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'We got steamrolled': Arthur bemoans pathetic Parra pack as Souths nil Eels and leapfrog them on the ladder

12th August, 2022
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12th August, 2022
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Parramatta coach Brad Arthur bemoaned another forward battering after South Sydney ‘steamrolled’ through his team en route to a crushing 26-0 win.

Cody Walker scored a hat trick, but the platform was laid by a pack that dominated from the first minute. The Eels’ cons

“We got steamrolled,” said Arthur. “Right from the start, physically we were off the pace through the middle. From the first kick off they rolled 60m.

“We didn’t go to the contest physically, they rolled us too easily and bounced out of tackles. Six tackles turned into sets of ten or eleven each time. That really hurt us.

“We lacked physicality. If you’re not going to be physical it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you don’t give yourself a chance. We lacked it badly.”

The manner in which the Eels ceded the centre of the field was meek to say the least. Souths averaged 52m per set and at times, especially in the first half, were able to carve Parramatta up on the back of quick play the balls and poor line speed.

Tevita Tatola totally dominated Junior Paulo, running for 172m to his counterpart’s meagre 60m. It certainly whets the appetite for a potential finals meeting between these two, or indeed, for a World Cup clash, as Tongan Tatola could face Paulo, who today declared for Samoa.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard was not much better. He managed just 88m off 11 runs, while Isaiah Papali’i was twice culpable for tries after being caught static in the line. Despite the battering his side were taking in the middle, Brad Arthur chose not to use Ofahiki Ogden, one of his interchange props, until the 72nd minute.

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The backs weren’t much better, though they had little to work with. Clint Gutherson was the only one to emerge with any credit, and that was thanks to several key interventions at the back that kept the score in the first half respectable.

The result lifts South Sydney above their opponents thanks to a superior for and against, which was made better yet by the one-sided scoreline.

The win was all about defence. Souths started fast, got points on the board and then backed themselves to keep the Eels at bay. Though plenty of attack was thrown at them, the Bunnies had all the answers.

“It’s our most ruthless performance I would say,” said Jason Demetriou. “We stayed at the task and the longer the game went, our defensive resolve grew. We really enjoyed the zero tonight.”

“I said to them in there that Parramatta were going to come after us early and we’d need to stand in the centre of the ring and meet them. I thought we did that.

“When we were under pressure we were able to absorb it and then come away with points when we were down at the other end.

Walker’s tries showcased him at his opportunistic best, and he was ably assisted by Souths’ usual suspects: Latrell Mitchell topped the metre chart, Damien Cook created two key tries, Cameron Murray owned the middle and Alex Johnston scored his now obligatory two tries.

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Dean Hawkins, in just his third NRL game, was excellent in replacing Lachlan Ilias who injured himself in the captain’s run. If Ilias has been doing his best Adam Reynolds tribute act all year, then Hawkins can get a job as an Ilias impersonator.

“We need to be looking north,” said Demetriou, whose side are now an outside chance for the top four with Penrith, North Queensland and Roosters still to play.

“That’s been our mindset and that’s where we’re going. We know there’s challenges ahead: there was one out there tonight and there will be for the rest of the year. It’s exciting to be at the end of the season and to be playing with some confidence and there’s a real good feeling.”

Mitchell was even more bullish on 9 after the game. “It sends a message to the rest of the competition,” he said. “South Sydney. We’re coming.”

Parramatta had the worst possible start. Dylan Brown dropped the ball cold in midfield and as Souths trucked up the field, Cook caught Papali’i cold on the line and slipped Walker through for his first.

The middle defence from the Eels was horrendous: twice, Murray was able to pull off a simple inside ball that released Mitchell into the backfield.

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On the back of the second such move, Cook again spotted the gap around Papali’i, but this time Walker was denied by the bunker. Two minutes later, it didn’t matter as Keaon Koloamatangi tapped on superbly for Izaac Thompson to cross for his second in two first grade games.

The momentum was constant, and before the first half was out, there would be another. Johnston had the easiest of putdowns. It barely merits mentioning these days, but he is now the 8th highest NRL tryscorer of all time.

Parramatta had cleary been read the riot act at the break, and started like a whirlwind. They forced three consecutive sets, but couldn’t get over the line.

They were punished for their profligacy as Souths were jumped up the field by a Tom Opacic penalty and crossed again through Johnston.

Nothing would go for Parra. Even when they broke through, as they managed through Shaun Lane on the hour, the final pass was missing. His effort to Maika Sivo was well forward, scotching any hopes of a late rally.

Sivo went close again after a smart Gutherson kick, but failed to stick the grounding.

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Again, where the Eels failed, Souths succeeded. They went straight up the park, kicked themselves and got a lucky bounce for Walker to complete the hat trick. With ten to play, Souths put the cue in the rack.

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