Mitchell Moses sin-binned as South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Parramatta Eels for fifth straight NRL win
By Jon HealyParramatta halfback Mitchell Moses has ended the game on the sidelines as a 32-16 loss to South Sydney sends the Eels crashing back into last place on the NRL ladder.
NSW's hero in State of Origin II, Moses was sent to the sin-bin with just over four minutes left for a professional foul as he tried to stop the game so he could challenge a call, forgetting that the team lost its challenge in the first half.
Moses's error betrayed the frustration of a team slumping to its fourth straight loss and ninth in 10 games.
"He's frustrated," coach Trent Barrett said in his post-match press conference.
"The game was done and dusted but it probably boiled over at the end for him."
The Eels fell behind Wests Tigers on for-and-against to slip back to 17th spot, while the Rabbitohs won their fifth straight on the back of doubles to Jacob Gagai and Jack Wighton, as well as impressive outings from Latrell Mitchell (1 try, 2 try assists, 3 line break assists, 1 line break) and Cody Walker (1 try, 1 try assist, 1 line break).
Keaon Koloamatangi was once again immense at lock, leading the team in running metres with 221.
Making matters worse for Parramatta was a foot injury to prop Junior Paulo, who left the game early and looks set for some time on the sidelines.
Look back at all the action in the live blog below, and check out all the stats in our ScoreCentre.
Key events
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Live updates
And that's where I'll leave you
By Jon Healy
More of the same for both teams tonight.
Neither is where we would have predicted at the start of the season, but South Sydney winning and Parramatta losing have been two of the only real constants in the NRL in the past month.
We'll see how important this game proves as the round plays out, and I'll be here to bring you all the latest.
We'll see you tomorrow night for Sharks vs Titans and the grand final rematch rematch between Brisbane and Penrith.
It's Ben Hornby and Cameron Murray's turn in the hot seat
By Jon Healy
Rabbitohs coach Ben Hornby is struggling to single out any individuals in a team effort for Souths.
"Latrell was great again today. Cody had some big plays, Gags … I could name the whole team to be fair.
He agrees that was Jack Wighton's best game at five-eighth for the team.
"The spine's been getting better as a group. Hopefully that can continue to grow."
Hornby isn't letting himself or the team look ahead to a potential finals run. (They're currently two points outside the top eight.)
"If we just keep focusing on the next game, we'll be fine. We keep doing that, good things will happen."
Clint Gutherson and Trent Barrett are fronting the media
By Jon Healy
Parramatta coach Trent Barrett is echoing what captain Clint Gutherson told ABC Sport on the field that the second efforts in defence just weren't there.
"We were guilty of trying to play a little bit too pretty at times.
"We stopped moving after the ball. That's a choice. We had a couple stop and we didn't keep moving."
Barrett is extra disappointed with allowing that second-phase try to Cody Walker right on half-time.
"Gotta scrape 'em up off the floor and go again."
And on Mitchell Moses's late sin-binning…
"He's frustrated. The game was done and dusted but it probably boiled over at the end for him."
Jai Arrow will play on
By Jon Healy
It was believed this would be the last game for Souths back rower Jai Arrow before he got surgery on a busted rotator cuff, but he's confirmed to ABC Sport that he will play at least one more week.
"100 per cent playing next week, then the club will reassess and see where I'm at."
Seems like they'll take it week by week and see how he's feeling.
That's five straight wins for South Sydney!
By Jon Healy
Well that's another victory for this Rabbitohs side that will frighten a lot of teams above them on the ladder, because when they put it together they look about as dangerous as anyone.
The 32-16 scoreline looks about a fair reflection of what happened tonight.
Parramatta was so poor with the ball and had some defensive lapses, and South Sydney made them pay time and time again.
79' The Eels will drop to last
By Jon Healy
The extent of this loss will send Parramatta back beneath the Tigers on the ladder.
And as I say that, the cameras focus on prop Junior Paulo with ice on a foot injury, so it could get worse before it gets better.
Jack Wighton gets his second and he seals it!
By Jon Healy
The South Sydney pivot steps inside Charlie Guymer, Joe Ofahengaue and Matt Arthur, then shrugs off the tackle of Reagan Campbell-Gillard and dives over under the posts.
The Rabbitohs celebrate with maybe a little extra feeling from Latrell Mitchell directed towards this hostile Parramatta crowd.
77' Mitchell Moses is going to the sin-bin
By Jon Healy
The Parramatta halfback flops on Jai Arrow and hangs on for too long, then gets into an argument with the referee, and he's sent to the sin-bin for his trouble.
75' It's chaos out there!
By Jon Healy
Mitchell Moses tries to put something on down the right blindside on the last, but he's caught as he tries to kicks through.
Taane Milne scoops it up and goes the other way, stepping inside Clint Gutherson and offloading to Tom Burgess, who makes a superb low catch.
Then he drops it in the tackle and the Eels go the other way.
And now the Eels have thrown it away, with Dylan Brown lobbing a desperate pass out the back for Latrell Mitchell to swoop on. All that in the space of about 60 seconds.
Parramatta is over and the Eels won't go away
By Jon Healy
Clint Gutherson jogs across the field and dinks a grubber in behind, it takes a ricochet and Bryce Cartwright is on the spot to touch down under the posts.
Pretty good effort in the wet and the Eels keep the contest alive.
72' The Rabbitohs are lucky to finish the game with 13 men
By Jon Healy
Souths centre Richie Kennar takes out Matt Doorey as he chases Dylan Brown's grubber.
Liam Kennedy asks the bunker to look at a potential penalty try, which isn't on, but the bunker for some reason says it's not a sin-bin for a professional foul either.
Something about the players covering the kick, but that shouldn't stop it from being 10 in the bin. Kennar clearly took him out cynically.
It's Jacob Gagai with a superb double!
By Jon Healy
Slick stuff from the Rabbitohs, with Cody Walker flying across the field to give them the numbers advantage, Latrell Mitchell summing it up perfectly, and Jacob Gagai juggling on the fly and in the rain, then tip-toeing down the sideline and setting himself for a leaping finish in the corner.
The Rabbits really looks classy when it's on song. And they're humming down the right rather than on the left as they normally do.
Maybe targeting the inexperienced wing of Jake Tago.
66' Rabbitohs stay down, but no penalties
By Jon Healy
First Sean Keppie does the unfortunately customary acting after a tackle slips up high. As annoying as the 'Ow, my jaw' acting is, he did get hit high and I'm surprised he hasn't got a penalty.
Then Matt Arthur makes contact with Latrell Mitchell as he's in the air after kicking and Mitchell kicks his heels up so he goes to ground. But it's not penalised. He' come up holding his left shoulder. Gee, I hope that's a bit of mayo on the acting job and not a genuine injury.
A mixed bag
By Jon Healy
Some moments of this game have been high quality - then other moments look like under 12s. Is that how you see it Jon, or am I being cynical after a long day at work? Great blog!
- Sam
Hi Sam,
Look, Under-12s is probably harsh. There have been more than a few very basic errors, but this is about what I'd expect from these two teams in this weather.
63' Jake Tago goes over on debut, but he's denied
By Jon Healy
The debutant gets over the line on the left flank and Liam Kennedy says it's a try, but the efforts of Richie Kennar and particularly Jacob Gagai keep him from grounding it and force him into touch.
Great effort by the Souths wing and centre.
62' The Rabbitohs will have to defend again
By Jon Healy
Jacob Gagai knocks on coming out of trouble and again its the debutant Charlie Guymer making an impact with his defence. He's been brilliant tonight. A bit about him, as they say.
Latrell Mitchell is over for the Rabbitohs!
By Jon Healy
The Eels are more or less marking up as Souths spin it right, but Latrell Mitchell uses a bit of extra pace to get around Sean Russell, sets sail for the right corner, dives early and slides over.
He summed that up perfectly.
53' Oh the Eels look dangerous but can't ice it
By Jon Healy
Clint Gutherson bursts through the tackle of Damien Cook and breaks through line in the middle of the field. But the support doesn't arrive and he throws a speculator out to the left, where Richie Kennar gets back to break up the play.
Gee, Gutherson just needed to go to ground there because that pass was never on.
Parramatta hits back first!
By Jon Healy
A great run and quick play-the-ball from the debutant Charlie Guymer gets the Eels on the front foot, and Brendan Hands sums it up well, going to the line and holding up the pass for Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who catches in traffic and stretches out to touch down.
Even if he hadn't, it may have been a penalty try as Latrell Mitchell slid in with his feet to try to kick it loose.
46' The Eels look frustrated
By Jon Healy
Parramatta is denied twice in successive plays — first by a last-ditch try-saver on Will Penisini byt three Rabbitohs, then by Richie Kennar flying above the pack for a clean catch in the wet.
And Bryce Cartwright follows it up by giving away a silly penalty for holding down. Just heaping pressure on themselves.