South Sydney prepare for stern tests with intrigue swirling around them

Over the coming fortnight, South Sydney face Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm, arguably the two toughest games of the season.

South Sydney players Adam Reynolds, left, and Cody Walker training with the Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval on Monday. Picture: Adam Yip

Where to start. Just for a change, how about with the football. Over the coming fortnight, South Sydney face the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm, arguably the two toughest games in the rugby league season.

The Rabbitohs split their two matches before the season went into hibernation and it would be no surprise if they walked away from games against the Roosters and the Storm with a pair of wins.

At the same time, it would be no shock to see them suffer successive defeats and head into Round 5 against yet-to-be-named opponents with just one victory under their belt, particularly when you consider their preparation for the season return could scarcely have been more disrupted.

Coach Wayne Bennett mastered the art of circling the wagons some years ago and he will need to be at his best to have his side prepared for the Roosters in little more than a week.

Few sides have endured as much tumult during the COVID-19 crisis as the Rabbitohs, the upheaval starting when they lost their long-time head of football Shane Richardson after he decided his time at the club had come to an end.

At the same time, Souths players have been magnets for controversy — sometimes the attention has been justified, at other times it has been overblown. But it has been a constant companion nonetheless and it means they head into Round 3 with question marks over at least two of their strike weapons.

Latrell Mitchell has been fined and threatened with suspension by the NRL, leaving his teammates to defend his frame of mind as well as his move to fullback.

James Roberts has been undergoing rehabilitation for the personal demons that have plagued his career — remarkably, it appears he may take his place against the Roosters.

Five-eighth Cody Walker is being investigated by the NRL integrity unit and NSW police over an incident on the state’s far north coast, in which he landed a karate kick on an unnamed target during what can only be described as a bizarre street fight.

The incident was recorded on a phone and found its way into the public domain on Monday, having already prompted a police investigation into allegations that the person responsible had attempted to blackmail Walker. Police confirmed they were also looking into the incident itself, which occurred on December 1 last year — only a matter of weeks before Walker signed a contract extension with the Rabbitohs.

The NRL had no knowledge of the incident until Sunday. Senior Rabbitohs officials were also unaware of the incident before the weekend, although The Australian was told that Walker may have informed Bennett.

No complaint was made to Souths or the police. The incident was seemingly over before it began. The integrity unit wasn’t informed.

Apparently there was no need, although time has again proved that theory wrong. The integrity unit has already spoken to Walker and there was talk on Monday night that they may speak to Bennett as part of the investigation.

Bennett won’t be fazed by that prospect.

The timing adds to the intrigue. Walker was in the midst of contract negotiations with Souths in December. Bennett had gone public with his desire to keep the NSW pivot. Richardson was less convinced and had placed a deadline on the Rabbitohs’ offer.

Richardson was quoted on the prospect of Walker re-signing three days after the incident took place in Casino, apparently with no knowledge of what had happened only days before when the Rabbitohs five-eighth decided to launch a flying foot into the chest of an opponent.

Walker duly signed a new deal with the Rabbitohs in mid-December and remains a key member of their starting side — at one point he was viewed as a potential captain before Bennett opted for Adam Reynolds. Yet he could be missing for the game against the Roosters depending on the outcome of integrity unit inquiries.

In the background, Bennett’s own future lurks. He has one year remaining on his deal, the decision already made that he will make way for assistant Jason Demetriou in 2021. Reports emerged in recent days that Bennett was slowly being distanced from player negotiations in preparation for his exit. Every loss will only fuel talk that he could leave ahead of time should another opportunity arise to continue his coaching career beyond 2021.