With a stack of superstars out injured, unsung hero Tallis Duncan stood up for South Sydney and helped inspire a crucial 32-12 win over the Eels.
But the result came at a cost, with winger Edward Kosi joining the club’s casualty ward and fullback Jye Gray also sending a scare through Rabbitohs’ camp.
Gray left the field in the second after a head clash with Eels centre Sean Russell, clutching at his jaw as he walked off, but passed his HIA in the sheds and returned to the field for the final six minutes at CommBank Stadium.
The visitors flew out to an early lead after Cody Walker strolled over and Euan Aitken brushed past Mitchell Moses, who struggled defensively all night.
The back-to-back tries in the opening stages had Jason Ryles fuming in the coach’s box, slamming the desk and walking out of the view of the camera.
Brian Kelly narrowed the margin mid-way through the first half, before Duncan – who is an edge forward by trade filling in at centre with Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham and Jack Wighton all sidelined – produced an epic try-saving tackle on his opposite number Russell that brought the game to a halt
“If they win this game tonight, it could come back to that tackle the way things are panning out,” Nine commentator Mat Thompson said.
Parramatta had another prime opportunity to level the scores before the break, but the desperation from the Bunnies stopped them again.
This time, it was pint-sized halfback Ashton Ward who chased down a runaway Ronald Volkman to save a certain try, before Gray scrambled twice and forced Kitione Kautoga into a heavily weighted kick that rolled dead.
“What a play,” Brad Fittler said on commentary.
Duncan came up with another cracking moment in the second half, brushing off a tackle from Josh Addo-Carr before throwing the final pass to Kosi to score.
The game was blown wide-open for Souths when hulking winger Kosi took an intercept pass before being dragged down by the chasing Eels defenders.
But with the cardinal and myrtle on the attack, it was Duncan who again came in clutch, dragging defenders with him over the line to score.
On-field referee Gerard Sutton then blew time off and sent it up to the Bunker for a possible eight-point try after Russell lashed out at Duncan with his boot.
“There was no malice in that at all, it was all instinct,” Fittler said.
Veteran five-eighth Walker soon scored his second try, continuing his strong run of form at age 36, before the uber-versatile Duncan put the icing on the cake.
Duncan finished a stellar night with 164 run metres, two linebreaks, one try assist and 16 tackles without a miss, despite playing out of his preferred position.
Tallis Duncan dives over for a try. Getty
“He’s been under-appreciated by everyone,” Walker told Nine post-game when asked about the 24-year-old utility.
“Inside our four walls, I know straight away that Tallis can do a job there. The quality that he brings to a footy team is one that we love having.
“He’s been awesome for us, he’s really come on leaps and bounds.”
Duncan looms as a future State of Origin player and wouldn’t look out of place in a NSW Blues jersey in game three or next season.
Wayne Bennett was full of praise for the talented Dungog product post-game.
“He’d like to be in one position so he can get used to all the players around him, but he just brings so much to us,” the legendary coach said.
“When I came to the club, he was just a middle-forward but I saw more in him.
“I moved him to the edge and then we got a lot of injuries last year and ended up having to put him in the centres and he showed us all what a good centre he is.”