The NRL may have a bye but the Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup squads are still in action in Round 8. They both travel to Redfern to face the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a double-header at Redfern Oval. Both squads are entrenched inside the Top 4 coming into this round and will be wanting to consolidate their positions on the ladder with victories this week.

 

11:45AM marks the start of the action in the Jersey Flegg with the NSW Cup following at 2:00PM. Catch all of the action and join the conversation for both matches right here on TCT!

 

Jersey Flegg Team List

 

1	Jayden Ambichi
2	Dakota Kakoi
3	Tuvaka Palu
4	Richard Penisini
5	Bradley Avery
6	Matthew Hunter
7	Josh Lynn
8	Damascus Neemia
14	Patrick Spence
10	Teancum Brown
11	Domenico De Stradis
12	Tyrese Lokeni
13	Sebastian Piukala
15	Raffaele De Stradis
16	William Lewis
17	Ieti Samuelu
18	Javahn Stevenson-Hala

 

Match Updates

 

First Half

Eels kicking off. The Eels and Rabbitohs exchange sets with the Eels having the better of territory. The Bunnies knock down an Eels pass and the Eels will start with a scrum 40 out. But it’s scrappy work and an attempted tap on in a right side shift sees the ball go down 30 out.

Good set from the Bunnies as they work play toParra’s red zone but Ambichi cleans up theLast tackle grubber. Oh that’s close as an attempted 40/20 crosses the sideline just one metre short of the mark.

Souths get six again late in the next set. They advance play to ten out. Running it on the last but Dom DeStradis cuts the runner down.

Good metres here from Parra but the ball goes down just short of halfway. Momentum and possession is definitely with the Rabbitohs now. A grubber kick from Hawkins for the Bunnies. The ref rules that the Eels player forced it dead. Though the Bunnies chaser got his hands on it.

Yet another six again call for Souths in the drop out set. Big left shift and they’ve got Parra for numbers as their winger crosses in the corner.

Conversion from Hawkins is successful from the sideline.

Souths 6 lead Eels nil after 14 minutes

More possession and territory for Souths as they get a penalty in the kick off set for a strip. Nice shape down the right and they’ve got Bunnies winger goes close before offloading. The dummy half likes what he sees at the ruck and steals the try.

Conversion successful

Souths 12 lead Eels nil after 17 minutes

This has been an ordinary start from Parra. They compound it as Lynn sends the kick off over the sideline. It looks like the fellas don’t have their head in the game today with error upon error.

Yet another penalty this time for a strip. If they aren’t careful this game will get away from them. Fortunately for Parra the Bunnies make a meal of their last tackle play ten out from Parra’s line.

Penalty for Parra in yardage. Lynn’s timing is out as his pass to Penisini misses the mark and the ref calls a lost ball 20 out. Pity as they get forwards we’re looking good in that set.

Souths cough it up. Close as Palu is held up by a collection of defenders. Right now but Brown loses the ball in front of the posts.

Souths gets to their kick this set and Ambichi field it ten out. The Eels get through yardage and Hunter kicks downfield from about 40 out. No nonsense from Souths in reply as they again get to their kick. Well that’s a welcome penalty to Parra for a crusher.

Tap restart about  45 out from Souths line. Avery sweeps from right fullback into a left side shift and receives a penalty for a high tackle. Samuelu is causing havoc with his runs. Left side now but Lynn’s kick is easily cleaned up. Hang on Souths have turned it back over. Eels drive back through the forwards towards the posts. Left now and along pass from Hunter has created space as the ball goes through Palu to Kakoi who dives over in the corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Souths 12 lead Eels 4 after 30 minutes

Great set after points with a massive run from Brown. The bomb is hoisted on the last and Souths fumble the catch backwards. Unfortunately Parra knock on in trying to claim the pill. Scrum now Souths get a penalty. They find touch about 40 out.

The Bunnies go for a big left shift but the ball is lost and finds Lokeni who’s off on a 20 metre gallop. Down tothe quarter line now. Right now to Lokeni but his pass to Penisini goes down ten out. That’s a missed chance.

Souths now break down field and Hunter chases back to make the tackle inside Parra’s quarter.Souths kick is fumbled so it’s more defence for Parra. What a run from Avery as Souths drop the ball five out and the Eels winger gallops 50 metres through traffic. Oh that’s disappointing as the Eels again fail to complete their set, dropping the ball on the quarter.

Souths now fail to finish their set 35 out from Parra’s line. Hunter now throws a forward pass mid set and the ball goes down. They go for an early kick with the siren about to sound but Lynn drops back to clean it up.

That concludes a very ordinary half of footy, especially from the Eels.

Half time – Souths 12 lead Eels 4

Second Half

What a start as the Eels go left in the kick off set. Kakoi is into space down the left winger. He finds  Ambichi with an inside pass but the cover drags him down. He lays the ball behind as Hunter picks it up at top speed and crosses in the corner. Oh no. The ref calls that lay back as a knock on. Ambichi is injured and is replaced.

Lewis on into back row. Dom DeStradis to centre. Avery to fullback.

After an injury delay, the Eels hoist a bomb on the last. The Souths fullback fumbles it and Hunter picks it up before offloading to Neemia who plants it next to the posts.

Conversion successful by Hunter.

Souths 12 lead Eels 10 after 44 minutes.

Another bomb on the last and Souths get lucky as the ball pinballs around off the catch and somehow it finds the fullback who sprints for a 20 metre gain.

Big 40/20 from Lynn. Eels tap 15 out. Spence goes to steal the try but the ball is reefed out. Hang on. It’s called lost as Souths get a 20 metre restart and now a penalty. Plenty of calls falling their way in this. Now another penalty for a strip. It’s too much now as the Bunnies find success on the left edge as they score beside the posts.

Conversion successful Souths 18 lead Eels 10 51 minutes gone

Penalty to the Eels and they’re into the Rabbitohs quarter. Big one two punch. First up Nemia is tough to stop in a mighty charge. Left now to Will Lewis who bumps through defenders to score out wide on the left in his return match.

Hunter converts Souths 18 lead Eels 16 after 56 minutes

wow what a run as Neemia charges 70 metres from the kick off swatting away defenders. Now left as Pulu goes close. Big shift right on the back of that as DeStradis punches through the line and finds Penisini for the try.

Conversion misses Eels 20 lead Souths 18 after 59 minutes.

The Eels cough it up in the kick off set.

Bold play from Parra as Lynn fields the Souths grubber in goal then runs right and passes to Pulu who gets the ball into the field of play.

Souths now strike back. They break down their left and then go back to the right on the last. The kick takes a deflection on the last and the ref rules played at. I’m not to sure about that. Back left now and they find success as they create an overlap to score in the corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Souths 22 lead Eels 20 after 64 minutes

Eels force a Souths error in the set after points. Eels scrum. Left to Pulu off the scrum and he breaks the defence and is off for the prize scoring about ten metres to the left of the posts.

Hunter converts.

Eels 26 lead Bunnies 22 after 68 minutes

Eels get another opportunity to attack as they earn a line drop out but Souths reel in the short drop out. Another Souths penalty for a slow play the ball and that was in my biased eyes a soft call. Now another penalty for a cannon ball style tackle.

Penisini try saver there! Souths now lose the ball over the line and Avery gets a quick 20 metre tap. Parra rampaging downfield but it comes undone as Brown loses the ball 35 out.

Souths dummy half loses control of his pass on the Eels 30 and with five minutes to go that’s a welcome relief for the Eels. Lynn completes the set with a chip kick into the right corner.

Souths are hemmed in by a great defensive set by the Eels and now knock it on at dummy half on the last.

Conservative early in the set as Parra set towards the posts. Avery chimes in on a right side shift and the Bunnies defence reads his play correctly as he holds the ball rather than passing to Penisini and is tackled a metre out. Back to the left as Lynn kicks behind the line. The Souths player looks like he’s caught it but the ball pops up and Hunter swoops to snatch the ball and score beside the posts.

Hunter converts his own try.

Eels 32 lead Rabbitohs 22 with two minutes remaining.

The Eels play out the kick off set with a kick that goes dead in goal.

Full time Eels 32 defeat Rabbitohs 22.

The class of the third placed Eels wins out after a scrappy first half.

 

 

NSW Cup Team List

 

1	Joash Papalii
18	Mohamed Alameddine
3	Jordan Samrani
4	Araz Nanva
5	Samuel Loizou
6	Ronald Volkman
7	Dean Hawkins
8	Wiremu Greig
9	Kruz Niutili-Schmidt
10	Toni Mataele
11	Bryce Cartwright
12	Dan Keir
13	Ryan Matterson
Interchange
14	Meni Luke
15	Saxon Pryke
16	Brock Parker
17	Kayne Kalache

 

Match Updates

First half

Rabbitohs kick off and are in front of the kicker!

Hawkins finds touch just outside of the quarter. They work the left now quickly back to the right as Papalii sweeps in and feeds Samrani who dummies to his winger and slices through to score.

Conversion by Papalii is successful

Eels 6 lead Rabbitohs nil after three minutes.

Mataele loses possession in the hit up. Rabbitohs in attack. Penalty to them in front of the posts now. They tap. Schuster rolls the ball into the ingoal mid set. Line drop out. Eels go short but Souths catch it. They centre play now go left. Big overlap for the winger who strolls over untouched. This is the penalty for not completing the set after points.

Conversion added.

Eels 6 Rabbitohs 6 seven minutes gone

Souths error now in the set after points. Eels scrum 25 metres out. That’s all too easy for Parra now as Parra score mid set as Volkman picks up a pass off his toes then hands off to Keir who slices through the line and scores beside the left upright.

Papalii converts.

Eels 12 lead Rabbitohs 6 after 11 minutes

Let’s see if Parra can get to their kick after points. They do as Hawkins drives the ball down into the right corner in a perfect set.

Souths do likewise now and Alameddine fields it and goes 20 metres in his run. Wow hot potato football late in the set as the Eels seem like they go through the hands of every player with Carty rolling the ball into the right corner to finish the set.

Six again for Souths late in their set. Schuster kicks early with no chasers and Loizou brings it back into the field of play. Hawkins goes for an early kick. It takes a deflection and Cartwright takes it and gets it quickly to Hawkins who breaks into the backfield. He paces himself waiting for the support to arrive and it’s Samrani who gets away from the cover to score out wide on the right.

Conversion misses

Eels 16 lead Rabbitohs 6 after 18 minutes

Eels go to Souths red zone this set and Matterson is toying with the defence in an enterprising carry. To Hawkins for the last tackle kick. It hoists a high one to the right corner. Souths fumble and Loizou claims the try. The officials rule that the ball was actually tapped forwards by him and rule a scrum. I’m not so sure.

Eels impression in their next possession with Matterson again creating havoc with a run and offload. Great short side play down the left wing and Nanva breaks away. He draws the fullback and finds Volkman in support for the try.

Papalii converts.

Eels 22 lead Rabbitohs 6 after 23 minutes.

I can barely keep up here as Parra take complete control. Papalii chimes in on a left side shift inside Parra’s own half following the kick off. He puts Nanva away and the Eels centre again draws the fullback but this time passes outside to Alameddine who sprints away to score in the left corner.

Conversion misses.

Eels 26 lead Rabbitohs 6 after 26 minutes

On the Eels nearly break away again after the kick off but the pass is tapped at in desperation by the Rabbitohs and the Eels can’t reel it in.

Souths complete their set by kicking it into the Eels in goal but Papalii gets out. A massive 40/20 from Volkman. Here we go. Oops no. The Eels drop it on the first.

Rabbitohs error. Eels scrum. Oh that is Carty at his best. The Eels advance play to the quarter. Volkman turns Matterson back on an inside run. He holds off defenders and offloads to Cartwright. He also holds off the defender in front of the posts and bounces away. He looks right and chip kicks towards Samrani who has a clear catch to score. Brilliant!

Papalii converts

Eels 32 lead Rabbitohs 6 after 34 minutes.

Rabbitohs kick out on the full. Back to the red zone as Samrani is again put into space and is brought down five out. Back to the left and now a last tackle kick that Souths shut down.

Souths getting repeated sets via penalties and six again calls. Last tackle kick is caught by Samrani on the wing. The ref calls he left the field of play in catching it. Again it looks a rough call. Parra go long with only seconds remaining and Souths just get the one play before the siren sounds.

Please note. It appears that Loizou has left the field with Samrani pushing out to the right wing and Dan Keir switching from left edge to right centre.

Second half

Eels kick off with all players keeping well on side. Souths penalty on the second tackle.

Schuster goes for a big play on the second tackle as he kicks from the left side to the right wing and the winger takes it at full flight and busts through Papalii’s tackle to score

Conversion misses.

Eels 32 lead Rabbitohs 10 after 43 minutes.

Schuster Ickes high on the last and Alameddine fumbles backwards but regathers ten out.

Eels get over the halfway before the kick goes to the right wing about 20 out.

Good defensive set from Parra and Bunnies kick from 40 out. Another high kick which Alameddine again fumbles backwards before again regathering. His pass to Papalii is off the mark but the fullback eventually secures it. The Eels make an error on their own side of halfway.

Souths get to their last and hoist another high one to Alameddine who makes a fine catch but is driven ingoal to force a line drop out.

Eels kick long. Souths work play back into the 20 but the Eels are handling it well. A shortish bomb but the Souths chaser steals it out of the hands of the Eels player (not sure who) and touches down beside the upright. Conversion added.

Eels 32 lead Souths 16 after 51 minutes

Souths error in the set after points. Eels scrum 20 out. They go right off the scrum but the Souths defender knock down the pass meant for Samrani. Left off the reset scrum. Papalii goes close. Now right but Keir’s pass goes behind Samrani with a try beckoning. He fumbles then Souths do likewise. Scrum ten out.

Souths kick from 40 out and it’s fielded by Alameddine. He tries to offload in the tackle but loses control. Souths ball. Geez it looks like the Souths player has scored from dummy half but the ball has come free. Huge let off for Parra there.

Souths penalised for a strip now. The Eels needed that.

Lets see it we can complete a set. Oh great play between Hawkins and Cartwright as Hawkins passes to the second rower who goes through the hole then backs up to take the return pass to score between the posts. Converted by Papalii

Eels 38 lead Rabbitohs 16 after 60 minutes

Eels get to the kick which lands ten out and get the penalty for interference on a chaser. Tap for the Eels and they centre play. The shape is now left as Volkman finds Papalii chiming in and the fullback is too elusive for defenders as he gets across the line and then runs the ball back around to make it easier for his conversion. He indeed adds the extras.

Eels 44 lead Souths 16 after 64 minutes.

The Eels pass goes astray near halfway. Souths now work back towards the quarter but make their own error on the quarter line.

Good Eels second phase play this set. Now a big harbour bridge pass from Papalii to Samrani around halfway. He streaks away then chips the fullback. Souths just manage to clean it up in goal.

Souths have the ball and earn a penalty late in the set. Great position for them to attack. The ball comes to Schuster near the posts and he dummies to pass then kicks a pin point accurate grubber for the chaser to reel in and score.

Conversion misses.

Eels 44 lead Souths 20 after 71 minutes.

Another Souths penalty but they fail to find touch. Alameddine takes it back with interest. Now Volkman splits them before finding Pryke looming up in support and the young prop sprints away to score next to the posts. Papalii converts.

Eels 50 lead Souths 20 after 75 minutes.

Souths try to go short but Papalii cleans it up. Parra go short side right late in the count but Schuster knocks it down. Eels scrum 35 metres out.

Volkman kicks it into the ingoal on the last and Souths take it dead. Short drop out. Parra on the attack in the red zone and ask plenty of questions. Kalache is brought down half a metre out. The Eels get a play wrong off the play the ball so Hawkins kicks out towards Alameddine but the ball goes over the sideline on the full,

Souths get the last possession and now Mataele is penalised and put on report. Hot potato play by Souths and one of their players hits the deck. Looks like another penalty coming their way with four seconds to go. Greig is binned. Souths throw up a bomb. It comes back to them from the contest. More hot potato stuff. The Eels eventually come up with the ball and that’s full time.

Full time. Eels 50 defeat Rabbitohs 20

Big day for Parra as that’s four wins from four starts.