19 Jul 2014

Souths in bounceback NRL win

1:25 pm on 19 July 2014

On the back of a starring effort from Sam Burgess, South Sydney have recalibrated their National Rugby League finals push with a 32-12 win over the Eels in Parramatta.

A game after one of their worst performances during coach Michael Maguire's three-season reign - a 14-10 loss to Gold Coast - the Rabbitohs controlled the game better in the back end for the six-tries-to-two triumph.

Burgess bustled his way over just before halftime and again minutes before the final whistle, constantly surging forward all night and tackling stoutly on the edges.

With the game in the balance and Souths leading 16-12, on his first touch of the ball, a Luke Keary high ball found Kyle Turner for a four-pointer to put the Rabbitohs further ahead in the 65th minute.

Winger Alex Johnston burned Vai Toutai on the outside in the 74th minute with the match-sealing try, before Burgess claimed his double from dummy half four minutes from time.

Parramatta toiled away conscientiously all night and responded well to their 48-0 thrashing to the Warriors but fell apart somewhat towards the end of the game.

The win lifts the Rabbitohs to fourth on the NRL ladder, while Parramatta are 12th.

Also on Friday night, the Cowboys beat the bottom placed Sharks 36-18 in Cronulla, lifting North Queensland to seventh.