Matthew Johns: Jason Demetriou’s rookie error in South Sydney’s errant game plan exposed

South Sydney’s game plan is wrong and needs an urgent refocus if the Rabbitohs are to avoid staring down the barrel of an 0-4 start to the season, MATTY JOHNS writes.

Matty Johns says South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou got his call on skipper Cameron Murray totally wrong.

South Sydney need to base their game on physical dominance, not attacking brilliance.

The Bunnies will not beat the Sydney Roosters on clever ball movement.

At the very core of Souths’ great victories over the Roosters, has been a willingness to play tough, physical football with an underdog’s mentality.

All the fancy brilliance occurs as a result of the dominance that kind of football delivers.

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The Bunnies derive enormous confidence from nailing their attacking sequences, but in last week’s loss to Melbourne, in a bid to build confidence early, they dug a deep hole for themselves.

Without earning the right, through go-forward, the Bunnies urgently went out trying to play around Melbourne. All it did was put the playmakers under maximum pressure.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou’s decision to bench Cameron Murray for the start of the game against the Storm failed. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Off very little momentum and a slow play-the-ball, the Storm defence were able to recognise Souths’ attacking shapes and race up to deny Cody Walker any room to move or time to react.

Winning the battle of the midfield always was and always will be the primary ingredient in a quality attack.

DEMETRIOU’S ROOKIE ERROR

If Souths want to start fast, they need to get on top in the yardage battle from the opening exchanges, that’s why first-year NRL coach Jason Demetriou’s decision to start Cameron Murray on the bench last week was the wrong one.

Murray is Souths’ best go-forward man. Go-forward isn’t just about size, in fact in 2022 fast feet is the most effective weapon in centrefield.

On top of that, Murray’s pass selection is A+. Similar to Isaah Yeo and Victor Radley, Murray is very often where the ball movement begins.

Not having him out there early, put additional pressure on Walker.

Winning the middle-field battle is where it’s at for Souths and that’s where the whole focus need be.

Evidence they’ve drifted away from that is the absence of a facet of their football which once was a cornerstone … Damien Cook out of dummy-half.

Cameron Murray is Souths’ best go-forward man. Picture: Jeremy Piper

When you’re consistently winning the ruck battle, the dummy half’s consistently causing problems.

Souths are the kings of fast, instinctive football and this was once kick started by Cook exploding out of dummy-half. Cook would take off and that would spark Latrell Mitchell and then, in turn, Walker would bring Mitchell into the action.

The success of Souths’ favourite attack sequence of working past the far upright and coming back to the left with the sweep option to Walker has seen the centre field assault dramatically reduced.

The sweep option play continues to be successful, as it was late in the game last week when Melbourne’s defence started to loosen, but they need to broaden their attack.

THE REAL LATRELL V ROOSTERS BATTLE

So, if we identify physical dominance in and around the ruck as the game’s crucial factor, then Latrell Mitchell v the Roosters’ kick-chase is the most important battle.

If Mitchell can’t penetrate the kick chase, then Souths will find it extremely difficult to threaten in the set of six that follows.

If Mitchell bends the defence back on kick returns, things will happen on plays four, five and six.

In the 80-minute game of chess, Mitchell is the most important piece on the board.

Souths need a strong performance from Walker. So far this season, Walker’s frustrations have been obvious, he is too hard on himself.

Souths need Latrell Mitchell to bend the Roosters’ defence. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

His opportunities have been limited and against Melbourne with defenders all over him he kept searching for the perfect pass.

I’d like to see Walker start this game with a run-first, pass-second mentality.

He can’t let errors weigh him down. When I say Souths need a strong performance from Walker, I’m not alluding to any type of attacking masterclass, I mean they need him to stay positive and involved, even through periods where everything may be going wrong.

WHY CHOOKS FALL INTO RABBIT TRAP

Souths have a knack of getting under the skin of the Roosters players and distracting them from their mission.

I think a lot of that has to do with the identity attached to both clubs.

The tough streets of Redfern against the glorious beaches of the east is a backdrop befitting a heavyweight title fight. Souths’ identity is the working-class scrapper and the Bunnies players take that mentality into this fixture.

Forget talent and fancy attack sequences, Souths need to fight like underdogs on Friday night.

They have to come up with every loose ball win, every inch fought over and in the words of Gorden Tallis, “run harder and tackle harder.”

KNIGHTS FIX HORROR LOW-BALL CALL

I’ve avoided talking about the players Souths have lost, because it’s irrelevant to their 2022 campaign.

But Dane Gagai’s return to Newcastle has been a gift from the football Gods.

The Knights’ decision to low-ball him in 2017 and allow him to join Souths Sydney was, in a period where lots of bad decisions were being made, probably the worst.

During his first stint at Newcastle, the club endured its most difficult period, yet I can’t remember him playing a bad game.

Gagai is the leader the Knights have needed and judging by his first two appearances, could be the season’s most astute signing.

Gagai is one of a number of new recruits to have hit the ground running at their respective new clubs.

Nicho Hynes kicked the matchwinning conversion for Cronulla in their clash with Parramatta,

Kurt Capewell has been the steadying influence in Brisbane’s 2-0 start to the season, complete with an impromptu field goal in their opening-round win over the Rabbitohs.

Young half Sean O’Sullivan has filled in admirably for Nathan Cleary at Penrith, while

Matt Burton has shown glimpses of brilliance for Canterbury and Xavier Coates has fit straight into the Melbourne Storm system following his departure from Brisbane.