Game Summary
South Sydney claimed a commanding 38-16 victory over Parramatta in Round Six of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at the Centre of Excellence, Kellyville, on Sunday evening. A biting 40-kilometre-per-hour south-westerly wind set the tone for a tough night, but it was the Rabbitohs who proved far too clinical for the Eels outfit.
South Sydney struck early, with Moala Graham-Taufa crossing in the opening minutes to give the visitors the lead. The try was the veteran centre's 47th in NSW Cup – a remarkable milestone – and it sparked a dominant opening half from the Rabbitohs. Impactful winger Edward Kosi followed in quick succession, stretching the lead to 12-0 before the Eels had found their rhythm.
Parramatta responded through Samuel Loizou and Bradley Avery, with Joseph Nohra converting both to tie things up at 12-all, but South Sydney's experience was simply too much to contain. Kosi crossed twice late in the half to secure his hat-trick, and the Rabbitohs went to the break holding an insurmountable 26-12 advantage.
The second half began brightly for the home side, with Avery scoring his second off a well-constructed set play involving Nohra and Lorenzo Talataina to make it 26-16. However, Matt Dufty – playing just his fifth NSW Cup game since returning from a four-year stint in the English Super League – quickly silenced the Eels' momentum, scoring to restore the 16-point buffer.
Parramatta were admirable in defence throughout the second 40 minutes but could not convert pressure into points. Errors at critical moments and a completion rate that struggled to keep pace with South Sydney's 86 per cent proved their undoing.
Dufty rounded out the scoring when he set up a late try for Thomas Fletcher, and the Rabbitohs ran out 38-16 winners in a match that was largely decided well before full-time.
Talking Points
- Edward Kosi was the standout performer of the afternoon, crossing for four tries in the first half alone in a performance that could well catapult him back into Wayne Bennett's NRL considerations.
- Matt Dufty's return to Australian Rugby League is shaping as one of the storylines of the NSW Cup season. Closing in on 200 first-class tries, the veteran fullback brought composure, pace and brilliance at every touch, finishing with a try and multiple line-break assists.
- Bradley Avery was the bright spot for Parramatta, scoring twice and showing the kind of explosive running game that earned him 185 running metres in his last start. A bright future awaits the Perth product.
Key Moment
With Parramatta having trimmed the deficit to level scores at 12-all midway through the first half and showing signs of a genuine contest, South Sydney responded immediately. Edward Kosi crossed two times in a matter of minutes to secure a first-half hat-trick, to establish a 14-point lead heading into half-time, a margin the Eels never threatened to close.
What's Next?
South Sydney will look to build on this impressive performance as they push further up the NSW Cup ladder, preparing to face the Dragons in Round Seven on Saturday at Accor Stadium. Parramatta face a significant challenge next Sunday when they take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, looking to avoid falling further adrift of the top eight.
