1. Debbie Doueihi
2. Alysha Bell
3. Petesa Lio
4. Tamerah Leati
18. Ameena Kanj
6. Tallara Bamblett
7. Rosemarie Beckett
8. Petalina Atoa
9. Ashlee Pottinger
10. Ruby-Jean Kennard (c)
11. Tahleisha Maeva
12. Kyanna Lokeni
13. Summah Terare
14. Kasey Quye
15. Melenuku’o’Akau’ola Lauala
16. Lei-Lani Tua
17. Holly Chapman
20. Chelses Steele

First Half

Some lovely ball playing through the middle unleashes Petalina Atoa who storms through the middle just shrugging off defenders left and right! She eventually draws a penalty that puts the Eels firmly on the front foot. The Blue & Gold don’t let the chance clip either with a crisp ball movement to the left edge that sees fullback Debbie Doueihi touch down!

Try scored by Debbie Doueihi. Conversion unsuccessful by Alysha Bell.

Eels lead 4-0

3min gone

Well that was certainly an interesting passage of play! After dropping the ball form the kickoff the Eels close ranks and repel the Rabbitohs for the full goal line set. They then punch the ball out to halfway in a solid counterpunch but then the wheels sort of almost fall off when the pass on the last finds Atoa instead of a half. She loses it backwards as Beckett scoops it up and chips ahead. Leati takes it on the bounce and flies ahead before linking back up with Beckett for the improbable try!

Try scored by Rosemarie Beckett. Conversion successful by Alysha Bell.

Eels lead 10-0

9min gone

Gee there is some sting in the Parramatta tackles. They are driving the Bunnies back almost every tackle thus far. And is that a dang near carbon copy of the first try!? Beckett chips down the left edge on the last just over halfway once again. Leati takes it on the bounce and bursts through a tackle before offloading to Ameena Kanj. The winger steps back infield behind the cover chase before linking back up with Beckett who is always lurking in support for another ridiculous try!

Try scored by Rosemarie Beckett. Conversion successful by Alysha Bell.

Eels lead 16-0

16min gone

It is all Parramatta this morning. Following a South Sydney error in an attempt to clean up Tallara Bamblett’s clearing kick, the Eels break left from the scrum win. A nicely worked set play nearly sees Doueihi put Kanj over but the defence swallow up the Parramatta fullback in the nice of time. There is still an opportunity to attack the short side in the wake of the first tackle though as Pottinger takes play left to Leati who steams in behind the ruck from 10m out and crashes over! Deserved reward for the left centre.

Try scored by Tamerah Leati. Conversion unsuccessful by Alysha Bell.

Eels lead 20-0

20min gone

The final minutes of the first half are a crazy mix of the Eels overplaying their hand in the pursuit of more points and some outstanding individual plays. A couple of one-on-one strips keep Parramatta camped on the South Sydney goal line but they can’t crack them one final time before oranges. Stil it is a tremendous opening half for the Parramatta Eels today!

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 20 leading the South Sydney Rabbitohs 0

Second Half

Eels kicking off in the second half. The first penalty of the half goes their way when they recover a dropped ball and then have it reefed out in a two-player tackle. Some lovely second phase play built off a big run from Pottingers takes Parra to the goal line before Bamblett forces a drop out with an excellent grubber kick.

It looks like the Eels may have crashed over as Petalina Atoa fends her way through defenders down the left edge but the referee blows a penalty to the home team and it looks like a double movement might be the call.

The physicality of the Eels shines through once again with a brutal set of defence. Kanj heads back to clean up the long kick and draws a penalty for a messy ruck which sees the visistors rocket downfield and score!

Beckett again in the thick of the lead up here as the Eels sortie with great effect. Rosemarie finds Leati who weaves back against the flow of traffic and flicks the ball spectacularly to Kasey Quye on the inside. The dummy half plucks it out of the air in full stride and slams it down!

Try scored by Kasey Quye. Conversion successful by Alysha Bell.

Eels lead 26-0

38min gone

Again, momentum soley with the Blue & Gold and their dominance in the ruck is reflected as the penalty count begins to mount in their favour. They bruise they way into the red zone on the back of some punishing runs which include their captain Ruby-Jean Kennard before the prop finds herself at dummy half. She rather expertly distributes the ball to fellow bruiser Melunuku’o ‘Akau’ola Laula in front of the posts and Laula storms over!

Try scored by Melunuku’o ‘Akau’ola Laula. Conversion successful by Alysha Bell.

Eels lead 32-0

46min gone

Another glut of possession sees the Eels rumble downfield. Powerful runs from Lio and Lokeni down the right edge set the stage for another try and interchange forward Chelsea Steele smashes over! Rabbitohs are far too fatigued at this point as Parra run rampant.

Try scored by Chelsea Steele. Conversion unsuccessful by Rosemarie Beckett.

Eels lead 36-0

57min gone

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 36 defeat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 0 

1. Mohamed Alameddine
2. Luke Maroun
3. Michael Gabrael
4. Junior Fagalele
5. Richard Penisini
6. Blaize Talagi
7. Lorenzo Talataina
8. Sam Tuivati
9. Matthew Arthur
10. Jacob John
11. Charbel Chehade
12. Tyrese Lokeni
13. Kobi Hurford
14. Zaidas Muagututia
15. Sebastian Piukala
16. Jordan Uta
17. Jordan Faleono
18. Jezaiah Funa-Luta

First Half

Parra to kick off. A good first set of defence is followed up by some really hungry carries. Penisini, Gabrael and Lokeni rip in for massive gains. Parramatta spin it left with some clean hands to release Luke Maroun. The flanker pins his ears back for the goal line but terrific cover defence bundle him into touch barely in the nick of time.

Kobi Hurford with an excellent start to this game. Several strong carries before he earns the Eels a penalty on the second last tackle of this set. It takes Parra back into the red zone but a poorly worked play around the ruck sees the Rabbitohs earn a penalty in return as the ruck becomes a point of obstruction for the defence.

Some sharp work out of dummy half from Matty Arthur in the opening ten minutes of this game but each time the Eels seem to have Souths on the backfoot an error lets them off.

And now luck shines for the home team as they work their way deep into Parramatta’s half. They take the ball down their right edge where the have the numbers advantage but a clean jam from the Eels seemingly negates it. Maroun’s jam comes as the ball is hurriedly shoveled on and pings off his shoulder. It pops up perfectly for Souths to reclaim it and they step back across the desperate cover defence to score.

Try scored by South Sydney. Conversion unsuccessful.

Souths lead 4-0

14min gone

Holy dooley. Blink and you will miss it. Souths are immediately pulled up from the very first pass off the kickoff. It has travelled forwards and the Eels deliver a bristling riposte as Michael Gabrael dives over from the very next play. Barely caught that one in real time it happened so quickly!

Try scored by Michael Gabrael. Converison unsuccessful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lock the scores up at 4-all

17min gone

Heavy run of play for Souths after they strike an excellent 40/20. They go on the force a drop out in the following set but they can not convert the pressure into points as they drop the ball cold.

Good efforts from Penisini and Lokeni tee the Eels up for an attacking kick this possession but they won’t need it! Lovely ball work to the left frees up Maroun once again but he looks inside for support this time around. His pass back to Gabrael is off the mark and hits the deck but Alameddine swoops in to reclaim the pill and dive over! Excellent defence is swiftly rewarded by points there.

Try scored by Mohamed Alameddine. Conversion unsuccessful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 8-4

25min gone

Again the Eels show themselves to be up for the physicality of this clash as they drive the ball deep into South Sydney territory. They get to their kick after points, always a great indicator of how the team is faring, but Talagi’s bomb sails out on the full.

The confidence levels are sky high for the Matts today. Really great to see as well. They are sweeping with speed to the left edge to rip the Bunnies for numbers before switching play to the right to give Penisini the chance to step inside the sliding defence and score! Good last pass from Alameddine there to set it up as well. All right on the stroke of half time as well.

Try scored by Richard Penisini. Conversion unsuccessful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 12-4

Half Time 

Parramatta Eels 12 lead the South Sydney Rabbitohs 4

Second Half

Parramatta set the tone for the half with their first possession with an excellent set. Arthur completes it with a high quality kick and an enthusiastic kick chase traps the Rabbitohs on their goal line. Time is quickly blown off on the next play though when Penisini is left on the ground. He is seen to by trainers but it seems to be something serious given the significant delay of game. In a double blow the Eels also look to be without the services of Junior Fagalele who is assisted off by the two trainers. Penisini has to be charioted off due to a lack of a stretcher in a poor look for the game.

Huge blow for the Eels as their backline is devastated but they aren’t taking a step backwards here. They survive a brief onslaught from the Rabbitohs in the wake of the dual injuries and deliver a boomer counter-hit when Matty Arthur takes a quick tap from a penalty. He knifes through the retreating defenders and finds Blaize Talagi with a pinpoint pass. Talagi knows how to finish a play like that and he brushes past the fullback to score!

Try scored by Blaize Talagi. Conversion successful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 18-4

37min gone

Somehow they are finding another gear here in a hugely impressive showing. They put themselves on the attack as the interchange forwards come to the fore before a fortuitois touch from the Bunnies gifts the Eels a fresh set. They only need to the one play though as Arthur takes play right from the scrum. They strip the Rabbitohs for numbers and put newly installed winger Zaidas Muagututia over!

Try scored by Zaidas Muagututia. Conversion successful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 24-4

43min gone

Parramatta nearly go back-to-back instantly. A bullocking carry and offload from Charbel Chedade puts Lorenzo Talataina into the backfield. The Eels’ halfback hits Michael Gabrael as he comes to the last line but Souths are able to get the ankle tap on the Parramatta centre and with the line begging him just 3m away he hits the deck and loses the ball in the process. Huge moment in the game there.

They are turning up in defence in spite of everything thus far which is great to see. A stinging shot from our left edge dislodges the ball on a carefully disguised wrap around play as the rain begins to intensify.

Kobi Hurford, fresh back on the field, rolls the first tackler and looks to find Talataina in support but his offload goes askew and Souths recover the ball.

More and more pressure from the Eels in their next possession. Hurford in the thick of it again with a brutish carry. Talagi rolls the ball on the ground on the last and leads the kick chase to drive the fullback back into his in goals.

Gee that is classy from ‘Boods’ Arthur. Sums it up beautifully as he jumps out of dummy half to attack the right edge short side. He draws the defenders in and throws the money ball to Muagututia to nab the emergency winger his second of the day!

Try scored by Zaidas Muagututia. Conversion unsuccessful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 28-4

54min gone

They are just puring in on now. Jacob ‘Bobby’ Johns crashes through the middle from Parramatta’s side of halfway! He gets to the fullback and beats him with the dummy but is cut down from behind. Numbers left and they go that way where Kobi Hurford plays Andrew Johns with a mint cutout pass to put Luke Maroun over in the corner!

Try scored by Luke Maroun.

Conversion unsuccessful by Mohamed Alameddine.

Eels lead 32-4

57min gone

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 32 defeat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 

4. Freeman Forsythe
2. Tutonu Junior Wright
3. Declan Murray
20. Cody Parry
5. Suliasi Aho
6. Reilly Canning
7. Terrence Lafai
8. Lance Fualema
9. Yehya Ayache
10. Saxon Pryke
11. Daniel Readon
12. Domenic De Stradis
13. Nicholas Lenaz
14. Jacob Davis
15. Markis Atoa
16. Ibrahim Fakhri
17. Joshua Alzahim
18. Raffaele De Stradis

First Half

Eels are kicking off to start the Ball. Reasonable opening set by the Bunnies as they muster the ball over halfway. Their kick is claimed on the full by Forsythe who is then tackled 10m out. Catastrophic start in Parramatta’s first possession though when Aho loses the ball on the very next tackle.

The visitors are on the backfoot immediately as an offload on the first play of South’s next set lets them tee off at the goal line. Daniel Readon is part of the deserpation cover defence that saves the day but he bumps the uprights hard and there is serious claret running. He is off for the blood bin. His efforts weren’t in vain either with the ball coming out in the tackle!

Tough set for Parra up next but they get to their kick and relentless pressure in the next defensive set is rewarded! A cracking jam and hit by Lafai is followed up by a hustle charge down and recovery from Dom De Stradis! He strides downfield sand links up with Reilly Canning who is coralled at the last line. All to play for now though and Yehya Ayache seizes the moment to crash over from dummy half!

Try scored by Yehya Ayache. Conversion successful by Reilly Canning.

Eels lead 6-0

6min gone

Big defensive play from Forsythe! The Eels have field position flipped by Canning’s clearing kick is deflected and a short side raid from the home team catches Cody Parry out of position. Freeman guns it across the field in time to make the sensational tackle that earns a turnover!

A string of penalties follows for Parra as they get back on the front foot. Alzahim runs down the right before play switches back to the left and play is halted when Lafai is drilled late off the ball. Time out now because this is the second instance in a handful of plays but only a caution comes.

Fualema and Canning with the early runs before Parry crashes into the line down the right. Back left to Lenaz who is cut down before the Eels play sharp to their left to De Stradis who is only stopped by a brilliant last gasp tackle.

A neat bomb to the left is caught by the Rabbitohs but they are bundled into touch so Paramatta go back on the attack.

Alzahim is sent back inside on the first play and nearly bashes and barges his way over before he is dragged down. A bit of lost direction after that tough as Parra play from left to right without intent. They run it on the last back to the left edge but the cutout pass to Tutonu Junior Wright sails well over his head and into touch. Rough set.

Now the penalties run for Souths as they are piggy backed into Parramatta’s red zone and they hit back sure enough. A nice short ball at the line puts their right edge backrower over and gets the home team right back into this contest.

Try scored by Souths Sydney. Conversion successful.

Souths lock the scores up at 6-all

17min gone

Parramatta pick themselves up and get back into the grind. Following a high shot on Wright they find themselves in South’s half where they fail to breach the goal line but work towards a nice kick on the last from Lenaz. It forces a drop out and from the resultant play big Lance Fualema steams back into the line for a great run but it unravels as he loves it in the play-the-ball.

Back and forth between the two teams as completed sets, errors and penalties all get traded. Souths edge ahead when they force a line drop out with just under 9min left in the half.

Nice work from Junior Wright out on the left sideline. Stripped for numbers he has to jam and make a play and he does just that. Gets his hand to the pass to bat it down.

The goal line defence from Parramatta is top notch in the next set as they turn the home team away again and again but the pressure goes up another notch when they force another drop out.

What a goal line stand! They rebuffed Souths through a veritable mountain of tackles. Forced to kick once again this one rolls dead. The effort on effort stuff rewarded richly there.

The Rabbitohs have the asendancy still with the home team well ahead in the battle for field position. They look to have crossed down the Eels’ right edge with a late pass to their backrower but the touchy is right on it and signals that is has travelled forwards. A charge down from the next set gives Souths one last crack at the goal line but gee the Eels are turning up today. They force the error as the siren rings out and that brings an end to the half.

Half Time

Parramarra Eels 6 locked up with the South Sydney Rabbitohs 6

Second Half

Both teams looking aggressive early in the second half. Big hits from the Eels put them in position to attack. Captain Saxon Pryke is absolutely everywhere but just as Parramatta seem to be ready to make a tilt at the red zone they have an errant play-the-ball. Might have been Josh Alzahim there. It came after he did so well to take a tough pass at the line as well.

A linebreak and a penalty completely flip the field as Souths begin to attack the Eels’ goal line. Thankfully an error on tackle two releases the pressure valve!

Alas it is Parra who blink first this half. Consecutive offloads down the Rabbitohs’ left edge carry them deep into Parramatta’s half before they switch play to their right. Initially it looks like the Eels have it covered but they can’t effect the first up tackles and Souths take full advanatge of it to burrow over back against the grain. Gut punch after so much tough defence.

Try scored by South Sydney. Conversion successful.

Souths lead 12-6

47min gone

A chance for the Eels to strike back now after Alzahim is nearly decapitated running back in behind the ruck. Parra are sluggish shifting the ball to their right and get a slice of luck when a contested pass is ruled to have been touched first by a South’s defender.

Lafai is now collared high from the restart as time is called off for repeat infringements. They were already warned  for a similar indiscretion earlier this game and sure enough the referee takes action. The play goes on report and the defender is sin-binned.

However the Eels shoot themselves in the foot immediately in the wake of it all as they drop it on the first play of the penalty restart.

Not to be undone the Bunnies turn it back over a few tackles later as it is fair to say the game begins to break down. The dropathon continues into the next set when Alazhim has the ball jolted directly out of his grasp.

The home team burst out of their own half with a weaving run from the scrum win. Eventually the Rabbitohs switch edges to attack down their right and it looks like the Eels’ half Reilly Canning gets his head in a bad spot when making a tackle. The trainer quickly signals for a HIA. No surprise there. Hope the young lad didn’t take a bad knock.

Souths strike from the resumption of play to take this game perhaps a step too far for the Eels. Easy left edge movement catches Parra short between half and edge as the Bunnies crash over through that channel.

Try scored by South Sydney. Conversion unsuccessful.

Souths lead 16-6

56min gone

Game is definitely gone now as Souths don’t even need to strip Parra for numbers. Their half runs the ball down the left edge, throws a dummy and rolls through the tackle to score. Tough day at the office for our boys in the Ball.

Try scored by South Sydney. Conversion successful.

Souths lead 22-6

63min gone

One last dose of pain for the Eels today as a turnover from big Suliasi Aho quickly spirals into a try. Aho drops the ball trying to work a ruck settler for Parra and the home team gather up the pill and immediately attack to their left. A play later they have the numbers and cross in the corner untouched.

Try scored by South Sydney. Conversion successful.

Souths lead 28-6

69min gone

Full Time 

South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 defeat the Parramatta Eels 6