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Big Pete -
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Just catching up on the first half now. The Eels forwards laid a fantastic platform with the middles in particular causing the Rabbits all sorts of problems. Moses down a blind-side is just so dangerous and even though Russell only had the tiniest gap to work with, he really made the most of it to score the opening try.
That Gutherson try-saver where he stands on the ball and rucks it back is just one of those miracle plays. On any other occasion, Johnston would have got a piece of that ball at some point, but because Gutho put himself there he got the reward.
Not that it really ended up mattering as Latrell came up with a piece of individual brilliance to eventually get Johnston over the line. Those are the type of plays Latrell gets raps for and he came up with a few in that first half to really trouble the Eels.
Credit to the Eels, they just got on with it and again the forwards just gave them that edge. I thought there was a telling penalty mid-way through where Souths were just getting on top. The Eels were struggling to get out of their own half when Brown took on the line and got caught high from Ilias. It just gave the Eels the ascedency and while the Rabbits did well to repel the Eels, eventually it took it's toll. Tatola just got caught out by Brown, which led to a weak attempt at tackle and Matterson was eventually able to sum up the situation.
You just can't write the Rabbitohs off. That second Johnston try was a pearler and they were pretty close to going back to back before the kick back inside took a horrible bounce and just took all the wind out of their sails.
Will catch up on the opening of the second half in just a moment. For Parra I thought Greig, Paulo & Hopgood had just about their best games and laid a fantastic platform for them. Souths did really well to make it a 12-10 game despite being flat. They actually could have taken a lead if they capitilised on their two big breaks late in the half.
The Souths pack so far this season has been playing out of their skin but they got caught short tonight. Koloamatangi is definitely missed and will make a difference when he returns, I think Burgess and Moale are both upgrades on Knight & Suluka-Fifita but I don't think you could blame that effort on their absence. I think a lot of key players like Tatola & Murray were just average and they were due for a fizzer.
