Munro delivers for South Sydney in NRL state championship final

Andrew Mathieson
Andrew Mathieson Published October 2, 2023 at 7.00am (AWST)

The number of times Tyrone Munro has been introduced around rugby league circles as Josh Addo-Carr's cousin would just about come close to matching the 166 times the Gunggandji, Birrbay and Wiradjuri man has crossed the line.

Munro has scored only three first-grade tries in comparison but after adding another three in the grandest of days on the calendar, it may not be too long before his face is matched more to a name for scoring frequently than meeting awkwardly for a first time.

The 18-year-old's scoring feats ensured South Sydney locked away an empathic 44-22 win against Brisbane Tigers in the NRL State Championship final on Sunday.

The annual match pits the NSW and Queensland Cup champions to open proceedings ahead of the NRLW and NRL grand finals.

Munro ensured not only South Sydney's place in the interstate grudge match, but also the Rabbitohs' first premiership in the club's reserve grade for four decades in a 22-18 triumph the week before.

In a war of attrition with North Sydney where the lead changed no less than six times, the Addo-Carr clone touched down for the match-sealing try in the corner.

This day came a lot easier as South Sydney looked a class above one of two Melbourne Storm-backed clubs north of the Tweed.

The onslaught started after a flying Munro leaped to take the high ball above his head, and in one clean grab to put down up the right side the opening 11th minute try.

South Sydney celebrate their state championship game success. (Image: NRL.com)

Munro scored a little more than two minutes before the break after the former Easts' named side's defensive line drifted forward, forcing the Bunnies into a series of sharp passes that gave the Indigenous winger space to sprint to the corner for a 12-6 lead.

Not only was the star of the future's treble complete, but so was the man-of-the-match honours by the 56th minute of the championship game after running onto the end of a pair of looping hands to cross the line unopposed.

While Munro's pedigree for tries is impressive, so is his ability to quickly step up his game to the top level.

Munro had run in tries once in his round 18 NRL debut and twice in round 19 for the Rabbitohs this season in a hint of his exciting future ahead.

That came off playing just three times in the NSW Cup prior to Sunday, with two try assists, four line breaks, 10 tackle breaks and an average gain of 156 run metres.

It was also only two seasons ago when Munro claimed the player of the year award in the under-16 Harold Matthews Cup competition.

That was also all the club needed to midway through this year to sign up the speedy back from Moree to a three-year contract extension.

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National Indigenous Times

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