Thursday night footy: Eels v Rabbitohs
We kick off Round 17 in Sydney's west with the Eels chasing their sixth win of the season and break a hoodoo that has seen them lose nine of their past 10 clashes against Souths.
The return of Mitch Moses is a huge boost for the home side while the Bunnies once again must make do without star centre Latrell Mitchell as he battles a calf injury.
The Rabbitohs are within touching distance of the top four but face a tough road in the next month with clashes against the Panthers, Knights, Raiders and Storm.
Follow all the action from Round 17 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
Eels v Rabbitohs at CommBank Stadium
Match: Eels v Rabbitohs
Round 17 -
home Team
Eels
14th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
7th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Eels v Rabbitohs: Round 17
19th min: The Eels are on the board! Despite few attacking opportunities so far, the home side gives the CommBank Stadium crowd something the cheer about. A Ronald Volkman kick is batted back by Kelma Tuilagi to Mitch Moses, who loops it out to Brian Kelly to use his fancy footwork to bring it in field and he finds a way over the line. Moses converts. Rabbitohs lead 12-6.
15th min: Say Cheese! Brandon Smith sells it right, then steps out to the left from a play-the-ball 15 metres out to fool the Eels defence, opening up a hole for Euan Aitken to stroll through to score. Latrell Siegwalt converts. Rabbitohs lead 12-0.
10th min: The Rabbitohs are dominating the field position thanks to some clinical runs up the middle and strong kicking game. After holding off another Souths attacking raid, the Eels earn their first look at opposition territory.
6th min: Cody Walker slices through the first try of the game, taking advantage of the retreating Eels defence. Parramatta had earlier turned the ball over with another error at their own end. Latrell Siegwalt converts the try. Rabbitohs lead 6-0.
3rd min: The Rabbitohs go on the attack immediately after a Brandon Smith tackle dislodges the ball from Jack Williams' grasp of the third tackle of the match. David Fifita is captured at dummy half on last tackle and the Eels survive.
Kickoff: We’re underway in Beanies for Brain Cancer Round!
Late Mail
Eels: Jason Ryles has shaken up his forward pack in the final team update, with Harrison Edwards once again starting in place of Tallyn Da Silva, who reverts to the bench, while Sam Tuivaiti starts in the front row in place of Luca Moretti. Apa Twidle was cut from the reserves. Mitchell Moses is on track for his first game for the Eels since Round 11 after overcoming a hamstring injury. The playmaker will play his 250th match in the NRL. Moses' return will see Ronald Volkman switch to five-eighth. Jonah Pezet is also back healthy but he will make his return from a hamstring injury in NSW Cup.
Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs will line up 1-19 as named on Tuesday. The loss of Latrell Mitchell to a calf injury will see Latrell Siegwalt line up in the centres, with Tallis Duncan also filling in with Campbell Graham still sidelined. NSW Under 19 centre Dayne Jennings is in the mix for an NRL debut after being named on the six-man bench. Thomas Fletcher and Moala Graham-Taufa dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour update, while Bronson Garlick was omitted in the final team update.
