Parramatta end losing streak with 26-14 win over Origin-depleted Rabbitohs

It might have been over an undermanned South Sydney team but after three straight losses Parramatta will take solace in their 26-14 victory.

Blake Ferguson of the Eels scores during the Round 12 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Friday, May 31, 2019. (AAP Image/Craig Golding) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

If last week’s loss to Penrith was the rock bottom for Parramatta this year, this was the bounce back Brad Arthur was looking for.

You can say South Sydney were severely understrength, missing their four State of Origin players, along with several other key individuals.

But the Eels could only perform against the opposition that was in front of them _ and the 26-14 victory over the Bunnies was good to keep Parra in the NRL top eight and tell Arthur the Eels have it in them to determine their own fate this season.

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It was a sorely needed win for Parramatta. AAP Image/Craig Golding.

“I think we are good enough to fight our way into the semis if we have the want and desire and right attitude,” Arthur said.

“But it is a tough competition and we have to find a way to come up with it every week.”

While Mitchell Moses starred and Clint Gutherson came up with some inspirational moments, the platform was laid up front though the grunt of the likes of Manu Ma’u, Junior Paulo and David Gower who really matched it with the big Bunnies pack.

MOSES STARS

While Moses didn’t have the greatest start with a few of his end to sets leaving a lot to be desired, once he found his groove he cut loose.

Moses played a hand in three of the Eels’ four tries while Gutherson was busy as always, and across the park the Eels showed energy and intent with an without the ball.

Ma’u ran for 191m, Gower 170m and Paulo 146m.

The win snapped a three-match losing streak and was much needed leading into State of Origin, given the Eels are the only club without any Origin representatives other than the New Zealand Warriors.

“We have to challenge the players to have that want and desire to do that week in, week out,” Arthur said.

“It is as simple as that.”

Parramatta’s attitude was vastly improved. AAP Image/Craig Golding.

BENNY’S ORIGIN BLUES

Wayne Bennett had every right to be proud of his patched-up team’s performance.

They were without Damien Cook, Cameron Murray, Cody Walker and Dane Gagai, as well as a few more injured players. But the one thing the Rabbitohs weren’t missing was their typical effort.

Sam Burgess gave it everything he had to try and inspire his side but as hard as they tried they just lacked the finesse and finish which was understandable due to who was missing.

Still, Adam Reynolds worked tirelessly while stand-in five-eighth Connor Tracey really showed some good touches and a turn of speed in his NRL debut after a young career that has already seen him bounce back from three ACL knee injuries.

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Bennett will have his Origin players available for next Friday night’s clash at ANZ Stadium against Newcastle along with new recruit James Roberts.

But the seven-time premiership winning coach conceded he was unsure how much football he could throw at his rep stars during this period.

“This is the last time we have to play without our Origin players but the issue now is who we rest, when we rest them and how often we back them up,” Bennett said. “This is going to go on for the next six weeks.”

South Sydney played hard but lacked class. AAP Image/Craig Golding.

Asked if he would have to definitely rest players, Bennett added: “I think I will have to. “What, is Damien (Cook) going to have to play 80 minutes of Origin and come and back up two days later and play 80 minutes for us?

“That is not going to be feasible to think he can keep doing that for the next six weeks.

The win keeps Parramatta in the thick of the top eight. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

“The jury is out at the moment. I will just have to see how they play, what the games are like, what type of mental and physical state they are in when they come back.

“It hasn’t been the first time I have coached teams that were at the top of the competition going into Origin and by the time we came back out of it we were in fourth or fifth position.”

PARRAMATTA 26 (B Ferguson C Gutherson J Hoffman M Sivo tries M Moses 5 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 14 (T Burgess T Tatola tries A Reynolds 3 goals) at Bankwest Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Adam Gee. Crowd: 21,645

Originally published as Parramatta end losing streak with 26-14 win over Origin-depleted Rabbitohs