PARRAMATTA EELS 12 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 32
STEPHEN IBBETSON, CommBank Stadium, Thursday

TALLIS DUNCAN scored from two intercepts as dogged South Sydney overcame a Parramatta side that should have posted far more points.

The match was tied at 12-12 early in the second half and the Eels had all the momentum, but Edward Kosi’s try in the corner turned things in the Rabbitohs’ favour.

Duncan then provided two gut punches on the end of breakaways (one an eight-point try), either side of Cody Walker ghosting over to complete his own double.

South Sydney made a classy start, with Walker and Euan Aitken both picking out defensive gaps to shoot 12-0 ahead and Latrell Siegwalt kicking the first two of his four goals.

A magnificent passage of improvisation got Parramatta back in it as Kelma Tuilagi knocked back a high ball, Mitchell Moses looped an unorthodox pass to the wing and Brian Kelly stepped inside four defenders.

Moses goaled and the Eels then dominated the rest of the first half, but Josh Addo-Carr, Sean Russell, Jack Williams and Ronald Volkman were all denied by try-saving tackles.

The match was finally squared two minutes into the second half as Russell won an aerial contest and sent Tallyn Da Silva over with Moses kicking the goal – but that’s as good as it got for Parramatta, whose play-off prospects now look forlorn.

EELS: 1 Isaiah Iongi, 2 Brian Kelly, 3 Jordan Samrani, 4 Sean Russell, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Ronald Volkman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 10 Jack Williams, 17 Harrison Edwards, 15 Sam Tuivati, 11 Kelma Tuilagi, 12 Kitiona Kautoga, 13 Jack De Belin. Subs: 9 Luca Moretti, 9 Tallyn Da Silva, 14 Dylan Walker, 16 Teancum Brown, 18 Joash Papalii (not used), 19 Charlie Guymer (not used)

Tries: Kelly (18), Da Silva (42); Goals: Moses 2/2

RABBITOHS: 1 Jye Gray, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Latrell Siegwalt, 4 Tallis Duncan, 5 Edward Kosi, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Ashton Ward, 8 Tevita Tatola, 9 Brandon Smith, 10 Keaon Koloamatangi, 11 David Fifita, 12 Euan Aitken, 13 Cameron Murray. Subs: 14 Lachlan Hubner, 15 Jamie Humphreys, 16 Liam Le Blanc (not used), 17 John Radel (not used), 18 Jayden Sullivan, 19 Dayne Jennings

Tries: Walker (5, 63), Aitken (14), Kosi (48), Duncan (52, 76); Goals: Siegwalt 4/7

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12; 12-12, 12-16, 12-20, 12-22, 12-26, 12-32

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Eels: Brian Kelly; Rabbitohs: Tallis Duncan

Penalty count: 4-5; Half-time: 6-12; Referee: Gerard Sutton; Attendance: 14,365