The SG Ball and their Grand Final Qualifier stand as the final game left for the Parramatta Eels on the ANZAC Day long weekend. They face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval at 1:00PM today on what has been a night and morning of consistent deluges. It will be a wet and heavy track today putting an even greater emphasis on successfully completing sets and minimising poor defensive contact.

Parramatta and South Sydney met earlier this season in Round 4 in a match that resulted in a massive comeback victory for the Blue & Gold at they rattled off 26 unanswered points to prevail 26-16. Souths did plenty of damage in the first 15-minutes though and definitely have the talent and firepower to take this game away from the Eels – especially considering that Parramatta have not been able to find top gear in the finals thus far.

The wet conditions have altered the parameters of the match but it still should be a thoroughly exciting contest today. A win for the Ball would mean the Eels will be represented across 3 Grand Finals in the Junior Representatives – so let’s ride our boys home today!

Coverage starts at 1:00PM!

 

 

SG Ball Team List

 

1	Cameron Bamblett
2	Dom Farrugia
3	Andes Johansson
4	Nathan Howlett
5	Aidan Kebourian
6	Lorenzo Talataina
7	Lincoln Fletcher
8	Elijah-Shane Tapau
9	Lachlan Coinakis
10	Ryda Talagi
11	Jezaiah Funa-Iuta
12	Christopher Petrus
13	Max Popo
14	Tom Summer
15	Wesley Pakoti
17	Mark Williams
19	Isaac Jim
16	Beau Lucien
18	Lorima Saukuru

 

Match Updates

 

Isaac Jim shifts back into the starting team with Elijah-Shane Tapau taking Jim’s place on the bench. A familiar move in recent weeks.

 

First Half

 

Parramatta will kick off in the first half.

We are underway  as Popo and Funa-Iuta lead the charge for the opening tackle. Driving defence from Talagi and Popo next tackle. Good intent early on and Jim follows that up with a leveling shot! Bamblett takes the clearing kick on the full as the Eels get to work and Kebourian quickly earns a penalty. An early chance here for the Eels.

Talagi trucks it up tackle one. Right now as Jim rumbles through defenders for a nice gain. Popo the third man up as the Eels hammer the ruck. To the left from there as Talataina gets his first touch but his pass is off the mark and Johansson does very well to not knock-on. What a crucial play that is too because it allows the Eels to get to the last tackle where Lincoln Fletcher stabs a wonderful kick into the in-goals that holds up just enough for big Chris Petrus to fly through and ground for the first points of the game!

 

Try scored by Christopher Petrus. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 4-0

4min gone

 

Good charge from Jim as he rips in from the kickoff. The ball comes out and the referee is quick to signal that some cheeky hands were involved. Popo gets the first run from the touch finder before Jim steams through defenders once again. Left to Petrus as the Bunnies meet him strongly and that leads to another run for Popo – heavily involved here early on. Right to Jezaiah to bring up the last as Talataina’s bomb is too heavy and ends up taken in-goals for a 20m restart.

Good, sound set from Souths as they work with the aid of the extra tackle. They get a bit looser later in the count with a wild offload that they recover. The set is completed with a bomb to Parramatta’s right edge and the Bunnies get a big call in their favour now with what looked to be a pretty clear knock-on against them. Fresh set inside Parra’s red zone as a result – can the Eels rise above a tough call?

Souths spin it to their right early on but are met with good line speed. It forces them to the opposite side of the field where their five-eighth Alvarez dummies and goes but is cut down. To the posts from there where the Eels barely manage to turn away a strong run and Souths are able to force a line drop out from there only for Parra to get the ball back from a short attempt that is knocked on by the Bunnies. Phew.

Great run from Funa-Iuta there as he nearly splits defenders and fights his way forwards. Parramatta take the ball into South’s half before Fletcher hoists a midfield bomb that is taken cleanly by the winger Fong.

Busy defensive work from Farrugia here as he makes consecutive tackles. Three in a row actually as he barely completed the third – to the jeers of the crowd because it was touch and go whether it was completed. Bamblett fields the clearing kick on the bounce and beats the first man before getting to the 30m mark for the Eels.

Petrus is driven backwards by strong defence as Souths aim up this set. Jim rights the ship and allows Fletcher to drive it deep downfield as the Bunnies are forced to take his kick a handful of metres off the goal line.

Very handy penalty for Souths now as Jezaiah Funa-Iuta is deemed to have stayed too long in the tackle. Borderline call but fair enough. The Rabbitohs work their opening tackles down their left before centreing the ball with their lock Rooke. A strong combo tackle from Jim and Petrus comes next and again the Bunnies are able to force a line drop out with a very neat grubber kick that forces Bamblett to play at the ball.

Time is off for an injured Rabbitoh. Looks like it is Yasin Kuscu.

The Eels don’t manage to strike a perfect short drop out as it sails into the midrange but Souths let it bounce! Cardinal sin there and Parra swoop on the tip back from their opposition to steal a possession.

Talataina is getting involved here with a jinking run before Coinakis dabs a kick into the in-goals. Geez that is a tough call there. The fullback Poynton dives into the field of play as the Eels fall on him. They don’t try to force him in-goals but the officials still call a penalty. Dubious call there.

Souths make a complete meal of the tap restart! The Eels pounce on the loose ball and do more than pounce! Coinakis finds Ryda Talagi and he damn near steam rolls through the entire ruck defence of the Rabbitohs as he storms 20m downfield to dive over to the right of the posts! What a try against the run of play!

 

Try scored by Ryda Talagi. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 10-0

17min gone

 

Tom Summer on with fresh legs and the first run of this set. Funa-Iuta with impressive post contact metres in his wake. Popo and Petrus round out busy work from the forwards but Petrus has the ball knocked backwards out of his grasp and it is ruled a knock on. Clearly knocked back but one of those calls that you can cop if they are consistent across the game.

Good short side play from the Rabbitohs but the Eels hold on down their left edge. They are building to the left edge switch but Fletcher and Howlett make the read and tackle and Souths make an elementary error in the play-the-ball afterwards to let the Eels off.

Kebourian up first here and met strongly before Farrugia has a bullocking run. Summer then wins a penalty as Coinakis taps and goes and passes to Lorenzo who bulldozes Humphries! Lovely outside-inside between Fletcher and Bamblett as the fullback goes close and from there it looks like Coinakis has put JFI over but the pass was forwards! Fair call too but the Eels had them on the ropes there.

Good reply set from Souths as they target the markers. They bay for a set restart from a loose pass that went close to Farrugia’s hand – close run thing there – but the ref rules play on and they lose track of the count and run it on the last without a plan for the turnover. That spirals into a penalty next play with a dangerous tackle.

Pakoti and Petrus with the early carries now. Right to Funa-Iuta and then back to Pakoti. Brilliant work from Talataina as he dances and teases the right edge of the Bunnies before finding support as the ball ends up with Aidan Kebourian who lances back infield for a great run. The Bunnies are reeling here and manage to tip Coinaki’s pass on the last managing only to reset the count as Parramatta quickly spin right with the overlap where Dom Farrugia is able to dive over in the corner for a straight forward try! Brilliant conversion from Fletcher further extends the lead!

 

Try scored by Dom Farrugia. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 16-0

27min gone

 

Another run for Summer as the ball is reefed out and the referee indicates it is indeed a penalty.

Pakoti first man up from the reset. Popo stays busy and is followed up by Summer who is hit hard behind the ruck. Johansson makes a strong run and does very well to avoid the sideline and flick the ball back to Kebourian who finds Talaitaina. Great sequence of play! The Eels are emboldened in these difficult conditions as the offloads and passes now flow freely and they swing from left to right with machine like precision! Outrageous stuff and it leads to Dom’s second in the right corner! Did I hallucinate all of the rain we had today? Fletcher finds his range again from the right sideline to take the Eels out to a 22-point lead.

 

Try scored by Dom Farrugia. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 22-0

30min gone

 

Summer, Funa-Iuta and Popo with the work here. Two carries for Summer before Pakoti rounds out the set. Fletcher completes a clinical post-points possession with a well weighted bomb.

Geez that is a benign penalty as JFI is pinged again for lingering in the ruck but it looked like he had peeled away in a very reasonable time. A second penalty comes now. Running for Souths out of no where now.

They send Riley Allen into the fray first. Right from there as their half Humphries is absolutely swallowed up by Chris Petrus in a great tackle. Coinakis is penalised for a driving tackle. It definitely flirted with the horizontal so fair enough.

Good sliding defence from Johansson out wide but the Bunnies get a set restart. What a glut of possession as now another penalty comes. A crusher against Coinakis the charge. He goes on report. The absurd run of possession does culminate in Souths crossing with a deft little play from dummy half down their left edge creating a very narrow channel for Jacob Fong to dive over. Souths desperately needed that before half time and were certainly aided by a run of calls but it does keep them alive after Parramatta’s furious bombardment.

 

Try scored by Jacob Fong. Conversion unsuccessful by Charlie Poynton.

Rabbitohs trail 4-22

 

Half Time

Parramatta Eels 22 lead the South Sydney Rabbitohs 4

 

Second Half

 

Rabbitohs kicking off.

Farrugia and Funa-Iuta set a strong early tone as Popo follows their lead. Summer cuts back inside the ruck for good metres as Lorenzo uses Petrus to bring up the last. To the air now off the boot of Talataina but Johansson times his contact ever so slightly wrong and yields a penalty. Marginally off there from the big centre.

Stiff defence from the Eels follows as Bamblett does a great job taking the clearing kick back with interest. Kebourian and Johansson up now as the backs get stuck in. Pakoti into South’s territory as Lorenzo knocks over another defender. The Eels run it on the last down a right edge short side but Bamblett is swarmed by defenders and turns it over.

Souths are working against the markers again but the Eels maintain their discipline before Bamblett barely manages to hold onto the attacking bomb. Kebourian and Howlett truck it up for the Eels before Popo continues his busy, busy work through the ruck. Lorenzo hoists it high on the last and the Eels look to have trapped the Bunnies 10m off their line but a late whistle comes for a high tackle and I tell you what – there was nothing there. That is an incredibly bogus call.

Geez, based on some earlier calls the Eels could have won 3 penalties this set. Instead the Bunnies are allowed to lay all over the ruck and pin the Eels deep in their half. A stellar kick from Fletcher manages to flip the field thankfully but Souths punch a hole through Parramatta’s right edge forcing Bamblett into action to make a try saver. They have a huge change to shorten the margin here as Taj Alvarez takes on the line. He fights through contact to get close to the line but loses the ball!

No respite for the Eels though with Johansson losing possession in turn from the 20m restart.

Another goal line stand looms for Parramatta.

Souths play right to Samuel on the first tackle. Right again as Johansson and Bamblett work together. Back to the posts and the Eels soak up tackles. Lua goes close near the posts but Parra are resilient and Fletcher does extremely well to dive on a grubber kick and turn it over for the Eels!

Great work from Johansson and Kebourian gets the Eels out of trouble before Fletcher drills it downfield. Souths with the edge in territory still but Parramatta did well there.

Work for our right edge in defence this set but they get the job done as Souths send a stabbed kick in behind Parra’s left edge on the last. Bamblett is on it immediately though. Howlett and Johansson notch up carries with Petrus centreing the ball from there. Fletcher uses Popo down the right and then completes the set with a bomb. Nicely weighted as the Eels trap Poynton 16m off his goal line.

Isaac Jim engulfs a runner with a bear hug of a tackle and the Bunnies are back to a neutral position in the arm wrestle. They panic on the last and look for a chip kick but Farrugia reads it expertly and snatches the threat out of the air.

Jim rumbles downfield now! Petrus wins a six again against offside defenders as the Eels go to Tapau next. Lovely shape from Talataina! He enthralls defenders with the ball in both hands before slipping it out the back to a sweeping Bamblett who shows gorgeous hands to link up with Kebourian and Aidan does a brilliant job himself to dive over in the corner! Pure silk in these wet conditions.

 

Try scored by Aidan Kebourian. Conversion unsuccessful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 26-4

50min gone

 

Tapau with the opening call now. Funa-Iuta rips in with a quality run next as Jim just drags defenders with him on tackle three. Popo into South’s half and Coinakis tries to stab it into the in-goals next but the roll on is not kind and it results in a 20m restart.

Coinakis and Jim combine for a punishing tackle from the restart but are then out done by Talatiana who unloads a monster hit! Souths do well not to lose the ball under this barrage – at least initially – but cough it up on half way! A deserved rewards for a psychotic set of defence from the Eels.

Petrus turned underneath by Fletcher from the scrum. Johansson the next option two passes left of the ruck as Popo brings it back to the middle afterwards. It is on from there for the Eels are Lorenzo dives into the defensive line and then slips a pass to Bamblett who rifles a cutout pass to Kebourian. Aidan cuts back infield and beats several defenders but drops it! Oh no. The Bunnies were dead to rights if he holds onto it.

Jim is penalised for a lifting tackle but Petrus absolutely folds a poor Rabbitoh in the next set. Defensive energy has been unreal here from the Eels. Souths try to shift it to their left next but get it all wrong and turn it over.

Lorenzo tries to shape a late play from the scrum but is well tackled. Parra work to their right with Bamblett who eats the tackle before sending Jim back into the fray. Pass across the ruck from Coinakis to Popo but the referee spies an error as he fights to his feet and again Souths survive.

A good run from Slate for the Rabbitohs but Parramatta prevent major damage as Petrus again delivers a strong tackle next play. He has been very impressive on that side of the ball today. Souths again turn it over forcing play down their left and Johansson explodes through the ruck defence of the Bunnies! He takes on the fullback without a second though and races into the corner and dives over through contact. Did he get it down? No is the call! He is furious with the decision but Souths get a 20m restart and look to counter attack only to turn it back over to the Eels as Tapau scoops up an errant pass. Wild stuff happening and I can not keep up.

The next set concludes with Fletcher forcing a line drop out on the chase of Petrus. Phew.

Oh Dom! He has been outstanding today but makes a meal of that drop out. I can forgive him though because he has put in a huge shift. Souths scoop it up and look to attack. There is a mammoth forward pass that leads to a linebreak down Parra’s right edge but the hunger is apparent as Eels pour in on the cover chase and force an error! The mind space for the Eels has been nothing short of locked in today!

Petrus chalks up another big run and wins a penalty for a strip as the Eels torment Souths’ left edge with a series of offloads. Johansson gets early ball down the left and is barely held out. Ditto for Petrus before Talagi centres the pill to the posts. Parra run it down the right on the last as Fletcher and Talataina combine but Lorenzo’s pass to Dom is off the mark. However, Lincoln was clocked off the ball and the Eels will have a penalty as a result.

Fletcher is real dusty here. Looks like a number was done on him with that late hit. He takes his time to regather himself before the indication comes that he is ok and will take a shot at goal.

 

Penalty goal successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 28-4

64min gone

 

Short kickoff from the Bunnies but Dom swallows up the tipped ball to put Parra back in possession. Sharp work from Fletcher as he shows it both sides before running himself. Lincoln completes the set a couple of plays later with a shallow bomb to the right as Farrugia pushes through to make the tackle. Could have been a penalty for the raised leg by the catcher honestly but it is a moot point here.

What isn’t moot is the continued defensive effort as Pakoti forces it loose with a powerful tackle. Talagi cleans it up and the Eels are on the attack. Right edge shift for Parramatta as Howlett is wrapped up. Fletcher uses Elijah-Shane Tapau short and the big man is wrapped up but Lorenzo Talataina isn’t on the next play as he shows, goes and then bulldozes his way over for the exclamation mark try!

 

Try scored by Lorenzo Talataina. Conversion successful by Lincoln Fletcher.

Eels lead 34-4

68min gone.

 

Tough contest for the short kickoff as Dom loses it forwards. Hands from both teams on it making it hard for Farrugia to reel it in.

Souths’ scrum on the left side of the field as they immediately spin right only to get it all wrong and knock it on. Under a minute left to play here as the Eels slowly trudge in-field to set a scrum of their own.

Time enough a few runs as Howlett rips in. Talagi gets a carry and offload as Petrus skittles defenders. Talataina avoids an obstruction with a surrendered run and that will do us as the Eels dominate this contest, make it two straight perfect weekends for the club and lock in three teams into the Junior Representative Grand Finals next week! Hope you enjoyed it ladies and gentlemen, it has been a wonderful run for the Eels with more to come!

 

Full Time

Parramatta Eels 34 defeat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 4