief. 

Souths went the length of the field in the first set, forced a drop-out from the home side and then put Cory Denniss over in the corner. On the end of the following set, hooker Billy Brittain crossed for the Rabbitohs to make it 28-0 at better than a point a minute.

It was the middle of the second quarter before Riverina saw some ball and field position to launch their first attacking raid, without success.

Soon enough they were on the back foot again but defended gallantly to hold out the opposition on a couple of occasions. But Souths maintained the pressure, kept their composure and moved the ball quickly on the fifth tackle for the tall and talented Campbell Graham to score out wide. 

Down 32-0 it was a promising finish to the second quarter as Albury’s Robbie Byatt produced a beautiful cover tackle to cut down Souths’ flyer, Denniss. Riverina then worked forward and finished the half pressing for an opening in the Rabbitohs defence, without success.

Souths Kye Rodwell set the tone for the third term though with a bone-rattling hit on Albury recruit Luke Ingram and within five minutes Rodwell had crashed over close to the posts and converted his own try to make it 38-0.

Riverina hurt themselves with errors as a kick off went dead on the full and they later failed to find touch from a penalty. Moments later, Rabbitohs recruit Bayley Sironen was in space and put Graham across for his second try in the corner.

The healthy home crowd was on its feet minutes later though, when Riverina winger Jack Lyons appeared to score after a delightful flat pass from his Southcity teammate, Nathan Rose. But the cheers changed to sighs of disappointment as it was called back for a forward pass. 

Gundagai’s Tyron Gorman also had Riverina in an attacking position when he pounced on a loose ball but again they couldn’t find a way through. 

Given half a chance late in the third quarter though, Souths’ Graham showed how it was done, putting Mawene Hiroti over for a 46-0 lead at the last break.

But the Riverina players and crowd got their moment of joy early in the last quarter when Lyons finally crossed, getting on the end of a nice Rose kick to get his side on the board.

Souths brought up a half century through Jack Johns’ converted try but Riverina surprised the NRL opposition with a kick from a midfield scrum.

Junee’s Daniel Foley sprinted hard to beat Hiroti in the chase for the ball and scored an exciting try under the posts, to bring up double figures. 

Souths props Tom Amone and Tatola laid the platform for their dominance while Brittain was classy out of dummy half. 

But the 52-10 result was no shame for a team of country footballers thrown together after Christmas to tackle a professional outfit of NRL hopefuls training at the elite level for three months. 

Millard had high praise for the experience of bringing their first pre-season game to southern NSW.

“I’ve really loved it. It’s been really good down here. A lot of people have been very welcoming and looked after us a treat, to be honest with you,” he said.

“The field here is in magnificent shape. The whole experience has been good. The boys have really enjoyed it.”

Full-time: Souths 52 (Campbell Graham 2, Junior Tatola, Corey Allan, Connor Tracey, Cory Denniss, Billy Brittain, Kye Rodwell, Mawene Hiroti, Jack Johns tries; Hiroti 4, Rodwell, Johns goals) def Riverina 10 (Lyons, Foley tries; Sam Elwin goal).