SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 28 PARRAMATTA EELS 24
CALLUM WALKER, Allianz Stadium, Saturday

SOUTHS just about held back a resurgent Parramatta in what would have been one of the best comebacks of the NRL era.

The Rabbitohs led 28-0 at half-time, having scored six first-half tries, but the Eels rallied after the break to come within just four points of their hosts.

The writing was on the wall for the Parramatta when Brian Kelly was sinbinned after just two minutes for a professional foul.

From the resulting penalty, Alex Johnston grabbed the first of his three tries before Tevita Tatola barged his way over moments later.

Johnston grabbed a second as the Rabbitohs were up 14-0 after just ten minutes – and they weren’t finished there.

Brandon Smith got in on the act before the midway point in the first half, then Johnston notched his hat-trick just shy of the half-hour.

To make matters worse for Parramatta, makeshift winger Jye Gray crossed on the hooter.

The only thing keeping the Eels in the game was Ashton Ward’s wayward kicking, with the halfback missing four of six first-half conversions.

As such, when Tallyn Da Silva, Ryley Smith and Ronald Volkman all dotted down within ten minutes of the restart, the Eels were back to within just ten at 28-18.

Jordan Samrani reduced that deficit to four on 68 minutes, but Souths somehow held on.

RABBITOHS: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Tallis Duncan, 4 Jack Wighton, 14 Jye Gray, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Ashton Ward, 8 Tevita Tatola, 9 Brandon Smith, 10 Keaon Koloamatangi, 11 David Fifita, 12 Adam Elliott, 13 Cameron Murray. Subs: 15 Lachlan Hubner, 16 Sean Keppie, 17 Jamie Humphreys, 18 Jayden Sullivan, 19 Tom Fletcher (not used), 21 Moala Graham-Taufa (not used)

Tries: Johnston (3, 10, 26), Tatola (7), Smith (18), Gray (40); Goals: Ward 2/6

EELS: 1 Isaiah Iongi, 2 Brian Kelly, 3 Will Penisini, 4 Jordan Samrani, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Ronald Volkman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Sam Tuivaiti, 22 Ryley Smith, 10 Luca Moretti, 11 Jack Williams, 12 Kitione Kautoga, 13 Jack De Belin. Subs: 9 Tallyn Da Silva, 14 Saxon Pryke, 15 Junior Paulo, 16 Teancum Brown, 19 Jezaiah Funa-luta (not used), 20 Toni Mataele (not used)

Tries: Da Silva (44), Smith (47), Volkman (50), Samrani (68); Goals: Moses 4/4; Sin bin: Kelly (2) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 14-0, 20-0, 24-0, 28-0; 28-6, 28-12, 28-18, 28-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rabbitohs: Alex Johnston; Eels: Jack Williams

Penalty count: 4-4; Half-time: 28-0; Referee: Wyatt Raymond