NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 3
6 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
A quality display in the final twenty minutes at ANZ Stadium has seen the Parramatta Eels come away with a comfortable 30-12 victory over a struggling South Sydney side tonight in front of 11,000 fans.
Meeting just five weeks ago meant the memories were fresh for both sides from their Round 10 clash, where the Eels gave up a handy lead to allow South Sydney a last-minute victory at Pirtek Stadium. Tonight looked to be a similarly tight affair for at least an hour - and it was the Rabbitohs who drew first blood.
Alex Johnston opened the scoring with a handy left side play from Keary sending him through a yawning gap. Parramatta weren't sitting back - gaining the ascendancy with a couple of helpful penalties which saw them heavy on the attack. Corey Norman provided the kick for Clint Gutherson to get the blue and gold on the board in the 16th minute. Both sides' tries were converted for a 6-all scoreline - but just two minutes later the Eels were awarded another penalty which gave them a two-point lead at the 20-minute mark.
From there it looked like South Sydney were set to unravel, with Bevan French crossing for the Eels' second try after the Rabbitohs lost the ball the set prior through a risky left side play that saw Sam Burgess lose the ball.
Despite dominance through the middle of the half, Parramatta didn't capitalise further and as halftime approached, Souths slowly made their way back into the contest, eventually closing the gap to two when Nathan Brown was put into space and powered over under the posts from medium-range. The converted try reduced the margin to two and it would stay that way to the change of ends - and right through til the 60th minute.
There were two flashpoints for the Rabbitohs on either side of halftime too - just before the break they received a penalty after a swinging arm hit John Sutton in the face - the returning South Sydney second rower with claret spilling from his nose. He returned after the break, which is when the chance to go ahead just eluded the home side. Dane Nielsen looked to have scored out wide when referee Ashley Klein sent a potential try to the NRL Bunker, but replays showed his feet in touch.
South Sydney would have another chance to pick up the lead just before the 60-minute mark when Sam Burgess crossed, but instead he was penalised for obstruction after running behind Luke Keary. The Eels went up the other end, turned over possession to the Rabbitohs and then in a horror moment for the red and green, Cameron McInnes knocked on at the scrumbase on his own 10m line. The ensuing play saw Semi Radradra shift the ball to the right wing where he linked with French to create an overlap and send the young winger in for his second.
Parramatta added two more penalty goals in the 70th and 77th minute to stretch an eight point lead to a twelve point one - and then capped the win in the 79th minute with a Semi special - the big winger claiming a spiralling Luke Keary cut-out ball on his own ten metre line, running 90 metres away from several Souths defenders.
The 18-point win and subsequent bye will see the Eels up to 8 competition points once their 12-point deduction is finalised over the coming days, placing them ahead of both the Newcastle Knights and possibly even the Sydney Roosters (depending on their result this weekend) on the table, and keeps their faint finals hopes alive. South Sydney meanwhile lament a third straight loss and while they'll sit four points ahead of the Eels, their form means they're not looking likely to challenge for a finals spot, sitting four points outside eighth place.
Parramatta are away to the Sharks in a fortnight after they enjoy the Round 16 bye, while South Sydney are visitors to Penrith next week in Friday night football.
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