Round 25 South Sydney Rabbitohs v Parramatta Eels

[TITAN PETE]

Friday Night

South Sydney Rabbitohs: Rhys Wesser, Nathan Merritt, Colin Best, Dylan Farrell, Fetuli Talanoa, Luke Capewell, Chris Sandow, Sam Burgess, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (c), Michael Crocker, David Taylor, Jason Clark. Interchange: Jaiman Lowe, Shannan McPherson, Dave Tyrrell, Jamie Simpson.

Parramatta Eels: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Timana Tahu, Krisnan Inu, Daniel Mortimer, Kris Keating, Nathan Cayless (C), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (C), Ben Smith, Feleti Mateo. Interchange: Anthony Mitchell, Tim Mannah, Justin Horo, Justin Poore.

[TITAN PETE]

Rabbitohs v Eels Preview

NRL.com Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:42:00
Rabbitohs v Eels
ANZ Stadium
Friday, 7:35pm

Well, here it is. The absolutely final throw of the dice for two of the teams at the very bottom echelon of the finals equations. Of course, even a win here followed by another in Round 26 no longer guarantees either of these teams a shot at finals glory.

They’ll still need a bucketful of other results to go their way with the Broncos, Raiders and Knights all involved in a bottom-of-the-eight stoush and even the Warriors, Eagles and Roosters still in doubt. You’d almost need a Harvard degree in theoretical physics to understand every permutation possible over the next two rounds but for the Eels and Rabbitohs the immediate equation is blindingly simple – win here or start making plans for 2011.

Parramatta have the added hurdle of a poor for-and-against, which means even if they win back-to-back matches AND get the other results they need, they still have to overcome the points differential of teams ahead of them. They have a slightly more favourable (but by no means easy) Round 26 match-up at home to the Warriors, whereas Souths travel to WIN Jubilee to face the top-of-the-table Dragons.

The Bunnies could be forgiven for thinking the football gods haven’t been in their corner in 2010, as injuries to key players at crucial times cruelled their chances. The absence of John Sutton, David Taylor and co. was felt keenly last week as the Bunnies capitulated against a Panthers outfit that had won just one of their previous six games – and it doesn’t get much better this week as Souths undergo a major reshuffle.

Eddy Pettybourne has taken the early guilty plea and accepted a one-match ban for a careless high tackle, although Dave Taylor returns from a broken collarbone as a direct swap in the back row. Dylan Farrell moves into the starting side for centre Beau Champion who broke his leg against Penrith, with Jamie Simpson joining the bench. Jason Clark starts at lock, Sam Burgess moves to prop and Jaiman Lowe goes to the bench.

After sleeping their way through the first 60 minutes last week the Eels finished all over a Tigers outfit that should have been ahead by a lot more than four points at half time. You’d have been very brave to bet against an Eels win had the game gone to golden point but Luke Burt’s amazing missed penalty shot in the final minute allowed the Tigers to escape with the win.

It’s a cruel blow for a man who is legendary among the Parramatta faithful for his cool head under pressure. When you think Luke Burt, you think a calmly slotted field goal in the dying seconds or a sideline conversion drilled over the black dot to win a game. We may never know what caused Parramatta’s ‘Mr Reliable’ to skew a shot he would normally tap over blindfolded but Burt and the Eels will need to get back on the horse for one more tilt at an unlikely finals berth.

They will have the services of Ben Smith for this match after he returns from a two-match ban following an unsuccessful challenge against a dangerous contact charge, pushing Justin Horo back to the bench and Taniela Lasalo out of the side. Daniel Mortimer should be well rested by now for his return at five eighth with Kris Keating moving to halfback to cover for Jeff Robson who is out with a knee injury.

Watch out Rabbitohs: Ben Smith will be fired up and ready to go after a two-week enforced layoff. The hardworking back-rower will be fuming that he missed last week’s nailbiting loss against the Tigers and will be out to make amends here.

Smith leads the competition for kicks charged down with six, alongside Bulldog Michael Ennis, and Feleti Mateo is just one behind them with five. What’s more Jarryd Hayne and Nathan Cayless also figure in the top 10 for the league with three and two charge downs respectively, making the Eels the real charge down merchants of the NRL.

Chris Sandow and John Sutton have taken almost 90 per cent of the Rabbitohs’ 391 kicks this year, while no other Souths player has put boot to ball more than eight times all season. With Sutton out this removes one of the Bunnies’ two real kicking options and puts enormous pressure on young halfback Sandow to shoulder the kicks in play. He needs to handle the pressure of the Eels forwards bearing down on him at the end of every set and may want to think about kicking on tackle four to make sure he gets a decent kick away.

Watch out Eels: Some men just don’t know how to give less than 110 per cent. They look like they’d rather run through a brick wall than give up on their team-mates. Sam Burgess is one such man. Even in a badly beaten team last week he never stopped hurling himself at the opposition, easily topping the tackle count for either side and running for more than 90 metres.

Amongst forwards the big Brit has the fifth most hit-ups this year with 317 and is fourth for average metres gained at 127. He’s also popped 41 offloads to be seventh in the NRL.

But there’s one stat that should really put the Eels on notice – Burgess comfortably leads the competition for “Big” tackles with 16 – no other player has more than 13. And he’s not afraid to let the little men have it if they venture into his territory, as Daniel Mortimer found out the hard way back in Round 6.

If Souths lose this one it won’t be because Big Sam gave up without a fight.

Where it will be won: The kicking game. As stated above, the Rabbitohs are down to one frontline kicker, while the Eels will have three genuine kickers in Hayne, Mortimer and Kris Keating.

NRL.com stats this week revealed that despite their territorial woes the Eels make the third most metres in the competition from kicks, while the Rabbitohs are down in 11th – and these stats are based on them having both Sandow and Sutton available. Whichever team dominates in the kicking metres will be hard to stop here.

Putting further pressure on the Bunnies, they are one of the worst teams in the league at defusing incoming kicks. They successfully negotiate just 68 per cent of bombs to be fourth worst, and 70 per cent of overall kicks to be third worst in the NRL.

The Eels will use Hayne’s long boot to get within range so they can test the Bunnies out with some spiral bombs. Sandow will need to follow the example set by the Roosters and the Titans and kick into space to shut down the threat of Jarryd Hayne.

The history: Played 111; South Sydney 58, Parramatta 50, drawn 3. Souths may be slightly ahead overall but the Eels have had their measure recently, winning six of the past eight clashes between these two sides.

At ANZ Stadium it’s two apiece with one draw, and the Eels have won all three of their games at ANZ this year – two against the Bulldogs plus the 22-8 win over Souths in Round 6.

Conclusion: While the Eels were sub-par for three quarters of their game last week, Souths were absolutely woeful in their opening 60, going behind 46-0 before showing some fight. The venue favours neither side, although the short turnaround won’t help the Eels.

We’re prepared to take the Eels here purely on the number of quality first graders Souths will have watching from the sidelines.

Match officials: Referees – Ben Cummins & Matt Cecchin; Sideline Officials – David Abood & Steve Carrall; Video Ref – Steve Clark

Televised: Channel Nine – Live 7.30pm (NSW), delayed 9.30pm (Qld); Fox Sports – delayed 11.30pm.

* Statistics: NRL Stats

[TITAN PETE]

Mortimer back for desperate Eels

By Steve Jancetic AAP Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:04:53
Parramatta playmaker Daniel Mortimer has been recalled for the Eels' last throw of the dice against an equally-desperate South Sydney in Friday night's NRL eliminator at ANZ Stadium.

Suffering a bad case of the second-year blues, Mortimer hasn't been sighted in the NRL since being dropped after his side's 34-12 loss to Gold Coast in round 22.

But with Jeff Robson out with a knee injury, the 21-year-old has been given another chance by Eels coach Daniel Anderson in a game both sides need to win to remain any chance of taking part in the finals.

Back-rower Ben Smith also returns after a two-week suspension, while the Rabbitohs have named rookie Dylan Farrell in the centres in place of Beau Champion, who won't play again in 2010 due to a broken leg.

Manly will give Anthony Watmough every chance to overcome an ankle injury ahead of Sunday's blockbuster against the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium, the Sea Eagles already without fellow back-rower Shane Rodney (knee).

The Roosters have named an unchanged side as they look to arrest a three-game losing streak that has seen them drop to sixth on the ladder.

As expected, Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak has resisted the temptation to rush back skipper Darren Lockyer (ribs), with Corey Norman to again deputise in the No.6 against the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night.

Gold Coast will have fullback Preston Campbell back for Saturday night's match-up with Cronulla.

Campbell missed Monday night's win over the Sydney Roosters with a hamstring injury but the Titans are confident he will recover in time despite the short turnaround.

NSW lock Greg Bird remains on the bench for what will be his first match at Toyota Park since being cut by the club in 2008.

St George Illawarra have representative stars Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith back in the pack for the clash against Newcastle on Saturday night, after the pair were rested for Sunday's loss to Canberra.

Meanwhile, Bill Harrigan is back in the video referees box after being standing down for a shocking ruling last just the one week.

Harrigan was banished after incorrectly awarding a try to Dragons centre Mark Gasnier in the Dragons' round 24 win over Manly, but has been recalled to officiate in the Sharks-Titans encounter.

[DIEHARD]

I can't for the life of me pick this.

I'm leaning towards Souths as I think Parra may be broken hearted. And surely the Bunnies got flamed badly for their pathetic performance last week against Penrith.

Then again, maybe the inclusion of Mortimer will be the catalyst for a Parra win.

[TITAN PETE]

I wouldn't surprised if either team won by 40 but Parra has a sniff for the semi's so they should have more to play for but I won't shed a Tear for either team

[TITAN PETE]

Souths stay alive with win over Eels

By Steve Jancetic AAP Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:51:15

South Sydney's finals flame continues to flicker after the Rabbitohs hammered the final nail into the coffin on Parramatta's season of woe with a 24-16 win at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

In what amounted to a battle of survival with both sides needing to win to remain in the hunt for a top eight finish, the Rabbitohs jumped Brisbane into eighth on the ladder with a four-tries-to-three win.

Canberra can go above the Rabbitohs with win over North Queensland on Saturday night, but Souths are at least some chance of going into their last round encounter against St George Illawarra with a hope of playing in the finals.

The same can't be said of the Eels, who started the season with so much promise as premiership favourites but failed to deliver on those expectations, two tries in the final seven minutes to departing pair Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo symbolic of their too-little-too-late offerings in 2010.

After a scoreless first half which tested the patience of both sets of fans, the Rabbitohs finally got the scoreboard attendant active when Rhys Wesser ran through a flimsy Justin Poore attempt four minutes after the restart.

With the drought broken, the Rabbitohs doubled their advantage as Jaiman Lowe stretched out for a 12-0 lead, but their insecurity was evident as Chris Sandow had a crack at field goal with almost half an hour remaining.

Sandow gave away a penalty for a lifting tackle which will no doubt interest the match review committee, that infringement threatening to turn the game as Kris Keating put Justin Horo over for Parramatta's first points.

A late flurry the ilk of which they produced against Wests Tigers appeared on the cards before a shocking few minutes killed off the Eels for good.

First Mateo offloaded when he would rather have held onto the ball with the Rabbitohs earning a penalty as the Eels defence retreated.

That extended the lead beyond a converted try, and it was soon 18-6 with Issac Luke darting over from dummy half after Krisnan Inu's restart from the penalty sailed over the dead ball line on the full.

Mateo capped a night he would rather forget when put on report for striking after taking exception to a Lowe tackle, David Taylor's comeback from a broken collarbone sealed when he carried Mateo over with him for South Sydney's fourth try of the night 11 minutes from time.

While happy his side's season was still alive, Souths coach John Lang said there was no point worrying about other results.

"It would be great to be going down there and playing (the Dragons) for a spot in the final, but that's out of our control now," Lang said.

"There's no point in doing all that (trying to work out possibilities), we're in a situation where it can be good, it can be bad ... we'll know where we stand, we'll just have to sit back and wait.

"Some guys might watch (other games), some guys won't - I don't think I'll torture myself."

Eels coach Daniel Anderson said his side's lack of creativity in the halves was too great an obstacle to overcome.

"That pretty much typified our season," he said of the performance.

"There's a few upset boys in there obliviously ... we're out of our misery as far as September footy.

"We've had difficulty in our halves this year in establishing a confident pairing - we have to improve that area."

Asked if Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper was an option, Anderson said: "We have to look laterally a little bit, yeah."