Souths on top of NRL after workmanlike win over Tigers

South Sydney are back on top of the NRL ladder after grinding out a 20-0 win over Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium.

In a dour Saturday afternoon affair, Taane Milne bagged a double for Souths in a match that had one try in the opening 70 minutes before the Rabbitohs wrapped it up late.

Jason Demetriou's men have emerged as the league's best team over the past month, bumping them into second favourites for the premiership behind Penrith.

At their best, the Rabbitohs have one of the most dangerous attacks in the competition, with Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker both in red-hot form.

That ruthlessness was not as crisp on Saturday afternoon as both teams completed at high rates but lacked opportunities to pile on points.

Souths still looked the most dangerous when they swung the ball to their edges, but the sole first-half try came through Milne when he stepped Tigers fullback Jahream Bula.

The Rabbitohs extended their lead after the break through a penalty goal, before the in-form Campbell Graham put Milne over for his second with six minutes to play.

Mitchell also scored late, forcing his way over in the dying minutes.

It wasn't thrilling but the Rabbitohs did enough to win after losing prop Tom Burgess to back spasms in the warm up.

Souths have now won six straight games for the first time since late in their run to the 2021 grand final. 

It also marks the first time since 2018 they have occupied top spot this late in the year after going above Brisbane on for-and-against.

The one concern for South Sydney was a concussion for second-rower Jed Cartwright, who was felled trying to make a tackle on John Bateman.

The Tigers continue to show signs of being a much improved team on the one that began the season with seven straight losses.

But after two wins against Penrith and St George Illawarra, they lacked anywhere near enough spark to threaten the Rabbitohs.

Their two most dangerous plays came when they produced a second kick on the last tackle, while Luke Brooks bust through late before a kick went to Damien Cook.

Alex Twal also went close to his first NRL try after 112 games with a first-half surge.

But like Twal's career try-scoring tally, the Tigers were destined to finish the afternoon on zero.