South Sydney 32
Parramatta 18
Greg Inglis finally exploded into action for South Sydney on Friday night, terrorising the Parramatta defence as the Rabbitohs notched a 32-18 win, their first of the NRL season.
Inglis scored one try and had a major hand in two others as Souths toyed with the inexperienced Eels right-side defence in a relieving five-tries-to-three victory in front of 22,153 fans.
Rabbitohs fans can start believing again after Inglis finally showed the class that made him the world's best player in 2009 after two performances that proved he was still on the comeback trail from off-season surgery.
He brilliantly created a ninth minute four-pointer for Rhys Wesser before he was on hand to receive a freakish ball from the Souths fullback, step past the defence and send Fetuli Talanoa over in the 21st.
He got his own four-pointer in the 51st minute as right-hand man Dave Taylor showed he is also returning to top form with a bullocking run and one-armed offload.
The Rabbitohs had to do most of it without clever hooker Issac Luke, who was heavily concussed after getting his head into an awkward position attempting to tackle Eels wrecking ball Fuifui Moimoi in the 34th minute.
Parramatta's strong start to the season with a win over the Warriors in Auckland now seems a distant memory.
Compounding their woes, Moimoi was placed on report for a high shot and hooker Casey Maguire missed the second half with a calf problem.
It was 12-12 after a seesawing first half but it might have been so different for the Eels.
They had been disallowed two tries within the first six minutes, both of which appeared to be fair four-pointers.
A Jarryd Hayne pass was dubiously called forward in just the fourth minute before second rower Taniela Lasalo was penalised for a double movement when he bounced over the line without appearing to promote the ball.
The Eels never seemed to pick up their bundle and, when they made a mess of the kick-off to the second half, Souths went in with second-rower Taylor offloading for Talanoa's second with four defenders hanging off him.
The Eels were reduced to 12 men when Moimoi was marched 10 metres then sinbinned for dissent after being placed on report for a shot on Souths benchman Ben Ross.
Soon after Inglis crossed before Michael Crocker juggled a Nathan Merritt kick to touch down and it was 32-12.
Moimoi scored for the Eels in the 68th minute before winger Luke Burt was denied a club record-equalling try by the touchline two minutes later.
South Sydney 32 (F Talanoa 2 M Crocker G Inglis R Wesser tries C Sandow 6 goals) bt Parramatta 18 (F Moimoi J Robson C Walker tries L Burt 3 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Steve Lyons. Crowd: 22,153.
- AAP
