The Rabbitohs after putting on 56 points against the Sea Eagles last week have kept the currently third-placed Parramatta Eels to 0 after putting on 38 points thanks to Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds.
The Eels in defence have been praised over the course of season 2020 but after missing over 45 tackles, coach Brad Arthur will be heavy on working on the defence for their game against the Warriors next Sunday.
The Rabbitohs had 55 per cent of possession and completed 85 per cent of their sets on attack compared to the Eels’ 45 per cent possession and completing at just 69 per cent.
Four out of five players from the Eels backline ran for over 100 metres but Waqa Blake, who was caught out in defence a lot against Souths, only ran for 49 metres and missed three tackles.
Dylan Brown went off with an ankle injury in the second half and will most likely miss next week depending on the severity of his injury but the biggest loss of the night is Latrell Mitchell, who suffered a grade-three hamstring tear according to the South Sydney.
Before going off the field Mitchell had one try assist and 128 metres after putting an incredible solo effort to get out of his own in-goal but he also had five tackle-breaks and only the one error.
Campbell Graham, who scored a double last week, scored another double against the Eels along with running for 115 metres and young Jaxson Paulo scored his first NRL career try and also set one up for halfback Adam Reynolds.
Speaking of Reynolds, let’s talk about the South Sydney halves because they have been putting on a clinic over the last month and were no different against the Eels.
Walker scored a try and Reynolds had a try and try assist along with 100-plus running metres, one tackle-break, one linebreak, one linebreak assist and over 650 kick metres.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Keaon Koloamatangi, coming off the bench, ran for over 150 metres and Liam Knight, who is coming off a one-week suspension against the Cowboys, ran for over 135 metres.
With Alex Johnston coming back next week along with the high chance of Dane Gagai, Johnston should slot into that fullback position and Gagai will return to his centre position in place of Steven Marsters, who played very well in the absence of the Queensland Origin winger.
Corey Allan switched to fullback when Mitchell went off and played very well after throwing a great pass to Campbell Graham for the centre to scored his second try of the night.
It was a sorry night for the Eels and they will get an almighty spray from Brad Arthur but after what I saw tonight along with over the past month, the Eels are pretenders.
The Rabbitohs have the Storm next Friday, which will be a must-watch game and if Souths can get the win without Mitchell then they could be a real dark horse heading into finals.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Clinic....very apt as it was a highly clinical performance by the Bunnies who just hopped their way through & around what was until last night the best defence in the League this season.....Gives a whole new dimension to the old aspect of finding form at the right end of the season and some.
Tony
Roar Guru
A good summary Anton, and I agree that Souths will be tested next week against the Storm. I can't see them getting on top of the Storm pack, and if they can't hold their own here, there'll be limited opportunities for the Souths halves. However, if Souths can jag a win against the Storm, particularly without Mitchell, it will be time to start treating them as a genuine threat for the premiership. It will be a game not to miss.