Sparked by David Peachey and Nathan Merritt, last placed South Sydney dealt a big blow to the National Rugby League finals aspirations of Canberra with a 21-8 win over the Raiders at Telstra Stadium.

Souths scored four tries to two to record only their second victory of the season and denied Canberra the win which would have put the visitors into the top eight.

The Rabbitohs did almost all their scoring in the first half which ended with them holding a 20-4 lead.

The mistake riddled Raiders briefly threatened to rally when centre Adam Mogg scored his second try of the night with 17 minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 12 points.

However, a 74th minute field goal from Ben Rogers put the Rabbitohs out of reach and sealed only their second win of the season and their first win in seven games.

Veteran fullback Peachey was a huge contributor to the victory, scoring one try and setting up one of Merritt's two four-pointers, while also tidying up well at the back and invariably making good metres with the ball in hand.

Peachey crossed after six minutes for the first try.

Fellow veteran, winger Paul Mellor, scored the Rabbitohs second try eight minutes later after Raiders winger Marshall Chalk lost possession deep in his own half.

Merritt crossed for his first try of the night in the 22nd minute after Canberra forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrf lost possession.

Merritt went to the top of the NRL tryscorers ladder (17) and has the highest season haul by a Souths player in the last 30 years, after he had raced onto a perfect cut out pass from recalled halfback Joe Williams.

Trailing 20-0 Canberra finally got on the board two minutes before halftime when Mogg scored following a crossfield bomb from veteran five-eighth Jason Smith, who set up the centre's second try in similar fashion.

While Canberra had plenty of possession in the second half, it continued to make mistakes which handed the home side the win.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP