2021 NRL Round 12, Rabbitohs 38 Eels 20 – Report

Chloe Schibeci reviews the clash between South Sydney and Parramatta. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

Embed from Getty Images

3 pts – Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2 pts – Dane Gagai (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
1 pt – Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

MATCH REPORT

Embed from Getty Images

1st Half

After coming into the contest on the back of a big loss to the Panthers and being only two points behind the Eels on the ladder, it was important that Souths got off to a good start.  And they did just this, with a try to Damien Cook after only one minute, picking up the ball from the back of a scrum and strolling over from 10 metres out.  Apart from a try from a kick to Clint Gutherson, it was all the Rabbitohs; particularly their left side as the defence of Parramatta could not handle the slick passing and speed of Alex Johnston and Dane Gagai. Cody Walker was unstoppable, feeding his outside men with precision as he and Adam Reynolds marshalled their troops, going into the break in complete control of the game, and leaving Parramatta little opportunity to gain momentum.

HALF-TIME: South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 Parramatta Eels 6

Embed from Getty Images

2nd Half

The second half started in the same fashion as the first, with Gagai crossing again on the left side after just five minutes. Parramatta started to gain some possession and ascendancy in the next 10 minutes and were rewarded with a try from another kick from Isaiah Papali’i. This try came as Matterson had been sent to sin bin and placed on report for a high tackle, and the Eels were down to 12 men. Souths, however, dominated the next period with Johnston and Gagai completing their hat-trick of tries. Two further late tries to Parramatta made the scoreline a touch more respectable but the Eels were outclassed for the entire game, losing their third game of the year. A key statistic that showed South Sydney’s dominance was their 10 line breaks to Parramatta’s one. 

With a number of State of Origin hopefuls involved in the game there will be some nervous waits for players such as Cameron Murray, Walker, Reed Mahoney, Nathan Brown and Matterson as they were all placed on report.

FULL-TIME: South Sydney Rabbitohs 38 Parramatta Eels 20

Injuries

Mark Nicholls (Rabbitohs) – failed HIA

Match Review Committee

Ryan Matterson (Eels) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea $1,350 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1,800 fine.

Follow Nothing But League on Twitter and Facebook.