The Eels suffered their biggest ever defeat to the Rabbitohs when thrashed 56-6 at ANZ Stadium in Round 22 last year.
Souths ran in six tries in the opening 35 minutes – including a hat-trick to fullback Nathan Merritt – to lead 36-nil at halftime. Merritt bagged two more tries in the second 40 to equal the record for the most tries by any Rabbitoh in a single premiership game.
The sole joy for Eels fans came when their fullback Luke Burt crossed in the 55th minute.
Nine Rabbitohs players made more than 100 metres during the game as South Sydney monstered the Eels in the territory stakes, carving out 1774 metres to 1146 metres. They dominated line-breaks 11-2 and were required to make 81 fewer tackles.
Souths were unstoppable in broken play, making 663 metres out wide, while they eroded the Eels up the guts with almost 200 metres gained out of dummy-half.
Dave Taylor was a wrecking ball, making 136 metres with eight tackle-breaks, a try assist, two line-breaks and two offloads.
Five-eighth Jarryd Hayne set up Parramatta’s try, while hooker Matt Keating tried hard to ignite the Eels with four offloads.
