South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has said "rubbish" from his team continues to cost them chances to win games, as the Rabbitohs were beaten by the Cronulla Sharks.
The Rabbitohs started Sunday's top-eight battle brightly, scoring first and then playing against 12 men when Cronulla's Teig Wilton was sin-binned for a high shot on Jack Wighton.
But the Sharks would bounce back with 18 unanswered points before half-time, before kicking on in the second half for a 32-16 win.
Souths were their own worst enemy at times, missing more than 50 tackles as well as conceding six penalties and three six-again restarts.
The loss leaves the Rabbitohs seventh on the NRL ladder with 10 wins and nine losses, just one win ahead of 10th place Manly in the tight race for the top-eight.
After Sunday's 16-point loss to Cronulla, Bennett told reporters Souths' repeated errors were costing them the chance of competing with the best team in the league.
"Our Achilles heel is when we don't execute and then we pay a bit of a price for it," Bennett said.
"We can run deep (in the premiership) any day of the week if we can just get over the rubbish that gets in our game.
"If we can get that right, we can hold our own with most teams in the competition."
Meanwhile, Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes set a new club record by successfully kicking his 32nd consecutive goal.
Entering the day with a streak of 26, Hynes was perfect from his six attempts on Sunday to extend his run and close within three of the all-time record.
Canterbury Bulldogs great Hazem El Masri holds the record when he converted 35 consecutive goals in 2003.
In the final match on Sunday, Parramatta broke the hearts of Wests Tigers fans with a late try to Isaiah Iongi, snatching a 16-13 win.
The Eels led 12-0 at half-time before suffering a shocking second half, camped in their own end thanks to repeated errors, while two defence lapses allowed the Tigers to level the score.
Tigers halfback Adam Doueihi, who returned to the side after refusing to play last week, scored the try to level the scores, and kicked the Tigers ahead with a 72nd-minute field goal.
But a late try to Iongi in the 76th minute sealed an unconvincing win for the blue and gold.
Relive all of Sunday's NRL action in the blog below.
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Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:42pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:42pm
That is all for the live blog
This is where we will end ABC Sport's live blog coverage of the NRL and NRLW today.
Cronulla flexed its muscle with a good win over South Sydney.
Parramatta scraped a gritty 16-13 win over Wests Tigers.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos continued to show why they are a force in the NRLW, while Gold Coast and Newcastle also enjoyed wins at Magic Round.
This brings an end to round 22 of the NRL, and round 5 of the NRLW.
We will be back next week for more live digital coverage of the NRL and NRLW.
We hope you join us then.
Goodnight.
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:30pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:30pm
Full NRLW and NRL results from this weekend
By Michael Doyle
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:15pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:15pm
Broncos retake NRLW top spot, Titans and Knights win at Magic Round
By Michael Doyle
— reporting by AAP
Calls to change the NRLW's salary cap rules will likely only intensify after star-studded Brisbane thumped Canterbury 34-4 at Magic Round.
One of the biggest weekends of the NRLW calendar came amid concerns about competition imbalance with the heavy concentration of leading players in two teams.
The Broncos and Sydney Roosters are loaded with representative star power, both are unbeaten (5-0) and look primed to face each other in the grand final again unless there's a major upset.
Brisbane's 15th straight win and the Roosters' 38-8 victory over St George Illawarra on Saturday in Wagga Wagga only underlined calls from players, coaches and pundits for change.
However earlier in the week, Rugby League Players Association boss Clint Newton rejected the suggestion of a tiered salary cap, telling News Corp that it would "reward mediocrity" and require a boost in the salary cap and was not on the cards for the next collective bargaining agreement in 2028.
Broncos second-rower Romy Teitzel also said on Friday that teams should be rewarded for investing in their academies, like Brisbane, who have multiple players from their pathway programs.
On Sunday, the Broncos were a level above the Bulldogs, turning rigid defence into lethal attack in the six tries-to-one mauling.
"I'm really proud of the girls' effort. They scrambled hard for each other. They asked plenty of questions, but you've got to give credit to a really good team as well," Bulldogs coach Brayden Wiliame said.
"They have been at the top with the Roosters … since it started for a reason."
Meanwhile, Gold Coast strengthened their grip on a third finals berth in four years by withstanding a resurgent Warriors 18-16.
The Titans started hot as second-rower Ivana Lolesio pounced on a pinpoint Teagan Levi grubber before backrower Evania Isa'ako and winger Indie Bostock crossed to balloon their advantage to 18-0.
But centre Mele Hufanga's try on her return from a hamstring injury sparked the Warriors into life as interchange Ivana Lauitiiti and soaring winger Stacey Waaka scored to close the deficit to two points with five minutes remaining.
Patricia Maliepo's crucial conversion veered just wide and the Titans escaped with the win.
Parramatta were hoping to end their winless start to the season, but were undone 32-12 by Newcastle.
After North Queensland secured their first 2026 victory against Canberra on Saturday, the Eels were desperate not to be the only team without a win.
The Knights made the most of their first half though, as winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala capitalised on some slick passing before hooker Olivia Higgins burrowed over for a 12-0 lead at the break.
Parramatta prop Elsie Albert stormed across the line to reduce the deficit, but four unanswered tries in 12 minutes helped Newcastle put the result beyond doubt.
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:06pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:06pm
Isaiah Iongi joins ABC Sport after scoring the match-winner for the Eels
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta fullback Isaiah Iongi scored in the 76th minute to win the game for the Parramatta Eels.
The Eels led 12-0 at half-time, but had a poor second half.
Struggling to hold onto the ball and get out of their own end, the Tigers threatened to steal the win when they led 13-12 with seven minutes to play.
But Iongi came up with the crucial score late to snatch a victory which, by his admission, may have been a little fortunate this afternoon.
In the second half, we made it hard for ourselves … We were fortunate to get there in the end.
We needed to complete [our sets], needed to get to the other side of the field … We got pretty lucky there.
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:00pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 6:00pm
Josh Addo-Carr joins ABC Sport
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta are winners, with a 16-13 win over the Wests Tigers.
It was a game filled with errors and missed tackles.
But the Eels managed to snatch the win late. Winger Josh Addo-Carr tells ABC Sport that the game was difficult with "self-inflicted" errors, but he is happy with the triumph.
That was a very tough game, in terms of errors.
A lot of errors across the board from both teams.
Two points is two points. We got the job done at the end of the day
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:56pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:56pm
FULL-TIME: Eels 16 def. Tigers 13
By Michael Doyle
— reporting by AAP
Adam Doueihi returned from his self-imposed NRL exile but was unable to resuscitate Wests Tigers' anaemic attack as they slumped to a seventh straight defeat in a 16-13 loss to Parramatta.
Doueihi sparked one of the biggest news stories of the season when he sat out last week's loss to Canberra in protest at club standards and coach Benji Marshall's plans to deploy him at lock against the Raiders.
The playmaker and Marshall publicly buried the hatchet but Doueihi's best efforts — he scored a try, kicked two goals and a 72nd-minute field goal — were not enough.
Doeuihi thought he had completed a zero to hero redemption story when he nudged over his one-pointer, but Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi dashed over with five minutes left to seal victory for Parramatta at Western Sydney Stadium on Sunday.
The Eels were abject in the second half — they made nine errors and completed at 63 per cent — but Tigers captain Api Koroisau gave away a penalty for a shoulder charge which handed Iongi the position to go over.
Even if the Tigers had held on to win it would have papered over another rudderless attacking performance from Marshall's side, who have mustered just 45 points over their last six matches.
Fullback Jahream Bula hasn't recorded a linebreak since May, while winger Sunia Turuva hasn't crossed for a try since round six.
The tries Marshall's men scored on Sunday were courtesy of one-man barge-over efforts from Fonua Pole and Doueihi rather than displays of cohesive attack.
The Tigers sit 16th following the loss to the Eels and are only being kept off bottom by St George Illawarra.
Parramatta led 12-0 at half-time after Jordan Samrani regathered a Mitchell Moses to score the opener.
Centre Samrani then made a break upfield which led to former Tigers hooker Tallyn Da Silva scoring against his former club.
Pole crashed over in the 47th minute as the Tigers finally got on the board, Doueihi following him over soon after and kicking both goals to tie the game up.
Doueihi booted a field goal with nine minutes left but after Koroisau's needless penalty Moses spread the ball wide to Iongi to race over and wrap up victory for the Eels.
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:52pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:52pm
77' Sam Tuivaiti (Eels) off for HIA
By Michael Doyle
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:51pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:51pm
76' TRY: Isaiah Iongi scores for the Eels
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta has hit the front.
Helped by a shoulder charge penalty against Wests hooker Apisai Koroisau, the Eels were gifted a shot at attacking the goal-line.
On the final play, the Eels go to the right. Mitchell Moses passes out the back to fullback Isaiah Iongi who slices through the defence to score.
Moses misses the conversion attempt from the right touchline.
Tigers 13
Eels 16
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:47pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:47pm
72' FIELD GOAL: Adam Doueihi kicks the Tigers into the lead
By Michael Doyle
With eight minutes to go, Wests Tigers have hit the front.
On the final play of the set, Adam Doueihi hit a low drop kick from 30 metres, and it goes between the posts.
Tigers 13
Eels 12
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:41pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:41pm
68' NO TRY: Eels almost gift the Tigers a try
By Michael Doyle
The Eels are trying to get out of their own end.
An unnecessary offload is thrown, hits the ground, and Tiger Alex Seyfarth dives on the ball.
And no Parramatta player touches him, so the prop forward gets up and runs 45 metres to ground the ball.
But the Bunker has ruled a knock-on from Seyfarth when he dived on the ball.
"This is not NRL standard footy we are witnessing here," Matthew Elliott, ABC Sport.
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:38pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:38pm
65' Tigers blow a golden chance
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta has been awful in this second half.
Repeated errors have allowed Wests to come back into the game.
And Wests should have the lead, but they have blow a certain try.
Attacking the goal-line, Adam Doueihi threw a cut-out pass to right winger Sunia Turuva, who just needed to catch the ball and score.
But the Tigers winger dropped the pass.
Tigers 12
Eels 12
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:29pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:29pm
60' TRY: Adam Doueihi scores for the Tigers
By Michael Doyle
One week after he refused to play, Adam Doueihi has scored for the Wests Tigers.
It was poor goal-line defence from the Parramatta Eels.
Prop forward Fonua Pole is tackled by three players, but he got the offload away. Fellow prop Terrell May runs, and he also gets an offload away.
The ball gets thrown to Doueihi who steps off his left foot, busts through two tackle attempts, and scores.
Doueihi converts his own try and the scores are level.
Tigers 12
Eels 12
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:29pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:29pm
57' Parramatta misses a golden chance
By Michael Doyle
The Tigers were on the attack, but halfback Adam Doueihi dropped the ball.
Eels five-eighth Ronald Volkman picks up the ball and is streaking away in the opposite direction.
Volkman knows he will be caught, so he passes to an unmarked Josh Addo-Carr, but the Eels flyer drops the ball cold.
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:17pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:17pm
48' TRY: Fonua Pole scores for the Tigers
By Michael Doyle
What a tremendous effort from prop forward Fonua Pole.
The Tigers enforcer charges onto the ball 20 metres from the goal-line, and he breaks through four Eels defenders to score.
Great run. That was all heart and effort, something the Tigers desperately needed.
Tigers 6
Eels 12
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:15pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 5:15pm
45' NO TRY: Eels denied by the Bunker
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta has crossed, with Ronald Volkman collecting a loose ball that came from an aerial contest.
But the Bunker has ruled that Eels centre Jordan Samrani knocked the ball forward in the contest.
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:56pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:56pm
NRLW Magic Round: Knights 32 def. Eels 12
By Michael Doyle
The Newcastle Knights have ended NRLW Magic Round with a resounding win over the Parramatta Eels.
The Knights ran in six tries to record their third win of the season.
The Eels were competitive in the first half, but faded late to remain winless in 2026 and at the bottom of the NRLW ladder.
Key Event
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:53pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:53pm
HT: Eels 12 leading Tigers 0
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta holds a 12-point lead at half-time over Wests Tigers.
There have been plenty of errors in this match, along with a couple of nice moments by the Eels, which have resulted in two tries.
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:45pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:45pm
32' TRY: Tallyn Da Silva scores for the Eels
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta has extended its lead.
Centre Jordan Samrani made a big break up the middle of the Wests Tigers' defence. He was brought down, but the Tigers' defence is in all sorts.
After a quick play-the-ball, the ball is passed to Tallyn Da Silva, and he runs to ground the ball under the posts.
Tigers 0
Eels 12
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:38pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:38pm
28' NO TRY: Bunker denies the Eels
By Michael Doyle
What looked like some fortune for the Eels, has led to a knock-on.
A grubber kick from Mitchell Moses goes straight into the legs of Tigers half Jarome Luai.
The ricochet goes straight into the arms of Will Penisini, who runs for the goal-line and scores.
But the replay shows that when Moses dropped the ball to kick it, the ball actually hit the foot of Luai first.
(Kayo/Fox Sports)It is a very rare scenario, which has ABC Sport's Matthew Elliott scratching his head in the commentary box.
"I have never seen that before. That is hilarious" — Matthew Elliott, ABC Sport
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:37pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 4:37pm
27' Kelma Tuilagi (Eels) off the field
By Michael Doyle
Parramatta second-row forward Kelma Tuilagi has gone up the tunnel.
The Eels forward has been struggling since the early minutes of this match.
It is not clear what the issue is, but ABC Sport sideline eye John Gibbs says it could be a rib issue.
