Bryson Goodwin dives over for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
FOR the record - and especially this week - Adam Reynolds does not want to talk about that game, that hamstring tear, that missed opportunity.
"That's last year, mate," the Souths halfback said dimly, clearly tired of references to his torn hamstring in the first half of his side's preliminary final loss to the Bulldogs last season.
"I've heard about the hamstring for the last three or four months, and it healed within four weeks. I'm not worried about it anymore. That's last year.
"We can't really use that hunger from last year to this year and put it into our performances. We're not worried about last year's performance at all."
Indeed, that result should be the last thing on the Rabbitohs' minds this week because they have far deeper and fundamental issues ahead of the Good Friday blockbuster against the Bulldogs - and Ben Barba - at ANZ Stadium.
Like tackling.
Having led 34-16 at halftime against the Panthers at Centrebet Stadium yesterday, the Rabbitohs leaked an avalanche of points in the second half.
Penrith had inched back to 34-32 late in the match, before tries to Souths backrower Ben Te'o and winger Nathan Merritt sealed a 44-32 victory that should never have been that difficult or close.
"We've got a bit to do," Souths prop Sam Burgess admitted. "The Bulldogs have been defending well and competing well. And there are a few of our players who aren't quite doing enough."
For a side rated as premiership contenders, the Rabbitohs have faded poorly in the second half of their last two matches, and nobody seems to know why.
They invited the Sharks back into the contest in round two, failing to score in the second half but still hanging on.
Yesterday, against the honest but depleted and superstar-less Panthers, they did the same thing. The match was played in stifling heat, with both sides denying the opportunity of drinks breaks, but nobody was using that as an excuse.
"We wouldn't want a drinks break - and we didn't need one with all those tries scored anyway," Souths captain Michael Crocker said in reference to 14 tries scored for the afternoon.
The Panthers roared back into contention in the second half off the back of poor Souths discipline, but mainly from the enterprising and nippy play of replacement hooker James Segeyaro.
His speed out of dummy half was one thing, as was his one-on-one strip on Souths centre Dylan Farrell to set up a try in the first half.
But it was his four-pointer in the 64th minute that brought his side right back into it, dragging the score back to 34-26.
Another try to Penrith centre Wes Naiqama with 10 minutes to go suddenly meant the greatest upset of the season looked decidedly real. Had two conversion attempts from halfback Luke Walsh not hit the upright, the home side could've actually led.
Souths held on in the end but they plonked themselves down in the sauna-like dressing-room afterwards expecting some serious heat from coach Michael Maguire.
Instead, he commended them.
"For not whingeing about the heat," five-eighth John Sutton said. "He didn't say much - I think that will come later in the week."
While the Bulldogs say they will make a decision about Barba mid-week, the word is he will play.
"His positioning at the back is unreal," Reynolds said. "Whenever you look up he's there. He's got the speed at the back to move around and shut long kicks down. Hopefully I can work on finding some space there during the week."
SOUTH SYDNEY 44 (N Merritt 3 A Everingham B Goodwin G Inglis J Sutton B Te'o tries A Reynolds 6 goals) bt PENRITH 32 (D Simmons 2 S McKendry W Naiqama J Segeyaro B Tighe tries L Walsh 4 goals) at Centrebet Stadium. Referee: Phil Haines, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 12,940.
No comments:
Post a Comment