World News – UA – South Sydney submits Parramatta at the end of a dramatic day for eels

A superb second half for South Sydney saw Parramatta knocked out of the NRL Finals via a 38-24 loss at Western Sydney Stadium on a day of drama for Eels

South Sydney’s victory sets up a preliminary final with Minor Premiers Penrith at the Sydney Olympic Stadium next Saturday night

Eels were rocked on Saturday morning by the revelation that former home state and test center Michael Jennings had failed a doping test and would be provisionally suspended under NRL anti-doping policy

The NRL said Jennings returned an A sample positive for the banned substances Ligandrol and Ibutamoren and three of their metabolites

He had been named to the Eels squad to take on the Rabbitohs, and his withdrawal meant rookie winger Haze Dunster received a baptism of fire after being called in for his debut in the morning

Dunster was thrown on the wing as part of Brad Arthur’s patched back line with Maika Sivo and Blake Ferguson also missing due to injury

And while the Eels were brave in defeat, their season ended in front of 14,510 spectators

The game was there for the catch at half-time when the Eels led 18-8 after a flurry of points in four minutes, all either set up or scored by star fullback Clint Gutherson

But the Rabbitohs jumped up with two quick converted attempts to start the second half and regained the lead

Eel half-back Mitch Moses had the chance to level the scores with a penalty goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball hit the posts and Rabbitohs winger Jaxon Paulo continued his run on the sideline

Full of steam, the Rabbitohs landed on the Eels line, with Gutherson on a Damien Cook kick just enough for Bailey Sironen to melt the ball

Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown threw an interception for Paulo to score his second of the night with 10 minutes remaining

Jennings’ younger brother George, playing on the wing for the Eels, grabbed his second try of the night five minutes to go

But a late attempt by Damien Cook ended a miserable day for Eels, leaving Parramatta players scattered and emotional on the pitch

This is the second year in a row the Eels have retired from the Week 2 Finals and the third time in four seasons

This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and BBC World Service which is copyrighted and may not be reproduced

AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Parramatta Eels, National Rugby League, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Michael Jennings