Latrell Mitchell adopted up from his Origin II demolition job on Queensland by placing the Eels to the sword within the pouring rain at CommBank Stadium on Thursday evening.
Mitchell scored a strive, arrange two others, launched towering bombs and created havoc for the outclassed Parramatta aspect because the Bunnies rose to a hare’s breadth of the highest eight after being mired in final spot six weeks in the past.
This was their fifth straight win below interim coach Ben Hornby and with halves duo Cody Walker and Jack Wighton combining with Mitchell, the sky is the restrict.
The fortunes of every workforce on Thursday evening have been epitomised by their respective participant within the No.1 jersey.
Clint Gutherson tried his coronary heart out as regular nevertheless it simply wasn’t coming collectively. Mitchell didn’t match the amount of his reverse quantity’s work charge however his high quality touches ensured the Rabbitohs at all times stored the Eels at arm’s size.
Rabbitohs hopping up the ladder
South Sydney have now racked up 5 wins on the trot below Ben Hornby with the interim coach lifting the workforce to the perimeter of the highest eight.
If different outcomes go their manner they might end the spherical only one win off eighth spot.
Such is the logjam of groups in the midst of the desk, the Bunnies can in all probability solely afford to drop two of their remaining 9 matches however being within the playoff equation is a minor miracle for a workforce that was hurtling in direction of the wood spoon slightly greater than a month in the past.
And whereas the Eels didn’t pose too many attacking threats in red-zone territory, they dominated possession for lengthy stretches however couldn’t penetrate a dedicated Rabbitohs line of defense.
Souths scrambled nicely to include just about all of the half-breaks the Eels may muster.
Cameron Murray tidied up any free ends with customary effectivity whereas Jai Arrow bravely battled on regardless of needing season-ending shoulder surgical procedure, which is ready to occur subsequent week.
The Bunnies can rating loads of factors but when they’re to make a outstanding rise to qualify for the finals, their defence has to remain sturdy and linked.
Latrell Mitchell is tackled. (Picture by Cameron Spencer/Getty Photos)
“That they had extra metres, extra possession however we simply stored turning up and making massive performs at massive instances,” Hornby stated.
“I believe the backbone has been getting higher as a bunch nevertheless it’s been a piece in progress. We’ve been concentrating so arduous on getting our defence proper.
“Latrell took a few early carries within the recreation, a superb kick return. Defensively he’s so sturdy. I don’t know if folks actually realise the impression he has on our defence when he’s at fullback. He’s doing an excellent job and he confirmed immediately why he’s our fullback as a result of he can pop up on each side of the sphere and arrange tries and rating them.”
Souths too slick within the moist
Mitchell served up the opening strive of the match contained in the opening 10 minutes when he attracted two defenders to offer Jacob Gagai a brief dash to the cornerpost and the winger turned supplier for the second strike when he skipped down the precise flank earlier than discovering Wighton backing up.
Parra lower the margin to 6 when rising star Blaize Talagi confirmed fancy footwork to sidestep Wighton within the moist to the touch down for the seventh straight match.
However the Eels undid their good work to get again into the competition on the stroke of half-time when Walker backed up a Michael Chee Kam offload for a smooth attempt to a 16-4 benefit on the break.
Parra once more gave their followers false hope when Reagan Campbell-Gillard managed a uncommon four-pointer however Mitchell rapidly cancelled that out when he slid over out huge.
Gagai scored his second strive off an excellent Mitchell offload to all however kill off the competition at 26-10 and regardless that Bryce Cartwright crossed the stripe with six minutes on the clock, the house aspect was by no means going to get dwelling.
Mitchell Moses completed the match within the sin bin after intentionally holding on after a deal with within the closing phases and Wighton jinked previous a depleted line of defense to make the ultimate margin extra reflective of South Sydney’s dominance.
“We have been in all probability responsible of attempting to play too fairly at instances,” Eels interim coach Trent Barrett stated.
“I believe we have been too sideways within the rain. You’ve received to play again by groups. The tries that you simply’re gonna rating off a kick or from dummy-half or off a dropped ball they’re nonetheless price 4 factors. They don’t all need to be stunning.”
Give Talagi the No.1 jersey
What have the Eels received to lose?
He’s a rookie and can make errors however he’s the way forward for their membership.
Gutherson is an sincere toiler who bobs up in every single place however that’s not what the Eels want.
They desperately want pizazz and Talagi has proven shades of Reece Walsh-like potential in his temporary NRL profession.
Fullback is the place he can have the best impression so the Eels may as nicely give him a run there now, get some repetitions into his legs early in his profession so he can discover his ft in a season that may be a write-off.
The faint finals flame has flickered out and regardless of possessing a comparatively sturdy roster, they’re no assure to get off the underside of the ladder within the remaining 9 rounds.
There isn’t a spirit within the joint, the coach was punted a yr too late and the caretaker is peeved that he gained’t be stored round subsequent yr.
With reviews rising that Brian Smith has put his hand up for a return after practically 20 years away from the membership, the very last thing Parra want is to look to the previous.
Talagi ought to be a formidable a part of their workforce below whoever the brand new coach seems to be and regardless that he gained’t get the position himself, Barrett might help set the membership up for 2025 and past by giving Talagi the final couple of the months of the season as an prolonged check run on the again.
Any assist that he can provide Moses in producing factors could be a godsend to the star halfback who’s focused every week by opposition defenders who see no different threats in blue and gold jerseys.
Parramatta’s roster seems to be decidedly stale, particularly within the pack.
Ryan Matterson, Junior Paulo, Shaun Lane, Joe Ofahengaue, Cartwright and Reagan Campbell-Gillard have all been superb gamers at their peak.
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However they every appear like their finest days are behind them and never coming again.
They might in all probability do with a change of surroundings within the last years of their profession and the Eels may undoubtedly profit from some recent blood amongst their forwards.
Paulo limped off with a foot damage that Barrett stated “doesn’t look actually good” and he’ll get scans on Friday to see how lengthy he can be out.
Debutant ahead Charlie Guymer confirmed the worth of youth, ripping in for Parra in assault and defence to the purpose the place Immortal halfback Andrew Johns on 9 commentary remarked that “he’s embarrassing his teammates”.
He wasn’t incorrect. The Eels have eliminated their coach this season, now they should trim some deadwood from their roster.
