When the best winger in world rugby league Semi Radradra crossed for three tries, and Vai Toutai added a fourth 36 minutes from time, Parramatta led South Sydney 20-6.
Having lost their last four games, the Rabbitohs were heading for a fifth with Parramatta and their fans enjoying calling the shots.
But somehow the Rabbitohs found their lost mojo.
Was it coach Mike Maguire moving captain Greg Inglis from fullback to five-eighth? Was it Inglis being closer to possession and the pack to drive them hard?
Or was it the Burgess brothers deciding not to be spectators and getting stuck into both attack and defence?
To be fair, it was a smattering of all three to snatch a 22-20 victory in the shadow of the siren. Benchman Luke Keary scored a brilliant try and under extreme pressure Adam Reynolds converted from touch.
From the moment the ball left Reynolds’ boot, it covered the centre of the black dot the entire journey.
South Sydney had every right to celebrate, they deserved the win.
But there was sympathy for Parramatta for letting a much-needed win slip away at the death when success after a tumultuous week of salary cap bashing would have been a genuine adrenalin rush.
Wherever loyalties lay, it was a crackerjack game – the best of the season – played at a cracking pace.
And it was no place for the faint-hearted with six concussions, 26 stitches in Jason Clarke’s face, and a couple of hamstrings, added to the countless bumps and bruises of battle.
Sam Burgess was named man of the match. That too couldn’t be denied.
He lifted the South Sydney pack, and with Inglis the guiding light close by, that was the difference.
Reynolds must be on Laurie Daley’s shortlist as the NSW State of Origin halfback, with his goal-kicking and general play adding strings to his bow.
Inglis made three searching runs that ended up with two tries, and he obviously enjoyed the extra possession.
For the beaten side Radradra was the standout.
The scoring machine’s hat-trick on Friday night gives him 56 tries from 59 games for the club, with 26 from 24 at Pirtek Stadium.
Sheer brilliance.
Next up for South Sydney will be the Dragons at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night, while Parramatta have a much longer break before they meet the Storm at Pirtek on Monday week.
Targa
Guest
Semi Radradra vs Waisake Naholo might be interesting - Nadolo is an absolutely freak and Radradra is pretty useful too.
Brendan
Guest
Souths have a stack of players out as well
Max
Guest
Another "FTA TV cummins home with a wet sail". The majority of decisions went with parra and then when they were well in front the decisions went the other way for a grandstand finish. As Paul Kent said in a TV commercial at the beginning of the year "RL has the greatest potential in the world foe grandstand finishes" only for the ad to disappear soon after.
Big J
Guest
If eels were at full strength (playing with Foran) I don't think the bunnies would of won, yes it was a gutsy performance but it was far from thier best and thry aren't at the level they were in 2014
Josh
Guest
absolute garbage comment. From all of your comments you seriously don't like any QLD players. Take your hand off one of your eyes and use both
Josh
Guest
Too true
Josh
Guest
Carter looked like he had been sitting in a cave for a couple of weeks eating raw meat. He went Feral last night. As for kicking him out of the game, that is a bit dramatic. He might just need to tone his style down a little. But he certainly can play
Josh
Guest
I agree. Not sure what Big J means by them being lucky. I thought it was a very gutsy performance against a truckload of horrid decisions against them. I'm not Rabbitohs biased as I like both teams equally. It was a fantastic game and a courageous comeback from the Rabbitohs
steveng
Roar Rookie
Well that's Kenny Edwards problem, there were allot of incidents that went unnoticed on both sides but especially towards Souths and the Eels got all the decisions go their way, and they still couldn't win, you clown!!!
steveng
Roar Rookie
What??? "Hardly call that a great win more like they got lucky" the Bunnies wore the Eels down and that is why they won, GI, Keary, Reynolds and Carter together with the Burgesses absolutely brilliant even though Radradra was his usual best (3 tries) and they beat the Eels with Radradra and all their supposed aces with the ref's against them with allot of 50/50 calls against them, that's not lucky 'Big J' that is hard, persistent with some brilliant footy!
BargeArse
Guest
What about where the Parra players had interfered with Souths player in two play-the-balls and got turnover, too?
Big J
Guest
Hardly call that a great win more like they got lucky at thd end but wining is winning. GI is not a 5/8 nor will he ever be just keep in the centres and watch the bunnies come good again, much improved performance but a lot of work still be done
Bup
Guest
He played no further part in the game you clown.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Are you joking?? Or just having a sarcastic go??? Most of the decisions went the Eels way and they had all the stats and sill couldn't win. As far as Carter is concerned 'should be kicked out of the game' that is a clueless comment (with all due respect) Razza!
LachyP
Guest
Beau Scott's trip on Reynolds. The penalty against Carter for the supposed high shot that got his shoulder. I thought the ref had a shocker and Souths fans would have had reason to feel harshly done by if they'd lost.
soapit
Guest
i actually thought i was cutting him slack. gist of what i meant to say is the same as what you said
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Yep spot on mate !
steveng
Roar Rookie
That was an 'accidental Inglis forearm' with no intent, this is part of tackling in todays game, but Kenny Edwards did make it look worst than it was and he started the 'diving acts from the Eels' for the of the game!
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah for sure, that is what I said 2 weeks ago (see my post of the positional changes that I thought Madge should use) Goodwin should be at 'Fullback' because he is great under the high ball (as he proves that week in and week out in the centres) and also running the ball up, he's very slippery, elusive and strong, I had GI in the centres with Cody Walker at 5/8. For me AJ is not a fullback as he's very sus under the high ball, but he's a real weapon on the wing.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I think you're a bit tough on Alex given it was his first game back from injury. He should be OK.