Looks like Cam Murray, kicks like Adam Reynolds: Souths hail matchwinner Humphreys
Isn’t Jamie Humphreys turning out to be quite the buy for South Sydney?
Humphreys was never supposed to wear the Souths No. 7 jersey, having been signed as a handy, bulked-up back-up halfback for Englishman Lewis Dodd, but he emerged the hero on a warm and hazy afternoon in Wollongong.
This game between Souths and St George Illawarra was like watching two heavyweights out on their feet, trying to deliver the knockout blow.
And it was Humphreys who caught a stinker of a pass from Siliva Havili, then nailed the winning field goal from 30 metres out with four minutes remaining.
Coach Wayne Bennett poked fun of captain Cody Walker, who was sitting beside him at the post-match press conference following the 25-24 win, and said: “I’m sure Cody didn’t want to do it.
“The good part about it was there wasn’t much thought to it, there wasn’t much process to it. [Humphreys] just backed himself; he just whacked it over.”
Jamie Humphreys celebrates after his late field goal gave Souths the two points.Credit: Getty Images
Walker watched a pass sail over his head, Havili scooped up the loose ball, then threw a shocker about three metres behind Humphreys. It was hardly vintage football.
Walker said he felt compelled to ask Humphreys afterwards, “’Were you even thinking about the field-goal?”
“He said, ‘Yeah’, and just nailed it.”
Humphreys was at Manly before being snapped up by Souths for around $150,000 a season to be their insurance policy if there were injuries to the halves or dummy-half. The jersey is his to lose now.
Souths lost Jai Arrow midway through the second half when he failed a second HIA. Then Tallis Duncan went down with a hamstring injury. Keaon Koloamatangi was stretching out a cramp just after half-time.
Kyle Flanagan puts the Dragons ahead in the first half.Credit: Getty Images
But they fought back from 24-12 down through tries to Walker and Sean Keppie – the big prop was one of the best late in the game – before Humphreys stepped up.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was furious with his side’s performance, especially when nobody wearing the Red V bothered to challenge Humphreys as he kicked the matchwinner.
“Even their field-goal, the ball hit the ground twice, he [Humphreys] gets it and goes, ‘I might as well have a shot here’, and we had no pressure on him,” Flanagan said.
“Sometimes it’s mind over matter, and you just need to get there and get it done. Everyone is fatigued and tired, but it’s the people who can do it once you’re fatigued, they’re the classy NRL players. We didn’t have any of them today.
“We could have knocked them out when we led by 12, we could have knocked them out with a bit of effort and energy – we couldn’t find it, and they found it.”
Nobody expected Souths to be 2-0, especially after they lost superstar talent like Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray in the pre-season. Jack Wighton was also missing because of suspension.
Never doubt the mastery of Wayne.
Aside from Humphreys, whose impressive physique and hairstyle makes him look like captain Murray’s younger twin, fullback Jye Gray was just as impressive. He saved a try on Christian Tuipolotu, and chalked up close to 30 carries. That is truly amazing stuff, especially in the heat.
Bennett said he loved coaching him. Flanagan said Gray displayed the effort and energy his players lacked.
Souths head to the Shire for Cronulla next weekend, while the Dragons have the bye before hosting the Storm.
“You wouldn’t want to be one of my players the next 10 or 12 days – it won’t be pretty,” Flanagan said.
Certainly not as pretty as Humphreys’ field goal.
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