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NRL 2026 Four Point Focus: How Souths Use Keaon Koloamatangi On The Line
The Rabbitohs didn't have a lot of success in 2025, but Keaon Koloamatangi stood out as a piece to build around moving forward.
Jason Oliver
December 18, 2025
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The Four Point Focus breaks down a try from every round of the 2025 NRL season, highlighting the context, shape, trigger and the lessons learned. It’s viewed with an eye on 2026 as we look for trends, breakout players and hints of what might be to come next season.
This is an off-season series for Premium subscribers who choose to support my work over the break.
Previous:
Point 1 - The Context
We’re in Round 4 of the 2025 NRL season and the South Sydney Rabbitohs have taken their opportunity to beat down on an understrength Penrith Panthers side. Rolling up the field with relative ease, Souths generated 32 tackles inside the opposition 20 metre line to Penrith’s two in the first half, using them to build pressure and, eventually, cross the line.
Keaon Koloamatangi proved particularly dangerous in attack with and without the ball, and highlighting his influence in attack feels appropriate given the big money being mentioned recently alongside a possible extension at the club.
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Point 2 - The Shape
With Dylan Edwards and Nathan Cleary out of the game for Penrith, Souths made a target for Daine Laurie and Trent Toelau.
Cody Walker collected a perfect long pass from dummy half to capitalise on Laurie’s positioning at the back to roll one in behind Toelau for Koloamatangi to score after only five minutes. Shortly after, Jye Gray’s speed and Koloamatangi’s lead accounted for Toelau and Izack Tago on the edge for Alex Johnston to score in the corner.
But we see Koloamatangi at his best to score his second try later in the first half as a tap set ends with him fading into space on the line, using his size and footwork to break through an isolated defender.
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