‘Devoid of leadership’: Cameron Murray’s captaincy questioned in Souths debate

Questions have been raised over the Rabbitohs’ leadership amid reports Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker are getting preferential treatment.

Questions have been asked about Souths leadership. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Questions have been raised over the Rabbitohs’ leadership — or lack thereof — amid reports star duo Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker are getting preferential treatment by coach Jason Demetriou.

It was reported this week that some at South Sydney, including assistant coaches Sam Burgess and John Morris, are concerned that Demetriou is not tough enough on Mitchell and Walker.

It has since blown up with reports the club is set to sever ties with Burgess and Morris effective immediately.

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However, the blowtorch has now been put on the playing group and the leadership style of captain Cameron Murray.

“I believe that they are devoid of leadership within the playing group,” News Corp journalist Dave Riccio told NRL 360.

“I’m a massive fan of Cam Murray but he is in his second season of his captaincy and the difference between (premiership-winning captain) Sam Burgess and Cam Murray is Sam used to (say) ‘come on boys I’ll drag you with me’.

“Cam Murray is not that emotive style of player and I look at that Rabbitohs dressing room and I don’t see leadership. I see a rookie leader.”

Cam Murray leads from the front. Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images

However NRL 360 host Braith Anasta was quick to interject, saying “I disagree.”

“Cam Murray has led that team for a long time through his actions and the last few weeks he hasn’t — why? There is something wrong there,” Anasta added.

“He is a class player, he is the most reliable player, he was one of the best players for New South Wales. He jumps out of that and comes back into the South Sydney system and all of a sudden he’s not a leader?”

Riccio responded with: “Not all great players make great captains.”

But Anasta believes there’s a “bigger problem” at the Rabbitohs that is impacting Murray.

“I’ve just explained that he is a leader and the reason he’s not doing his job at the moment is because there’s a bigger problem there and even he can’t contain it — and he’s an experienced player and one of the consistent players in the game,” he said.

“If he’s not the leader, who is?”

“That’s my problem. I struggle to find an out-and-out person in the dressing room that pulls Latrell into line,” Riccio answered.

News Corp’s Paul Crawley weighed in on the debate and pointed out that Murray was thrust into the captaincy role — perhaps even prematurely — because the Rabbitohs allowed former skipper Adam Reynolds to leave.

“You could go through the entire NRL playing group and there is not a bigger personality than Latrell Mitchell,” he said.

“Cameron Murray is a leader — he’s an inspiring leader. But at the moment they’re not following.

“The question is why aren’t they following? Why has this caused a friction between Jason Demetriou and Sam Burgess and John Morris? That’s the bigger picture here.

“It’s not that you’ve got a young man that was thrown into the captaincy and let’s remember why that was too — because the club wasn’t prepared to give Adam Reynolds a new contract.

“That’s another layer in this whole conundrum.”

Sam Burgess and John Morris are set to be moved on immediately, according to reports. Picture: NRL Imagery.

Meanwhile, rugby league legend Gorden Tallis believes it’s up to the club to find the right players that are willing to follow their captain.

“Do you know what a leader is? Someone that people follow,” he said.

“So he’s playing and going as hard as he can — no one followed him. A leader is someone people follow and if they don’t follow you, what are you?

“What you normally do is get rid of the people that don’t follow, you’ve got to get the ones that tie in and get pulled along.”

Originally published as ‘Devoid of leadership’: Cameron Murray’s captaincy questioned in Souths debate