The Cumberland Throw

Live Blog – Jersey Flegg Trial vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

 

Team List A

1) Sean Russel

22) Solomone Naiduki

3) JP Nohra

4) Emanuel Tui-Gerrard

5) Josh Tuipulotu

6) Clayton Fualalo

7) Jakob Arthur

8) David Hollis

9) Kyle Schneider

10) Sam Hughes

11) Peni Tohi

12) Charbel Tasipale

13) Tasi James

14) Jayden Yates

15) Mark Tepu-Smith

16) Ollver Clements

17) Charlie Murray

18) Albert Etu-Faavae

21) Christian Savivagn

20) Lachlan Poko

19) Joshua Doughty

2) Mason Ward

 

Team List B

1) Tevita Masima

4) Caleb Niki

13) Josh Hay

2) Jay Wong

21) Christian Savivagn

6) Nick Tilburg

7) Ky Hill

8) Albert Etu-Faavae

9) Ethan LeBlance

23) Jack Colavatti

8) Jayden Skinner

12) Joe Small

3) Jack Hoffman

14) Tyler Tuigamala

2) Mason Ward

5) Hyrum Wichmann

17) Charlie Murray

2) Mason Ward

20) Lachlan Poko

19) Joshua Doughty

 

Hot damn, I am putting the finishing touches on our third pre-game show and by the time I get my URL the Eels have scored! Following the Rabbitohs kicking out on the full, Sean Russell chimes in brilliantly from fullback to show a deft set of hands and put Charbel Tasipale through a gap down the left edge. Tasipale has plenty left to do as he steps inside the fullback and somehow plants the ball down between a bevy of defenders.

 

Try scored by Charbel Taspiale. Conversion successful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 6-0

3min gone

 

Oh dear, who would be a coach! The Rabbitohs have kicked out on the full again! Wam, bam thank you ma’am! The Eels go back-to-back as Tasi James powers over from short range after a bullish charge from Sam Hughes lays the platform. Scorching start from the Eels.

 

Try scored by Tasi James. Conversion successful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 12-0

7min gone

 

And now an error from the fullback of the Rabbitohs. Ooph, ooph, oooopppph. He did so well to defuse a dangerous bomb but then makes the mistake in the play-the-ball. The Eels line up to the right from the scrum win and on the second tackle some silky ball skills from the big man Sam Hughes put James over untouched for his second! What a gorgeous tip on from Hughes.

 

Try scored by Tasi James. Conversion successful by Kyle Schneider.

Eels lead 18-0

10min gone

 

Cracking set of fundamental footy from the Eels as they work to halfway and then drive the ball deep from the boot. Hughes and Hollis in the think of things early on in that set. Souths finally compete a set in reply and the first faux-paus come Josh Tuipulotu as he lets a clearing kick get in behind him but he redeems himself with a weaving kick return that beats two or three chasers.

Alas the Eels are pinged late in the set for an incorrect play-the-ball and give the Rabbitohs their first real chance to reply. The goal line defence of the home team is up to the first challenge of the day – especially the left edge of the Eels as the Rabbitohs throw plenty their way. They kick towards the posts on the last and Jakob Arthur dives backwards to try and secure the grubber kick but he is correctly deemed to have knocked on as he pulled the ball in.

The Rabbitohs make the Eels pay for the desperation error as they play out a smooth back-line move down their right-edge and catch Parramatta one short out wide on the final pass. Good footy from the visitors there.

 

Try scored by the Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs trail 6-18

17min gone.

 

A penalty mid-count helps put the Rabbitohs in attacking field position. Clayton Faulalo makes a quality legs tackle down the left-edge and Souths have a mini-implosion on the last. Looks like the missed the tackle count call and simply run it into the defensive line for a turnover.

Sean Russell and Dave Hollis work through the ruck late in the count before Arthur laces the ball to boot. Nice clearing kick and he nearly draws an error from the fullback. Line ball call but the touchy wasn’t really in a position to make a clean call given it was a clearing kick.

Another penalty comes to the Rabbitohs. Real big swing in momentum off the whistle here.

Good defence from Parra up the guts as they work the count to the last. Souths roll a grubber kick down their left-edge but produce an error in the contest for the ball. Parramatta will resume play with a tap on the 20m line.

Oh my, that is a Barry Crocker. A brilliant off-breaking grubber kick from Arthur goes unrewarded as Emanuel Tui-Gerrard butchers the put down. Bad mental lapse there.

Josh Tuipulotu, Tui-Gerrard’s outside man, then has a bad miss in defence allowing the Rabbitohs to pinch big metres down Parramatta’s right-edge and it culminates in Souths crashing over near the posts. Talk about a twelve point turnaround.

 

Try scored by the Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs trail 12-18

25min gone

 

Big, driving set from Souths after points and it nearly comes up with points as Tuipulotu struggles to reel in the bouncing ball. It kicks up as he plays at it and he loses control, allowing Souths to toe it ahead to the in-goals. Another bad mental lapse from the young winger and although my impression was that it should be a 20m restart, the referee rules Tuipulotu knocked on so we come back for a scrum.

Again Souths make the Eels pay for an error as they score in an identical spot to their last try. Too easy.

 

Try scored by the Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs lock the scores up at 18-all

31min gone

 

Finally a break for the Eels as the Rabbitohs are penalised in possession for an incorrect play-the-ball and boy was it needed! Big Albert Etu-Faavae rumbles down the left-edge and bounces off the initial contact before slipping a brilliant offload around the corner to a flying Charbel Tasipale who joins Tasi James with a brace of tries of his own!

 

Try scored by Charbel Tasipale. Conversion unsuccessful by Jayden Yates.

Eels lead 22-18

34min gone

 

Unreal. Another kickoff out on the full from the Rabbitohs. Arthur goes for it all with his touch finder given that there is less than a minute to play. It lands fractionally inside the sideline and takes a bad break infield. A touch greedy for sure but also more than a dash of bad luck there. Souths then get a penalty to take them out of their red-zone but there isn’t enough time to threaten any sort of scoring play and that brings an end to the half.

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 22 lead South Sydney Rabbitohs 18

 

Second Half

 

Souths fumble the kickoff backwards into their in-goals and scramble enough to recover and get back into the field of play. A good defensive set from the Eels forces the visitors to kick from 35m off their line and Tevita Masima cleans it up neatly. Parramatta have iced their starters and brought in their depth talent in the second half which means it is a great chance to impress for an array of players.

Instead it is Souths who make the first splash of the second half as they shift from mid-field to their right-edge and catch the Eels short. The sliding defensive line falls a man short and the right winger for Souths finishes the movement with an acrobatic dive for the corner.

 

Try to the Rabbitohs. Conversion unsuccessful.

Rabbitohs lock the scores up at 22-all

40min gone

 

A penalty to the Eels puts them in South’s half and a second quickly follows for interference in the ruck. LeBlanc takes Parramatta down the left-edge as they play flat and fast but the final pass from Nick Tilburg is too low for his backrower to catch. Chance goes missing there but the intent was right.

Parramatta concede a penalty in the tackle but make up for it a couple of tackles later when they force an error with a big of hustle.

Tough run from Nick Tilburg there but his last tackle kick a few plays later doesn’t find range and Souths field it 30m off their goal-line.

Souths opt to run it down their left-edge on the last and their centre puts in a dangerous chip kick that forces Masima to track back in-field. It breaks towards the dead-ball line and fortunately it keeps going that way for a 20m restart. Could have been trouble if that pulled up.

The second unit for the Eels are just a bit out of sorts here. A quality kick from Tilburg is undone by a half-hearted kick chase but fortune then smiles on the Eels as the Bunnies are pinged for another offensive penalty. Big chance to break the deadlock here.

Tilburg sweeps down the left-edge and finds Jayden Tanner on a crash ball and the big prop earns a penalty. Tap and go for the Eels. LeBlanc works to the right where Etu-Faavae bumps off a defender and offloads. Chance out wide but the Eels can’t get the ball out there and they get jammed and on the opposite edge on the next tackle when Tevita Masima rushes a pass to his centre who was in a worse position than him. Bad pass from Masima but a great read and tackle from the Souths centre.

Souths work to their last where they put up a mid-field bomb that Caleb Niki defuses beautifully while under a fair bit of pressure.

Just as the teams look to be settling into the arm wrestle Joe Small makes a brilliant interception around the ruck only for the Eels to turn the ball over on the next tackle. Souths will pack the scrum on their 40m line and go on the attack from there.

After a frenetic first half the errors have really crept into the game as Souths fail to complete their set from the scrum win. Parramatta get on the front foot with a big carry from Joshua Doughty and go left then right where Small does brilliantly to hold on to a tough pass. Parramatta bomb cross field where the new rule that affords attacking catchers aerial immunity sees the Eels get advantage after a tap-back that saw the Eels taken out. Albert Etu-Faavae is quickly wrapped up after fielding the tipped pass and the Eels get a penalty.

It won’t change the scoreboard mind you as Parramatta cough up the pill as they work to their right-edge. Souths make them pay as they explode through a gap down Parramatta’s left-edge and their fullback flies through in support to finish off the long-range try.

Something from nothing there really but the South Sydney fullback showed a nice set of wheels.

 

Try scored by the Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs lead 28-22

60min gone

 

That wasn’t pretty. Massive miscommunication down the Eels’ left-edge as Jayden Yates I think it was looks for a passing option that was never there. Not sure who was at fault but Souths come away with the pill nonetheless.

Souths are starting to run away with the game now as some second phase play in front of Parra’s uprights sees them dive over between a couple of defenders. It has been a rough second half and to Souths’ credit they have taken the chances presented to them.

 

Try scored by the Rabbitohs. Conversion successful.

Rabbitohs lead 34-22

65min gone

 

Chalk up another error for the Rabbitohs. A penalty then comes to the Eels as they look to add a little slice of respectability to the scoreboard in the final moments. One of the halves is guilty of playing too much to structure as he passes out the back when a yawning hole opened up in front of him and they then drive a grubber kick far too deep in-goals for a 7-tackle restart. Just over a minute now for Souths to run out the clock.

Forget running out the clock, they very nearly score on last try before a bit of greed from their left centre sees him lose the ball over the line in contact when he had an open man to his left. It is completely inconsequential mind you as the full time siren rings out with the Bunnies taking the chocolates in this preseason fixture.

 

Full Time

South Sydney Rabbitohs 34 def. Parramatta Eels 22

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25 thoughts on “Live Blog – Jersey Flegg Trial vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

  1. Milo

    Great blog fellas – thank you. Yes Sixties the parra pack must be consistent and ruthless through the middle this season. Hope you both have a good evening, and enjoy the game.

  2. Stinky

    I have noticed you guys are very selective on who you identify and mention in your blogs.
    So today I am out here watching the game for myself and reading your blog to see who gets a mention and wether it was worthy.
    If I was some of the players I would be filthy you didn’t acknowledge or mention or even give some of them players credit who did some out standing things on the field.
    It’s obvious you guys seem to have your favourites.
    But instead of trying to be nice to the NRL coaches son. Give credit to some of the players who did some incredible things on the field tonight.
    Just an on looker who has an opinion.
    Don’t be so bias guys. It stinks.
    If someone does something great acknowledge it no matter what the last name is.

    1. Forty20 Post author

      Stinky, you are more than welcome to try your hand at live-blogging a rugby league game. Over the course of a given game I will bang out between 3000 and 5000 words depending on how familiar I am with the team list in a given grade. There were roughly 40 different players that took to the field for the Eels today and I did my best to try and cover the game given that significant degree of difficulty. My updates are far from perfect but I try my best for something that is very much simply a passion project.

      I don’t bring an agenda into any Parramatta game other than wanting to try and bring a bit of a spotlight to grades that get very little coverage otherwise. My only skin in this business is my passion for the Eels and if that bothers you then you are welcome to try and find coverage of the District Reps, Flegg and Canterbury Cup elsewhere.

    2. Big Derek

      If you were at the game and actually watched, then you would know that Jake Athur controlled the game from 7 and played very well. I think we understand that your prime reason from comments is to bad mouth the club and anyone who supports it.

      I was there and basically what Forty20 wrote is close to spot on, but don’t worry you can still criticise as that is what comments are for, just realise we understand your motives.

    3. sixties

      Stinky, I could ask who you think missed coverage, but I suspect that isn’t your point. Why? Because rather than actually taking the opportunity to praise the players that you claim deserve it, you made not one jot of comment about them. Not one. And the shame is, that if you praised someone for their play, those of us in attendance (including Forty) may have jumped in to agree with you.

    4. parrathruandthru

      So the coaches son’s name gets mentioned 5 times in the blog. Once in the team list 3 times when he kicks it, a halfbacks job, and once when he knocks on. Not sure where the favourite bias is. It took me 1 day to put your negativity on ignore on LU. Take it to 1EE you’ll feel at home with the 10 posters there. You wont stand out as a dickhead

      1. Poppa

        As some people may know I post regularly on another site as well and consider this site excellent and lacking in nothing, especially enthusiasm and loyalty. I still enjoy aspects of the other one and see no reason to knock either. That said the person that refers to himself as stinky, is that the notorious one that I think it is….if so you should treat him like the contagion (Asian virus) he is and don’t give him airspace.
        I am principally a Parramatta supporter and therefore read everything I can about my team. Keep up the good work, you guys are doing a great job.

  3. !0 Year Member

    Great stuff forty. Pity you are not doing the main game….NRL.com….. will not let me sign up due to server error. Clowns

    1. Forty20

      My apologies mate, I was originally planning to blog both games but my laptop battery was giving out faster than I anticipated. I can safely say you didn’t miss too much at least! RCG looked good in his first hit out, as did Niukore, but the Eels were pretty messy in both red-zones.

      1. BDon

        I reckon you got it In a nutshell in 3 lines Forty. Another telling factor was where you make your errors. Rabbits looked threatening off most of our errors.Between the 20’s, both sides competed hard and well.

  4. matt sweeney

    one of the great things about this site, and their all great, is the unspoken and well adhered to , no richard cranium policy. its phenomenal what the contributors provide content wise and they do it for love, so where do u find the gall to criticise unjustly stinky. i doubt you were at the game because a true supporter wouldnt spout such patently stupid comments. we look fwd to you having a go at live reporting and showing your skills.

  5. NRL

    Nice job boys – it was an enjoyable evening. The chips and gravy from the canteen were a treat and I thought the Flegg side looked very strong in the opening 30 mins.
    We were getting huge meters up the middle and looked liked it would be a contest but the playmakers and in particular the South’s fullback were very exiting to watch and turned the tables a bit toward the backend of the first half. Second half was obviously a completely different game with a whole new team rolled in.
    Thanks for the work you do gents – it all adds to the game day experience.

    1. Anonymous

      Last seasons premiers v a whole new look team full of 17 year olds and first seasoners ,very impressive i thought , until that stupid penalty when up 18 nil they were DOMINANT , then a nicely placed grubber try was missed with bunnies going length of field for 12 point turnaround so 22/18 should have been 28/12 to those kids against a very settled experienced premiers side , more than impressive my opinion !

      1. sixties

        A couple of individual errors caused some momentum shifts. That first choice team might get a couple of small tweaks – but I reckon the coach would be happy.

  6. John Eel

    Forty Sixties, becoming an avid fan of the Pre Game Show.

    Keep up the good work and love what you are doing. I really enjoy the insights that you are bringing

  7. Rowdy

    What a pathetic effort from our boys, how do you lead by 18 to nil after 10 mins and lose so convincingly? And I seem to have a bt of a deja vu moment there also.
    Anyway, w… as p… ! imo.
    I hope this team doesn’t think that we fans will turn up early at BankWest to watch them capitulate like that.
    Great blog though 40/twenty, as usual.

    1. sixties

      Rowdy, there were around 40 players used in this trial, and there were players missing, with the likely top team playing in a first half where 22 players had to be given game time. This is a very strong, though young, Flegg team. They will be fine. It was a trial which gave virtually every squad member a run.

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