Former Rabbitohs playmaker Chris Sandow faced his former side after agreeing to a big contract with the Eels in the off-season. It proved to be an unhappy occasion for the livewire halfback.
Adam Reynolds was given first crack at Sandow's old number seven jersey at the beginning of the season and he hasn't looked back since. The impressive youngster laid on the first try of the game for winger Nathan Merritt with a neatly-timed kick and he continues to prove the decision not to match the Eels' offer for Sandow was the right one for the Rabbitohs.
They gave more proof to that theory midway through the first half when a half-fit Inglis exposed the paper-thin defence of Sandow to send other winger Justin Hunt over out wide.
The Rabbitohs were able to pick on the struggling Sandow a third time straight after the break when he rushed up out of the line and centre Dylan Farrell coasted through the gap.
Reynolds then chased Sandow down and bundled him into touch after he looked set for a length-of-the-field intercept try that could have got the Eels back into the contest with 10 minutes remaining.
With Burgess, Pettybourne, Asotasi and former rep centre Matt King due to return from injury in the coming weeks, the Rabbitohs look title contenders.
Eels 6 (R. Maitua try; L Burt goal), Rabbitohs 24 (N. Merritt, J. Hunt, D. Farrell, M. Crocker tries; A Reynolds 4 goals). Halftime: Rabbitohs 12-0.