Roosters ruin Rabbitohs party

The Rabbitohs line up before their emotional return

Click here for NRL round one results

South Sydney's emotional return to the NRL after a two-year absence ended in defeat as the Rabbitohs were crushed 40-6 by the Sydney Roosters on Friday.

Not even the presence of celebrity fan Russell Crowe in a bumper crowd of 35,316 at the Aussie Stadium could inspire the Souths to a comeback victory.

"They were like the Indians coming over the hills," quipped Souths coach Craig Coleman, who was nevertheless upbeat about the Rabbitohs' future prospects.

"We'll be there fighting at the end," he added. "We're going better today then we were two years ago."

Russell Crowe was in the crowd for the match

Sydney's oldest and most successful club, Souths won 20 Premierships after helping found the league in 1908 but were controversially kicked out of the competition in 1999.

They refused to merge with another club when the NRL slashed its numbers from 20 to 14 after two rival leagues became a single competition.

Souths decided to fight on alone and were excluded from the league, to the consternation of their legions of fans.

But after a lengthy court battle, they were re-instated for this season, with Oscar-winning actor Crowe a prominent fundraiser.

The Rabbitohs were outscored seven tries to one to highlight the challenge facing them on their return to the big time.

"We were our own worst enemies," said Coleman. "Because we were under pressure the game plan went out the window."

Consolation try

The Roosters were 18-0 up inside 20 minutes and held a 26-0 half-time lead, despite losing half-back Paul Green to a knee injury early on.

All Souths had to show for their efforts was a consolation try from half-back Brad Watt a minute from time.

The biggest win of the weekend saw the Parramatta Eels hammer the Penrith Panthers 64-6 on Sunday.

The Eels raced into a 14-0 lead after 12 minutes at Parramatta Stadium before centre David Vaealika scored the first of his three tries to give the hosts a 26-6 half-time lead.

Winger Luke Burt scored two tries and landed 10 goals for an individual haul of 28 points and a new Parramatta club record.

Rookie winger Matthew Rieck raced 55 metres in the dying minutes as the Sharks broke an 18-18 deadlock against St George-Illawarra to grab a 24-18 win.

In other games over the weekend, the Brisbane Broncos welcomed back skipper Gorden Tallis from a long-term neck injury and half-back Allan Langer from a brief retirement.

The Broncos then cruised to a 42-6 win over state rivals North Queensland Cowboys at Townsville.

Defending champions Newcastle Knights opened with a 38-12 win over the Northern Eagles.

Melbourne Storm, returning to their original home at Olympic Park, edged past Canberra Raiders 16-12, while Wests Tigers opened with a 28-22 win over the Bulldogs.

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NRL round one results:

Sydney Roosters 40-6 South Sydney
Bulldogs 22-28 Wests Tigers
Northern Eagles 12-38 Newcastle
North Queensland 6-42 Brisbane
Melbourne 16-12 Canberra
Parramatta 64-6 Penrith
Sharks 24-18 St. George-Illawarra
Bye: New Zealand Warriors

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