Summary
One of these sides was always going to depart buoyant after bouncing back from a heavy defeat, the other destined for more soul-searching. From Damien Cook’s second minute try onwards there was never any doubt what the outcome was going to be.
South Sydney were irresistible on their left edge. Walker was supreme, timing his passes from five-eighth to perfection, inviting Mitchell, Johnston, and Gagai to eviscerate Parramatta’s problematic right-side defence. It was classic Rabbitohs, mesmerising in attack, to the point where you could convince yourself they were contenders again. But they still suffered lapses in defence, especially under the high ball, and Mitchell - not for the first time - went wandering from fullback.
The Eels will be left wondering where they are this season after they again failed to perform in a big game. The ladder reveals them to be a handy 9-3 after 12 rounds, but defeats like this are becoming a habit. The right-side defence is a major issue with the Bunnies waltzing through at will. There are also concerns in attack with just one linebreak to South Sydney’s 12. Then there’s issues with discipline. Two yellow cards on the night contributed to a host of reports that may well see further punishment. Plenty for Brad Arthur to consider as he bids to turn solid finals qualifiers into genuine premiership contenders.
Rabbitohs 38-20 Eels
The Bunnies bounce back. More pain for Parramatta’s right edge. A terrifically entertaining Indigenous Round contest, illuminated by some of the game’s Aboriginal stars.
78 mins: Rabbitohs 38-20 Eels - Parramatta continue to toil, trying to reduce the deficit late on, but Ferguson chips straight into touch on the burst down the right wing. Souths return fire and with Johnston bursting down the left Lussick knocks-on 10m out.
TRY! Rabbitohs 38-20 Eels (Arthur, 76)
The Eels are throwing the ball around like the Harlem Globetrotters, keeping it alive from right to left - and it pays off! After a series of offloads Arthur spots Mitchell isn’t at home at fullback, so he chips and chases with an age to gather and touch down under the posts. Lovely vision from the five-eighth, with his dad looking on from the bench.
Great vision from Jake Arthur!#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/5Xfe7qqwcg
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
75 mins: Rabbitohs 38-14 Eels - Parramatta are raging against the dying of the light, expressing themselves in possession for the first time this evening. Another Moses bomb pins the Bunnies in the corner, but Mitchell throws a miracle pass as he falls into touch to keep the ball alive.
TRY! Rabbitohs 38-14 Eels (71, Sivo)
Parra get a consolation try in the left corner to celebrate. Not for the first time tonight Souths fluff their lines under a high ball and from the crumbs the ball spins wide to Sivo, who shows extraordinary strength, to resist three Bunnies and still reach out to touch down at full stretch.
Big SIVVVOOOOOO 👊#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/UYkTlm2Rud
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
TRY! Rabbitohs 38-10 Eels (Gagai, 69)
Souths have a full set in A1 field position. Guess what they do? That’s right, they go left, but Ferguson finally comes up with a tackle. So... they go left again, and this time Gagai finds a massive hole to run through to complete his hat-trick. Like shelling peas for that Souths left edge.
Reynolds kicks two more points.
Gags joins the hatty club 😏#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/Rc5mZHhTJG
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
67 mins: Rabbitohs 32-10 Eels - Parramatta have now conceded 20 linebreaks in two matches - yikes! To make matters worse Nathan Brown is the latest (sixth?) player from tonight’s clash on report, this time for a crusher tackle.
65 mins: Rabbitohs 32-10 Eels - Matterson is back on for Parra, but there’s nothing he can do about some Marshall magic in midfield, sending Mitchell through like a steam train. The ball goes left, which has spelt danger all night, but this time Gagai can’t wriggle through.
TRY! Rabbitohs 32-10 Eels (Johnston, 61)
What do you do if you’re playing rattled for South Sydney? That’s right, give the ball to Walker and tell him to send it through hands until Johnston can dash over unopposed in the corner. Brilliant again from the Bunnies. Mitchell superb stepping into the line. Johnston has a hat-trick. What an Indigenous Round treat.
AJ x HATTY 😤#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/rAc8hJkhZK
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
60 mins: Rabbitohs 26-10 Eels - Souths again fail to deal with a Moses bomb, the Rabbitohs letting the ball bounce and inviting chaos, but Arthur can’t capitalise with the follow-up kick. The Bunnies return possession to the Eels soon afterwards though, and Parra gain good yardage. This is all a little manic from the Rabbitohs, who do not look like a side 16 points up with a man advantage right now. out comes Benji Marshall to settle things down.
TRY! Rabbitohs 26-10 Eels (Papali’i, 53)
They might be down a man but the Eels have four more points. Blake does well to claim a huge Moses bomb to the left corner, then even better keep it alive. Sivo continues the good work before Papali’i wriggles down the blindside and dives over. Souths thought they had the situation under control, opting not to contest the high ball, but they pay the price.
Moses misses the touchline kick.
Papali'i is over for the Eels!#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/qdyYQJ9au0
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
Matterson sin-binned
52 mins: Rabbitohs 26-6 Eels - Again the Eels have a promising bulild-up scuppered on their right wing. This time Johnston completes a simple intercept to rescue Souths. The ball travels at speed downfield with Graham on the tear, then he, Milne, and Walker keep the ball alive near the line, but the sevens-skills come to nought when one pass too many is intercepted.
While there’s chaos near the Parra line, the referee brings play all the way back into the Rabbitohs’ half to sin-bin and report Matterson for crunching his shoulder into the face of a Souths ball-carrier already held.
49 mins: Rabbitohs 26-6 Eels - It seems a long time ago that the scoreline read 10-6 and the balance of play was with the Eels. Souths have been clinical cutting left through Walker.
Parramatta earn a repeat set in midfield and enjoy some yardage through Mahoney and Paulo, but when the moment came to execute on their right edge they fluff their lines and the ball flies into touch.
There is then a comedy of errors from both sides, out of which, the referee picks out the original infringement - a Gagai forward pass.
TRY! Rabbitohs 26-6 Eels (Gagai, 45)
From the scrum, Souths spin the ball left, and - guess what - Walker feeds Gagai through the line on the left edge and the Bunnies score. This is a clinic.
Reynolds adds the two.
Doubs for Gags 🥵#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/FMqUGRquo7
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
44 mins: Rabbitohs 20-6 Eels - Both units continue to keep things uncomplicated in these early exchanges of the second half. Sivo does well to claim a Reynolds bomb, and retain possession despite a brutal landing. The set is not complete though. On tackle five Brown shells a Gutherson pass that was destined for an outside runner. First mistake of the half.
In other news Majoney is on report... for something.
Updated
42 mins: Rabbitohs 20-6 Eels - The half begins with Paulo dropping his shoulder and sending Graham flying like a tenpin. Souths regroup and force Paraamatta to kick from range, and in turn complete a conservative set of their own.
Updated
The teams are back out for the second half.
“Hi Jonathan,” hi Harry, great to have you tuning in.
“Much better from my Bunnies this weekend (so far, I suppose I should stay :)). Very happy with the form bounce-back, though I’m not surprised. I’ve said that the Panthers and the Storm are streets ahead of the rest at this point in the season. Come September, who knows though. Still confident of a top-four finish, and I think our display backs that up.”
Agreed Harry. There should be no dramas on the top-four front, as much because there’s daylight to the chasing pack with Canberra’s drop-off and the Roosters’ injury-list. It’s hard to look past Penrith or Melbourne in the finals though. But with a busy Origin period coming up, stronger officiating, and who knows what else to come, it’s unlikely every side will be running out with their best XIII. In that case, if the Bunnies can keep their blistering backs on the park, they will damage any opposition and give their fans hope.
Half-time: Rabbitohs 20-6 Eels
That half ebbed one way, then the other, but the difference was clear, Cody Walker and his incredible relationship with his runners down the left edge. The Bunnies cut the Eels, and their worrying right-side defence, open four times. Nobody expects them to relent in the second half. Parramatta have to control the ball and dominate territory, like they did for spells in that half, if they are to get something out of this.
TRY! Rabbitohs 20-6 Eels (Gagai, 38)
Brilliant, simply brilliant, from Souths. Walker again picks his moment perfectly to turn a solid drive into a penetrating attack, and again it’s that devastating left edge. This time he throws a bullet cut-out pass to Gagai that sends his centre through on the burst and around behind the posts. Parramatta must have spent all week drilling themselves to defend against these plays, and they’ve had no answer on four occasions this first half.
Same play, different scorer 🔥 BOOM!#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/db3K3UcCbG
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
37 mins: Rabbitohs 14-6 Eels - The Rabbitohs go end to end in no time and on the last Milne chips infield from the whitewash and all the Eels can do is concede a drop-out.
35 mins: Rabbitohs 14-6 Eels - It’s taken 33 minutes of the contest but the first set restart has been called - in favour of Parramatta. That allows Papali’i to return to the field from his sin-bin. It also means Moses is gifted ideal field position to go aerially in the direction of Ferguson, prompting Johnston to palm the ball out under pressure. The Eels reload and this time feed left but just as Papali’i was hustling his way towards the line the Bunnies massed and swarmed the No 11 over the sideline.
TRY! Rabbitohs 14-6 Eels (Johnston, 30)
The Eels think they’re through the line and away on the left wing but Gutherson is brought 50m back after a Blake obstruction. Instead of a Parramatta try, Souths take possession 30m from the posts. They pummel the middle for four tackles then, like clockwork, they head left. You know what comes next. Walker, to Gagai, to Johnston, try. The slickest hands in the competition, the most consistent attacking pattern in the competition, against the weak spot of Parramatta’s defence.
Reynolds misses another tough conversion.
Slick stuff from the @SSFCRABBITOHS 👌#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/FsCWg7w8We
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
26 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels - The Rabbitohs can’t make the extra man count with their first drive after some miscommunication behind the ruck involving Cook. Parramatta respond forcefully, getting within touching distance, allowing Moses to dribble to the corner where Ferguson is just unable to gather the bouncing ball.
Meanwhile Nicholls, who has industrious early, has failed an HIA and Souths are down to three on the interchange.
Papali’i sin-binned
24 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels - After that blistering start for Souths the last ten minutes have been all Parramatta - but this will change things. Mitchell feeds Milne into a gap and he bursts out of defence towards halfway. Gutherson does superbly to halt him one-on-one but then Papali’i comes in and interferes with Milne’s ability to play the ball - and he’s sent to the bin!
21 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels - From the penalty Cody Walker finds himself on report for a swinging arm to Arthur’s head after Arrow had already begun the tackle. That prompts the Eels to try to bulldoze their way down the left wing but Souths’ right edge stands firm. Moses goes to the sky with his kick and there’s a good chase, but Gagai holds the bomb, under pressure. However, in his desperation to avoid conceding a line drop-out the winger is pinged for a knock-on. He immediately challenges - and is successful - turning a 10m scrum to Parra to the Bunnies’ play-the-ball on the try line.
19 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels - Souths, perhaps over-eager to regain momentum, try to spin the ball to the left wing, but it’s risky and ragged and eventually Gagai grasses it. Since that crusher penalty the game has changed completely.
TRY! Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels (Gutherson, 16)
Parra only need one opening to score. Early in the set Arthur spots a gap on the right edge so he drops over a beautifully weighted kick that bounces backwards, perfectly for the onrushing Gutherson to claim and put down. Poor Mitchell was bamboozled by that mystery-spinner. After that early clanger Gutherson is back on an even keel.
Moses kicks the extras.
Gutho gets there & Eels are on the board!#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/iXxsNI9RLs
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
16 mins: Rabbitohs 10-0 Eels - Now Gutherson tries to run out of defence but he’s pummelled by Gagai. Parramatta really need a break. And they get one! Cameron Murray is placed on report for a crusher tackle on Ferguson. Finally, after 15 minutes, the Eels can run the ball in South Sydney’s half.
14 mins: Rabbitohs 10-0 Eels - Ferguson tries to spark the Eels but he is smashed by Burgess and Arrow inside his own 20m. Moses is again invited to kick from his own half. South Sydney have given nothing away so far. They are making life very awkward for Parramatta.
12 mins: Rabbitohs 10-0 Eels -Another disciplined set from their own half is honoured by an excellent kick-chase. The Eels have not had any kind of launchpad in this game yet and once again they are forced to kick from range just to clear their lines.
TRY! Rabbitohs 10-0 Eels (Johnston, 8)
The Bunnies have two tries early. Souths force a set restart following the drop-out and the weight of pressure and territory eventually counts. From the ruck in midfield the ball flies through three pairs of hands in the blink of an eye until it ends with Johnston diving over in the corner. The interplay from Walker and Mitchell, then onto Johnston, was superb. A real celebration of Indigenous Round.
Reynolds misses the touchline conversion.
All the way to AJ! 🔥#TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsEels pic.twitter.com/T8Bj26g237
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
7 mins: Rabbitohs 6-0 Eels - Souths take advantage of the penalty and attack nicely down the right with Nicholls busy. Then they head left and Johnston gets within a couple of metres before Walker’s grubber forces a drop-out.
5 mins: Rabbitohs 6-0 Eels - After that early drama both sides exchange solid sets until the Bunnies are gifted a penalty for a bunch of offside Eels chasing a menacing Moses torpedo.
TRY! Rabbitohs 6-0 Eels (Cook, 2)
From the first tackle of the game Kaufusi’s head meets a Rabbitohs shoulder and there’s an early pause to determine whether an HIA is required; it isn’t. Souths continue their set and Reynolds drives a long kick downfield, the chase is superb, and pressure from Arrow forces Gutherson to knock-on.
From the scrum Souths sneak out the back and Cook darts through the defensive line and dives over. What a start for South Sydney!
🍪 from the scrum!#NRLSouthsEels #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/3dzBUHTAYy
— NRL (@NRL) May 29, 2021
Updated
Kick-off!
Third v fourth at ANZ Stadium. Here we go....
It’s dry at Stadium Australia but there’s a southerly breeze keeping temperatures on the chilly side.
Both sides are wearing a specially designed Indigenous Round jerseys this evening. The Eels’ uniform is predominately blue, with yellow accents. South Sydney are in a wavier version of their green and red hoops.
There are some flash boots on display celebrating NRL Indigenous Round. Here are Adam Reynolds’.
One match today has already concluded, and it will come as no surprise that the imperious Panthers continued their unbeaten start to the season, running out 30-4 winners over the Bulldogs.
We’re heading for another Penrith v Melbourne grand final, aren’t we?
Eels XVII
Reagan Campbell-Gillard is suspended, so Oregon Kaufusi moves into the starting XIII with Marata Niukore joining the bench.
1 Clinton Gutherson, 2 Maika Sivo, 3 Tom Opacic, 4 Waqa Blake, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Jakob Arthur, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Oregon Kaufusi, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Nathan Brown, 14 Marata Niukore, 15 Shaun Lane, 16 Joey Lussick, 17 Bryce Cartwright.
Rabbitohs XVII
Four changes to the Bunnies with Cameron Murray, Taane Milne, Hame Sele and Jacob Host coming in for Liam Knight, Jed Cartwright, Jaydn Su’A and the concussed Josh Mansour.
1 Latrell Mitchell, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Campbell Graham, 5 Taane Milne, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Jai Arrow, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Tevita Tatola, 11 Keaon Koloamatangi, 13 Cameron Murray, 15 Mark Nicholls.
Int: 12 Jacob Host, 14 Benji Marshall, 16 Hame Sele, 17 Thomas Burgess.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the Bunnies v the Eels from ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Kick-off in this third v fourth-placed clash is 5.30pm.
Both these sides will be desperate to bounce back after chastening defeats last Sunday. Souths were embarrassed by a rampant Penrith in Dubbo, while Parramatta slipped at home to a resurgent Manly.
The Rabbitohs desperately need to tighten up in defence if they are to take advantage of their thrilling play with ball in hand. Wayne Bennet’s side have conceded the most points of any side in the top six, and over 50 twice in three rounds.
“After the game he did not say one word,” hooker Damien Cook told The Big Sports Breakfast about Bennett’s reaction. “Normally he will at least say a couple but by the time we got in the sheds he wasn’t even there. He had gone to the press conference and we were just told to get in the showers and get out of there. That was probably the worst thing you can get from a coach.”
For the Eels, a 9-2 start to the season shows there’s no cause for panic, but Brad Arthur would have been concerned at how his side’s right edge was targeted, and exposed, by the Sea Eagles. “They got some joy there,” Arthur said afterwards. “We’ve got to have a look at that and just make sure we’re working together as a team.”
Throughout the evening feel free to join in via email or send a tweet to @JPHowcroft.
