The Parramatta Eels have defeated the reining premiers South Sydney Rabbitohs 29-12 at Pirtek Stadium on Friday night.
With plenty of star-power on the bench the Eels were underdogs, even at home, in the round 4 clash. South Sydney were undefeated and looking fired up, but could not contain a quality performance by Chris Sandow and débutante John Folau.
Joel Reddy opened the scoring in the 9th minute, finishing a clinical move in the right corner to put Souths up 6-0. Parramatta did not lose their cool and controlled a decent amount of possession.
The physically impressive John Folau showed class beyond his age to step inside the Rabbitoh’s defence and duck under a Greg Inglis cover tackle, to stretch out and score his first NRL try in the 15th minute. The 21 year old is the younger brother of current Wallaby and former QLD and Kangaroo Israel Folau.
With scores locked at 6-6, Parramatta looked to take control on the back of a Sandow’s kicking game. The halfback was in good touch, nudging the ball in-goal and kicking long to keep pressure on the Bunnies defence.
Souths substitute prop Chris Grevsmuhl stretched out to finish off a fantastic opportunity created by the boot of another in-form halfback in Adam Reynolds. Reynolds sent the ball spiralling into orbit and caused William Hopoate a headache as the ball bounced out of his reach and back into Souths hands, pushing them back in front.
It was the Eels who would head into half-time in the lead as Folau scored his second. Sandow attacked the line on the last play and the burly winger found a way to get the ball down for a 14-12 lead.
When the replacement for injured winger Semi Radradra crossed in the 44th minute the Parramatta faithful jubilantly welcomed the real hope of victory over the premiership favourites and the 18-12 lead.
The pressure showed as Souths made several errors in possession, handing the ball over to a confident Eels attack. John Manna returned to the field after being taken from the field and reviewed using the latest NRL surveillance unit to assess the damage of a knock to the head.
Greg Inglis stepped up to convert a good opportunity into points in the 60th minute. A clinical Inglis double-pump saw Alex Johnston cross untouched in the left corner to bring Souths within two points at 18-16.
Robinson crossed for Parramatta again in the 68th minute and the Eels began their crescendo. Sandow looked to put the icing on a deliciously unpredicatble cake with a 78th minute field goal, but the sprightly half-back finished a try of his own right on full time to cap off a career defining performance.
“We get another leg here at Parramatta Stadium,” commented man of the match Chris Sandow after the match amid the cheers of his fans.
“I’m enjoying my footy.”
South Sydney still sit on top of the table on equal points with Newcastle after their unbeaten start to the 2015 season.
Photo: Mark Metcalfe
