‘We’ve still got a lot of belief’: Rabbitohs haven’t given up on finals as they prepare for brutal run home

They set an unwanted record last year when they slid down the ladder to miss the finals, and the Rabbitohs will need to flip the script if they are to sneak into the top eight.

Rabbitohs veteran Damien Cook remains confident his side can still fight its way into the top eight by the end of the season despite dropping down to 15th spot after their five-game winning streak was snapped last week.

Finals seemed impossible halfway through the season after Souths won just one of their opening 10 matches and coach Jason Demetriou was sacked on the back of their disastrous capitulation last year when they missed the finals.

But the return of Latrell Mitchell and other key players sparked a stunning turnaround for the Rabbitohs who found their defensive resolve and won five on the trot to close in on the top eight, only to slip four points behind after their loss to the Dolphins.

The Rabbitohs are now four points outside the top eight following their loss to the Dolphins. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

A foot injury to Mitchell will make it tough for them to surge up the ladder, with the Rabbitohs realistically needing to win seven of their remaining eight matches to qualify for the finals.

They still have to face the top four teams, but they do have four very winnable games, including two against the bottom-placed Wests Tigers who they play in Gosford on Saturday.

“We definitely believe we still can (make the finals),” Cook said, with the Rabbitohs out of byes for this season.

“I feel like there are a lot of teams above us that play each other, which is good, and hopefully some results go our way.

“We’ve just got to keep winning games. We’ve got some big games at the end of the year, so we’re going to try to break it up into a couple of blocks and attack this week and keep ticking off those wins.

“The start we had to the year is going to make it tough, but we’ve still got a lot of belief.”

The highly promising Tallis Duncan has been getting some good minutes for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The injury to Mitchell exposed their goalkicking struggles, but at least they know they can rely on Jye Gray at fullback after he continued to show that his lack of height won’t stop him from making it in the NRL.

Gray has worked closely with Mitchell, with the pint-sized fullback grabbing a penalty try in last week’s loss in Queensland.

“He’s been helping me ever since I debuted earlier in the year,” he said, with hopes Mitchell will be back next month.

“He couldn’t have done more to help me out. He’s always there when I have something to ask and he’s willing to answer and help as much as he can.

“Obviously, I’ve got big boots to fill, but I’m just trying to do a job for the team. I’m loving every minute.”