'Victim' of huge Jorge Taufua hits wants 'rib cage' returned
Rabbitohs forward Ethan Lowe will be licking his wounds after feeling the wrath of the NRL's hardest hitter, not once but twice in quick succession.
Manly lost the match against the Rabbitohs in a controversial 34-26 semi-final defeat on Friday night.
But Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua won the battle against South Sydney forward Lowe.
The big-hitting Manly flyer made headlines around the world earlier in the month after an enormous shot on Melbourne's Cameron Munster.
On Friday night, Taufua was up to his old tricks, with Lowe the unfortunate victim of his latest brutality.
The first vicious tackle on the Bunnies forward came midway through the second half when the Sea Eagles held a 26-20 lead.
Jorge Taufua pulverised Ethan Lowe in Manly's semi-final defeat to the Rabbitohs. Pic: Getty
Taufua came flying off the defensive line to shut down the threat from the Rabbitohs after the hosts had shifted the ball wide.
The Manly winger picked his target and hit hard, snapping Lowe in a rib-tickling hit that flung the forward to the ground.
Lightning struck for Lowe minutes later when Taufua again came off his wing and the hapless Souths forward was cut down trying to get an offload away.
The Twittersphere was sent into a frenzy over Taufua's latest additions to his bone-rattling showreel.
BOOOOM!
Jorge Taufua goes BANG! 💪🔥
WATCH: @Channel9 #9WWOS #NRLSouthsManly #NRLFinals #NRL pic.twitter.com/yERo4ZqUaH— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) September 20, 2019
Jorge Taufua HAMMERS Ethan Lowe again 💪🔥
WATCH: @Channel9 #9WWOS #NRLSouthsManly #NRLFinals #NRL pic.twitter.com/nPFEbuhV4r— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) September 20, 2019
Jorge Taufua what a beast! #NRL #NRLSouthsManly
— Stefan Edge (@_ClickClickBoom) September 20, 2019
Taufua's best hit of the night! #NRLFinals #NRLSouthsManly
— Shabadoo (@j_tham) September 20, 2019
Jorge Taufua every time he sees an open body #spear pic.twitter.com/DKLjatSe6P
— Matty Holdsworth (@matty_capnews) September 20, 2019
Even if you don’t support manly you gotta love the way George Taufua hits that’s why they call him the Grimm reaper pic.twitter.com/E3O7DU9iNk
— Ricky Morris (@RickyMo08378157) September 20, 2019
I guess you could say Lowe is Taufua’s bunny 😂 #classic #NRLSouthsManly
— Joel McIntyre (@joelmcintyre123) September 20, 2019
Jorge Taufua just smashing people for fun #NRLSouthsManly
— Nikki Soars (@NikkiSoars) September 20, 2019
Jorge Taufua is legit going to kill someone pic.twitter.com/QtVfJaGuYT
— Kris Read (@DesignedToFade) September 20, 2019
The last time I saw one player dominate another like this, @ShaneWarne was bowling to Cullinan. Wow, Taufua #NRL #NRLFinals
— Michael Doig (@MarksmanWaugh) September 20, 2019
Ethan Lowe tonight trying to get to sleep, looking out for Jorge Taufua#NRLSouthsManly #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/5Ydj3NoUiO
— James Robertson (@james_robbo3) September 20, 2019
Ethan Lowe, the newest member of the “Jorge Taufua Victims Support Group” #NRLFinals #NRLSouthsManly
— Liam Flanagan (@ljflannas) September 20, 2019
Brad Fittler interviewed Lowe on Channel Nine after the game to ask the forward how he was feeling.
To Lowe's credit, he was quick to poke fun at his own misfortune.
"If you find a rib cage out there, can I have it returned please?" Lowe joked in reference to Taufua's crunching tackles.
"If you find a rib cage out there, can I get it returned please"
Ethan Lowe on getting smashed by Jorge Taufua twice.
WATCH: @Channel9 #9WWOS #NRLSouthsManly #NRLFinals #NRL pic.twitter.com/Y4GJsoL9WX— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) September 20, 2019
Rabbitohs come through drama-filled thriller
South Sydney are one win away from just their second NRL grand final in 48 years after knocking Manly out in the controversial 34-26 semi-final victory.
In a dramatic night at ANZ Stadium, Manly coach Des Hasler claimed his team was "dudded" as the Rabbitohs came from behind late to claim the win on Friday.
Down 26-20 and all at sea with 13 minutes to go, the Rabbitohs gained the ascendancy when Manly lock Jake Trbojevic was sin-binned for pulling back on centre Dane Gagai.
Souths then swung the match quickly in their direction, scoring two tries in their next three sets to keep their season alive and set up a date with Canberra in the nation's capital.
"With 20 minutes to go, I'm in pre-season next year, (wondering) what I got to do with these guys," coach Wayne Bennett said.
"My season's over, I'm feeling like we're not going to be at training on Monday.
"Twenty minutes later, we're sitting here going to Canberra.
"They just like to seem to get behind, put themselves in a hell of a lot of pressure, and then they'll start to make a few things happen."
With AAP