Calls for Souths’ ‘rebuild’ as Young recruitment blunder revealed

The Rabbitohs have come under fire for failing to secure the services of a high-flyer amid calls for a rebuild of their roster.

Cody Walker, Jason Demetriou and Dom Young.

The Rabbitohs have come under fire for failing to secure the services of Roosters recruit Dom Young amid calls for a rebuild of the club’s roster.

Jason Demetriou’s side has slumped to and 0-3 start to the season with Souths’ lack of speed and firepower in the forwards a glaring problem in the opening rounds.

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“This is the big story of the NRL at the moment, the poor form of the South Sydney Rabbitohs,” NRL360 host Braith Anasta said.

“The coach is still confident that he can get this team back this year, but the start has been very ordinary to say the least. What is going on at the Bunnies?”

NRL legend Gorden Tallis believes Souths are struggling to meet fire with fire in their pack.

“It’s really been a tough start,” Tallis said.

“He just said the right things. They’ve got to train hard and turn it around, but I believe their forward pack doesn’t have the punch in them and they’re playing off the back foot.

“They haven’t beat anybody up since Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o left and that’s my opinion.

“I don’t think that their pack dominates. I think they play off the back foot.”

However, Paul Kent believes Souths biggest issue is their lack of strike in the backs.

“And they’re slow out wide,” Kent said.

Jason Demetriou is under pressure.

“Alex Johnston’s not slow. Alex Johnston could beat the rest of them wearing thongs.

“But the rest are slow, trust me. Adam Reynolds, who two years ago they said was busted and got out of there, ran down Cody Walker the other day.”

Anasta believes Souths are not getting the basics right and need to show more commitment.

“That’s what worries me. They’re lacking energy. They’re lacking enthusiasm. They’re lacking intent,” Anasta said.

“They’re the simple things really that create successful rugby league teams, but they’re the basics.

“You talk about a lack of confidence. They’ve got a lack of confidence at the moment, which therefore all of them have got doubt in their mind, which causes hesitation.”

Kent believes Souths are in need of a roster overhaul, which sparked debate about the squad they have assembled.

“I think the signs started to come last year,” he said.

“No one really identified it, but I think the way they’ve gone this year, they are getting beaten up through the middle, so they had some authority in there.

“They can’t rebuild,” Anasta said.

“They’ve got representative players all through their forward pack,” Hooper said.

Cameron Murray is a superstar. Jai Arrow plays for Queensland. Keaon Koloamatangi played for New South Wales. Tom Burgess plays for England.

“And they’ve just re-signed Cook, Walker and Latrell on big deals, so where’s the money to rebuild?” Anasta asked.

“Perhaps where they’ve erred is that they’ve pushed all in big money on those three key position players, and at the moment, they’re not getting value for money,” Hooper said.

Anasta revealed Souths had Dom Young signed before he eventually switched to the Roosters due to club infighting.

“You talk about speed, and you’ve mentioned it a few times, a lack of speed. Now, they had a chance to get Dom Young and Addo-Carr and missed out,” Anasta said.

Kent revealed that Sam Burgess delivered fellow Englishmen Young to Souths, but they blew the deal.

Dominic Young was set to sign with Souths.

“Well hello, Dom Young was delivered on a plate last year by Sam Burgess,” Kent said.

“Ready to go. All done. Agreed. And because of the infighting at the club, which they still deny actually happens.

“But then Dom Young was knocked back by the coaching staff, didn’t go there. He’s gone to the Roosters, kicks on.

“And the fact that they are so light on speed, and they’ve knocked back a guy like this who honestly, they couldn’t get near him on the weekend.

“It just shows it makes you wonder about the decisions that are being made within the club.

“Addo-Carr flirted around the club a few years back before he went to Canterbury.

“He was willing to go there, wanted to go there and for whatever reason, the club said no. “Again, another absolute flyer. Another guy that you just give in the ball, and off he goes.

“And when you see that, to your point, the Broncos really exposed lack of speed that’s in South Sydney.”

Anasta was stunned the club passed on Young, which sparked a fiery debate.

“The glaring one is Dom Young because they had him,” Anasta said.

“He was there. He was over the line.”

“I think the coaching staff stepped in, because Sam had basically played a key pivotal role in making the introductions and everything, getting the deal done,” Hooper said.

Originally published as Calls for Souths’ ‘rebuild’ as Young recruitment blunder revealed