Greg Inglis finally exploded into action for South Sydney, terrorising the Parramatta defence as the Rabbitohs notched a 32-18 home win, their first of the NRL rugby league season.
Inglis scored one try and had a major hand in two others as Souths toyed with the inexperienced Eels right-side defence in a relieving five-tries-to-three victory in front of 22,153 supporters.
Rabbitohs fans can start believing again after Inglis finally showed the class that made him the world's best player in 2009 after two performances that proved he was still on the comeback trail from off-season surgery.
He brilliantly created a ninth minute four-pointer for Rhys Wesser before he was on hand to receive a freakish ball from the Souths fullback, step past the defence and send Fetuli Talanoa over in the 21st.
He got his own four-pointer in the 51st minute as right-hand man Dave Taylor showed he is also returning to top form with a bullocking run and one-armed offload.
The Rabbitohs had to do most of it without Kiwi's hooker Issac Luke, who was heavily concussed after getting his head into an awkward position attempting to tackle Eels wrecking ball Fuifui Moimoi in the 34th minute.
Parramatta's strong start to the season with a win over the Warriors in Auckland now seems a distant memory.
Compounding their woes, Moimoi was placed on report for a high shot and hooker Casey Maguire missed the second half with a calf problem.
