South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou fuming at selfish players after loss to Broncos

An unexpected loss to the Broncos earned South Sydney players a bake from their coach.

Suoth Sydney was humbled by the Brisbane Broncos. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou lashed his lacklustre players for playing like individuals in Thursday’s upset loss to the Brisbane Broncos.

Demetriou called out a lack of commitment from his men as the key reason behind the Rabbitohs’ 32-12 loss at Accor Stadium as they were overwhelmed by former star halfback Adam Reynolds.

The South Sydney coach didn’t bother sugar-coating his team’s performance after they slumped to their fifth loss of the year.

Last year’s runners-up were out-enthused, out-thought and eventually overpowered by the Reynolds-led Broncos, suffering their heaviest defeat of an up and down season.

“I just don‘t think we were really here to win the game,” a disappointed Demetriou said.

“We didn’t want to dive on loose balls or commit ourselves to catches and started doing things individually rather than sticking to what works for us.

“Our effort areas were pretty poor.”

Selwyn Cobbo of the Broncos runs away from chasing South Sydney players Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Reynolds starred as Broncos captain and in first match against his club of 10 years, but Demetriou said he was allowed to play well.

“He was as good as he had to be. He got to kick the ball on the front foot all the time…we didn’t put a lot of pressure on him.

“We gifted them 18 points not defending kicks or (giving up) an intercept try.

“I thought we were quite disjointed at times and lacked a little punch.”

Rabbitohs skipper Cam Murray said of Reynolds: “He was always going to be up for it against his old club and we just didn‘t have any answers.”

Adam Reynolds starred against his old team (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Souths could finish round nine outside the top eight, while the Broncos are now into sixth on the back of three straight wins.

Reynolds, who was let go by Souths when they only offered the veteran one-year extensions, said he was “glad” the clash against his old team, and the whole week leading in to, was over.

“I am glad the week is over,” Reynolds said.

“I am sick of seeing my head in the headlines and my name in the stories.

“The fact we’re getting better as a team is more important than my own performance. I’m just excited about what we’ve been building.”