A stunning all round performance from Jye Gray and a successful return from Cody Walker has helped Wayne Bennett and Souths move further away from the wooden spoon with three rounds remaining in the NRL season.

Gray was ably supported by Tallis Duncan who continued his breakout season, scoring a double off Walker passes as the Rabbitohs ran out 20-16 winners in see-saw battle at Allianz Stadium.

The win moves Souths into 14th spot on the ladder, four points clear of last placed Gold Coast, safe with the knowledge they have a bye in hand over the competition’s last three weeks.

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MATCH CENTRE: Rabbitohs vs Eels teams, scores, videos, updates

Gray was electric at the back for Souths, equally threatening with his speed in the middle and on both edges, and even more crucial as the last line of defence, saving no less than five tries.

It was the sort of display that saw Gray take a surprising lead in the Dally M award through the first quarter of the season.

“He could be a Marvel action superhero,” Warren Smith said.

“I can’t believe the game he’s had.”

“He needs a standing ovation… Without him, the Eels win the game,” Cooper Cronk said post-game.

The victory was the Rabbitohs’ ninth in their last ten clashes with the Eels.

An early Zac Lomax penalty opened the scoring, but it was the Rabbitohs who scored the first try via Tyrone Munro on 15 minutes.

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Parramatta crossed for their first four pointer when Kelma Tuilagi slipped a peach of a flick pass to Isaiah Iongi, following a pivotal break from dummy half by Ryley Smith.

Lomax was the next across the line for the Eels before Peter Mamouzelos nabbed Souths’ second with a crafty piece of deception from dummy half.

Parramatta led 12-10 at the break after an entertaining first 40 minutes.

Rising backrower Duncan, playing in the centres, put Souths ahead 15 minutes into the second period after a cut out pass from Walker. The same duo put Souths further in front ten minutes later when Duncan ran the perfect line onto a Walker pass.

The Eels wouldn’t lie down though and when Lomax scored his second with eight minutes to go to make it a four point game, the stage was set for a thriller, but the Bunnies bravely hung on.

While Gray starred for the winners, his opposite, Iongi, back after three weeks on the sidelines, wasn’t far behind, and with young five eighth Joash Papali’I, gave another positive glimpse into the future for Eels fans.

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Walker’s return

Walker came off the bench after 30 minutes for his first action since round 17, controlling the Rabbitohs attack on the left side, with Jamie Humphreys roving around the middle of the field and Ashton Ward orchestrating on the right.

The veteran five eighth played a major role in Duncan’s two tries and was a calming influence on the young Rabbitohs around him.

Johnston stalks Irvine

The crowd rose as one every time Souths Winger Alex Johnston was near the ball in the hope he would move closer to greatness in his bid to surpass Ken Irvine’s NRL try tally record of 212.

Johnston had few real chances and was unable to build on his total of 209, now having just two matches remaining the create history in 2025.

Host of reports

Rabbitohs forward Jacob Host had a tough night at the office, earning the ire of referee Gerard Sutton a number of times and put on report twice.

Host was pinged in the first half for a shoulder charge and in the second for a hip drop, and will be anxiously awaiting word from the match review committee tomorrow.

INJURIES/CHARGES

Rabbitohs

Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (head knock)

Eels

Mitch Moses (on report)

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