Written by Claire Stegbauer
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have surged into the UNE SG Ball Cup Preliminary Final with a commanding 36-10 victory over the Parramatta Eels at Eric Tweedale Stadium, delivering a clinical performance built on early dominance and second-half control.
South Sydney set the tone from the outset, applying pressure deep in Eels territory before striking in the 8th minute. Halfback Isaac Fotu-Moala chipped towards the left edge, where Taj Alvarez knocked the ball back for Lachlan Walters to regather and score untouched beside the posts. Just minutes later, the same combination caused problems again.
After Cody Hill sparked momentum out of dummy half, Fotu-Moala launched another pinpoint chip kick, with Alvarez competing in the air before the ball was shifted left to Dean Tauaa, who crossed in the corner to make it 8-0.
The Rabbitohs’ attack continued to roll. Midway through the half, they extended their lead through a powerful middle play, with Benjamin Kaberry charging onto a short ball and crashing over just right
of the posts. The momentum quickly compounded. Straight from the restart, the ball found Alvarez again on the left edge. Backing his speed and footwork, he sliced through the defensive line, beat the fullback with a dummy and dove over to push the score out further.
South Sydney weren’t done. After building pressure through strong carries, including a damaging run from William Leha, the Rabbitohs shifted right. The spine combined neatly before Dayne Jennings linked with Joshua Ballard, who crossed untouched to cap off a dominant first half and hand the Rabbitohs a 24-0 lead at the break.
Parramatta responded after halftime with renewed intent. Cameron Bamblett’s surge through the middle put the Eels on the front foot, and after spreading the ball across the field, a well-executed set play saw Talen Risati throw a cut-out pass to Riley Davis, who found Nathan Howlett on the left edge for the Eels’ first try. Moments later, they struck again. After sustained pressure and a near miss from Nicholas Kotarac, Jireh-Trey Stewart capitalised on a retreating defence, backing himself to power over and reduce the deficit to 24-10.
However, the Eels’ comeback hopes were dented soon after when Bamblett was sent to the sin bin, leaving them a man short at a crucial stage. South Sydney capitalised immediately. From a scrum 20 metres out, they shifted left with numbers, and Alvarez once again created the opportunity, putting Caleb Cresswell through a gap to score.
With control firmly back in their hands, the Rabbitohs sealed the result late. Jennings broke down the right sideline with defenders in pursuit but had the pace to finish the job himself, extending the lead beyond reach. A late penalty goal to Isaac Fotu-Moala and a second sin bin to the Eels in the closing stages capped off a frustrating finish for Parramatta.
It was a complete performance from South Sydney, with their left-edge combination and spine control proving too much to handle, while the Eels showed glimpses of fight but were ultimately overrun by a relentless Rabbitohs outfit.
HAROLD MATTHEWS
Roosters Hold Firm to Edge Panthers and Advance in Finals Thriller.
The Sydney Roosters have secured a composed 22-14 victory over the Penrith Panthers in their UNE Harold Matthews Cup Finals Week 2 clash at HE Laybutt Field, producing a clinical performance built on key moments and sharp execution.
Penrith struck first through Cordell Arama to take an early lead, but the Roosters quickly found their rhythm and began to build pressure through controlled sets and strong field position. A penalty goal from Charlie Webb got them on the board before the visitors turned pressure into points through a well-worked edge play.
With the Panthers defending strongly on their line and limiting space, the Roosters showed patience before striking. Webb stepped up and delivered a gorgeous cut-out ball from halfback, floating it over the top to winger Levi Scarlett, who timed his run perfectly and planted the ball down in the right corner to give Sydney the lead. That moment sparked a dominant period for the Roosters, who began to take control of the contest.
Caleb Zahra extended the lead midway through the first half, capitalising on sustained pressure, before Scarlett produced an even bigger play to secure his double. Starting from just past halfway, the Roosters shifted right through the hands of the spine, creating an overlap. With numbers inside him and the Panthers fullback closing in, Scarlett backed himself. Stepping off his outside foot, he beat the last line of defence and, despite losing his footing slightly, managed to regather and stumble over the line for a long-range try that pushed the Roosters further in front.
The Panthers responded late in the half through Saumani Leatupue, who crossed to keep his side within reach at 16-8 heading into the break in what were two tightly contested 35-minute halves. Sydney wasted no time reasserting control after half-time, delivering a decisive blow early in the second half through their halfback.
After already orchestrating much of the first-half attack, Webb capped off his performance with a try of his own. Leading the play to the right, he shaped to pass before producing a clever dummy, stepping back inside and catching the defence off balance. Showing composure and footwork, he shimmied past multiple defenders before slicing through to score under the posts, extending the Roosters’ lead to 22-8.
Penrith refused to go away, with Tyler Scibberas-Hemana crossing midway through the second half to reduce the margin and set up a tense finish. The Panthers continued to apply pressure, testing the Roosters’ defensive line in the closing stages.
The intensity lifted late, with both sides reduced to 12 players following sin bins to Cordell Arama and Amaziah Pritchard, adding further tension to the final minutes. Despite the late push from Penrith, the Roosters held firm defensively, managing the closing stages with composure to secure the win and advance.
TARSHA GALE
Knights Survive Bulldogs Comeback to Seal Thrilling Finals Win.
The Newcastle Knights have held on for a tense 24-22 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in a dramatic Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup Finals Week 2 clash at Eric Tweedale Stadium.
Newcastle wasted no time asserting themselves, striking early through a well-worked attacking movement. Sienna Thomas was central to the play, throwing a beautiful short ball to Stella Lewis, who burst down the left edge and looked certain to score before being cut down just short.
The Knights quickly reset, shifting right before sweeping back left again, where Thomas delivered another sharp pass to Summer Dowell, who finished the movement to open the scoring. That set the tone for a dominant first half from the Knights.
Charlise Thompson added another soon after, before Dowell grabbed her second midway through the half to extend the lead. Newcastle continued to control possession and field position, turning pressure into points as the Bulldogs struggled to contain their attacking shape.
The Knights capped off their first-half performance with a crucial try on the stroke of half-time, albeit in scrappy fashion. After a messy set that saw the ball knocked back and multiple close-range carries denied, Newcastle persisted on the left edge. Charley Lahmert was held up over the line but managed to find an offload, linking with Sienna Thomas who quickly shifted the ball to Stella Lewis.
The winger powered over through contact to give the Knights a commanding 24-4 lead at the break. With the game seemingly in control, the second half told a very different story.
The Bulldogs came out with intent and began to chip away at the deficit. Leteena Medland struck early to spark the comeback, before Shafenior Lui added another to bring the margin back within reach.
Momentum continued to swing as Canterbury built pressure, and a key moment came late in the match. Needing something to go their way, the Bulldogs earned a penalty 40 metres out and took a quick tap. Mary-Jane Taito surged down the left edge, getting close before being held up.
On the following play, Lahnayah Daniel ran with strength and purpose, crashing over the line to bring the Bulldogs within two points and set up a tense finish.
Despite the late surge, Newcastle held their nerve in the closing stages. A missed penalty goal opportunity left the door slightly ajar, but their dominant first half proved enough as they clung on to secure the narrow victory and progress through the finals.
After building a commanding lead early, it was the Knights’ resilience under pressure that ultimately saw them through, surviving a fierce Bulldogs comeback in a high-quality finals contest.
LISA FIAOLA
Bulldogs Dominate Storm in Statement 44-6 Finals Victory.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have produced a dominant display to defeat the Melbourne Storm 44-6 in their Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup Finals Week 2 clash at Eric Tweedale Stadium.
The Bulldogs set the tone almost immediately, striking inside the opening minutes through Jayda Peo to take an early lead. Melbourne responded shortly after through Makerita Seinafolava to level the scores briefly, but it proved to be their only breakthrough as Canterbury quickly took control of the contest.
The momentum swung firmly in the Bulldogs’ favour midway through the first half, sparked by a moment of individual brilliance. After building pressure through a strong, metre-eating set, Leilani Kavapalu put in a clever chip kick towards the right edge. What followed was a fierce contest in the air, but it was Raneh Siteine who came out on top, ripping the ball free from the Storm defenders before powering her way over the line in an incredible effort.
Just minutes later, Siteine struck again to secure her double and further blow the game open. The Bulldogs shifted left through Suraya Kingi to draw in the defence before resetting on the last tackle.
Swinging back to the right edge, Emacyn-Eden Ieremia delivered a pinpoint cut-out pass to Siteine, who finished out wide to extend the lead and cap off a dominant passage of play.
Canterbury continued to pile on the pressure, with Zaira-Mia Tofilau Talau-Brown adding another before Jaesynn-Ree Fatialofa crossed just before the break to give the Bulldogs a commanding 22-6 lead at half-time in what were two 30-minute halves.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Bulldogs maintaining control through strong carries and quick ball movement. Jada Breeze Gray crossed early after the restart before Talita Haumono added another, as the Storm struggled to contain Canterbury’s attacking shape.
Meleane Hala was influential with the boot, converting six tries to keep the scoreboard ticking over and reward the Bulldogs’ dominance. Defensively, Canterbury were equally impressive, limiting Melbourne’s opportunities and shutting down any momentum before it could build.
In a complete performance, the Bulldogs combined power, precision and composure to overwhelm the Storm, securing a convincing 44-6 victory and booking their place in the next stage of the finals.
