NRL 2021: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Parramatta Eels – round 12 live!

That half ebbed one way, then the other, but the difference was clear, Cody Walker and his incredible relationship with his runners down the left edge. The Bunnies cut the Eels, and their worrying right-side defence, open four times. Nobody expects them to relent in the second half. Parramatta have to control the ball and dominate territory, like they did for spells in that half, if they are to get something out of this.

Brilliant, simply brilliant, from Souths. Walker again picks his moment perfectly to turn a solid drive into a penetrating attack, and again it’s that devastating left edge. This time he throws a bullet cut-out pass to Gagai that sends his centre through on the burst and around behind the posts. Parramatta must have spent all week drilling themselves to defend against these plays, and they’ve had no answer on four occasions this first half.

37 mins: Rabbitohs 14-6 Eels – The Rabbitohs go end to end in no time and on the last Milne chips infield from the whitewash and all the Eels can do is concede a drop-out.

35 mins: Rabbitohs 14-6 Eels – It’s taken 33 minutes of the contest but the first set restart has been called – in favour of Parramatta. That allows Papali’i to return to the field from his sin-bin. It also means Moses is gifted ideal field position to go aerially in the direction of Ferguson, prompting Johnston to palm the ball out under pressure. The Eels reload and this time feed left but just as Papali’i was hustling his way towards the line the Bunnies massed and swarmed the No 11 over the sideline.

The Eels think they’re through the line and away on the left wing but Gutherson is brought 50m back after a Blake obstruction. Instead of a Parramatta try, Souths take possession 30m from the posts. They pummel the middle for four tackles then, like clockwork, they head left. You know what comes next. Walker, to Gagai, to Johnston, try. The slickest hands in the competition, the most consistent attacking pattern in the competition, against the weak spot of Parramatta’s defence.

Reynolds misses another tough conversion.

26 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels – The Rabbitohs can’t make the extra man count with their first drive after some miscommunication behind the ruck involving Cook. Parramatta respond forcefully, getting within touching distance, allowing Moses to dribble to the corner where Ferguson is just unable to gather the bouncing ball.

Meanwhile Nicholls, who has industrious early, has failed an HIA and Souths are down to three on the interchange.

24 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels – After that blistering start for Souths the last ten minutes have been all Parramatta – but this will change things. Mitchell feeds Milne into a gap and he bursts out of defence towards halfway. Gutherson does superbly to halt him one-on-one but then Papali’i comes in and interferes with Milne’s ability to play the ball – and he’s sent to the bin!

21 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels – From the penalty Cody Walker finds himself on report for a swinging arm to Arthur’s head after Arrow had already begun the tackle. That prompts the Eels to try to bulldoze their way down the left wing but Souths’ right edge stands firm. Moses goes to the sky with his kick and there’s a good chase, but Gagai holds the bomb, under pressure. However, in his desperation to avoid conceding a line drop-out the winger is pinged for a knock-on. He immediately challenges – and is successful – turning a 10m scrum to Parra to the Bunnies’ play-the-ball on the try line.

19 mins: Rabbitohs 10-6 Eels – Souths, perhaps over-eager to regain momentum, try to spin the ball to the left wing, but it’s risky and ragged and eventually Gagai grasses it. Since that crusher penalty the game has changed completely.

Parra only need one opening to score. Early in the set Arthur spots a gap on the right edge so he drops over a beautifully weighted kick that bounces backwards, perfectly for the onrushing Gutherson to claim and put down. Poor Mitchell was bamboozled by that mystery-spinner. After that early clanger Gutherson is back on an even keel.

Moses kicks the extras.

16 mins: Rabbitohs 10-0 Eels – Now Gutherson tries to run out of defence but he’s pummelled by Gagai. Parramatta really need a break. And they get one! Cameron Murray is placed on report for a crusher tackle on Ferguson. Finally, after 15 minutes, the Eels can run the ball in South Sydney’s half.

14 mins: Rabbitohs 10-0 Eels – Ferguson tries to spark the Eels but he is smashed by Burgess and Arrow inside his own 20m. Moses is again invited to kick from his own half. South Sydney have given nothing away so far. They are making life very awkward for Parramatta.

12 mins: Rabbitohs 10-0 Eels –Another disciplined set from their own half is honoured by an excellent kick-chase. The Eels have not had any kind of launchpad in this game yet and once again they are forced to kick from range just to clear their lines.

The Bunnies have two tries early. Souths force a set restart following the drop-out and the weight of pressure and territory eventually counts. From the ruck in midfield the ball flies through three pairs of hands in the blink of an eye until it ends with Johnston diving over in the corner. The interplay from Walker and Mitchell, then onto Johnston, was superb. A real celebration of Indigenous Round.

Reynolds misses the touchline conversion.

7 mins: Rabbitohs 6-0 Eels – Souths take advantage of the penalty and attack nicely down the right with Nicholls busy. Then they head left and Johnston gets within a couple of metres before Walker’s grubber forces a drop-out.

5 mins: Rabbitohs 6-0 Eels – After that early drama both sides exchange solid sets until the Bunnies are gifted a penalty for a bunch of offside Eels chasing a menacing Moses torpedo.

From the first tackle of the game Kaufusi’s head meets a Rabbitohs shoulder and there’s an early pause to determine whether an HIA is required; it isn’t. Souths continue their set and Reynolds drives a long kick downfield, the chase is superb, and pressure from Arrow forces Gutherson to knock-on.

From the scrum Souths sneak out the back and Cook darts through the defensive line and dives over. What a start for South Sydney!

It’s dry at Stadium Australia but there’s a southerly breeze keeping temperatures on the chilly side.

Both sides are wearing a specially designed Indigenous Round jerseys this evening. The Eels’ uniform is predominately blue, with yellow accents. South Sydney are in a wavier version of their green and red hoops.

There are some flash boots on display celebrating NRL Indigenous Round. Here are Adam Reynolds’.

One match today has already concluded, and it will come as no surprise that the imperious Panthers continued their unbeaten start to the season, running out 30-4 winners over the Bulldogs.

We’re heading for another Penrith v Melbourne grand final, aren’t we?

Reagan Campbell-Gillard is suspended, so Oregon Kaufusi moves into the starting XIII with Marata Niukore joining the bench.

1 Clinton Gutherson, 2 Maika Sivo, 3 Tom Opacic, 4 Waqa Blake, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Jakob Arthur, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Oregon Kaufusi, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Nathan Brown, 14 Marata Niukore, 15 Shaun Lane, 16 Joey Lussick, 17 Bryce Cartwright.

Four changes to the Bunnies with Cameron Murray, Taane Milne, Hame Sele and Jacob Host coming in for Liam Knight, Jed Cartwright, Jaydn Su’A and the concussed Josh Mansour.

1 Latrell Mitchell, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Campbell Graham, 5 Taane Milne, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Jai Arrow, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Tevita Tatola, 11 Keaon Koloamatangi, 13 Cameron Murray, 15 Mark Nicholls.
Int: 12 Jacob Host, 14 Benji Marshall, 16 Hame Sele, 17 Thomas Burgess.