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I’m not sure whether you remember the famous scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where an aggressive local brandishes a rather impressive looking sword at our hero.
He spins it, rotates it and attempts to intimidate Indiana Jones with a remarkable display of dexterity and skill.
Despite the impressiveness of the performance, it had no substance and Harrison Ford calmly removed his firearm from its holster and blasted the aggressor to kingdom come.
Similarly, Parramatta pranced onto ANZ Stadium on Thursday night with a new found enthusiasm and energy that would see them get the jump on the Bunnies and take an early 14-6 lead.
The Eels were excellent. The forwards ran with vigour, the kicking game was effective and the moments of expansion in their ball play were stunning in comparison to what they have produced throughout the season.
Then, just as Indiana snuffed out the soulless aggression of the artificial challenger, South Sydney took out their weapon and proceeded to blow the Parramatta team off the park for the next 35 minutes.
Seven tries in that time period crushed the Eels like a colony of ants and by full-time, it had all become a little embarrassing. Even the two consolation tries from Parramatta late in the second-half couldn’t erase the reality that the blue and gold’s are indeed a team deserving their position on the ladder.
Hymel Hunt of the Rabbitohs and Greg Inglis of the Rabbitohs embrace. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
While the 42-24 score line looked competitive to some, the reality is that Souths could have reached the half-century had Adam Reynolds been better with the boot.
With Michael Jennings looking to celebrate his 250th match with a try and/or win, brother Robert showed no sentiment, scoring four tries on the end of a quality back line.
The Cowboys planned a similar ambush against the Warriors at 1300SMILES Stadium and considering the Warriors’ historical record away from home, must have fancied their chances.
Whatever the plan, it was a disastrous one in the first half as the New Zealanders skipped clear to the tune of 18-2 after 28 minutes.
When the Cowboys finally awoke, the comeback was on and slowly but surely they pegged back the deficit.
Kyle Feldt’s duo of tries brought the home side within four at 20-16 with a quarter of the game remaining yet a late penalty and field goal from Shaun Johnson put things beyond doubt and saw the visitors eventually triumph to the tune of 23-16.
With the Cowboys mired near the depths of the ladder and the Warriors continuing to defy history by winning away from home and finally showing some consistency in their performances, the competition has taken on a new and exciting shape.
The Cowboys (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
The Roosters took to the Panthers like the lions to the Christians when they met at Allianz in the late Friday game.
Despite much commentary around the youth, depth and promise of the mountain men, the boisterous boys from Bondi had their measure from minute one and put them well and truly to the sword.
Frankly, as a neutral observer, I was stunned. After so much promise from the Panthers through the early stages of the season, the underachieving Chooks finally found some synergy and made Penrith look ordinary.
The scariest thing for the mountain men was the way the Roosters stormed through the middle and destructed the ruck defence of the Panthers.
The second-half injury to New South Wales centre Latrell Mitchell was a disturbing one and the entire rugby league community hopes he is cleared of serious injury after having his neck placed accidentally in a compromising position.
The incident brought something of a sombre feel to the game as the Roosters registered a 32-6 win and sent the Panthers back to the drawing board.
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Penrith looked impotent at Allianz and the Roosters creep closer and closer to the pointy end of the table.
The Chooks now sit within two points of the Panthers after fifteen rounds and with the talent in their squad must still have hopes of surging into a top-four spot and making a run at the premiership in September.
There were potential ambushes in all three matches leading into the weekend yet the Rabbitohs, Warriors and Roosters fended off those challenges.
The Cowboys and Eels look destined for the cellar but the Panthers will live to fight another day and still have hopes of a top-four finish.