‘Not a Souths player within cooee’: Damning vision exposes Rabbitohs’ biggest problem
Damning footage from during South Sydney’s abysmal loss last weekend has been pointed out as a reflection of the culture within the club.
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Damning footage from during South Sydney’s abysmal loss to the Warriors last weekend has been pointed out as a reflection of the culture within the club.
The Warriors were ahead in the 48th minute when Te Maire Martin made a break on halfway and put Shaun Johnson over to score for a 24-4 lead.
The problem - and tough viewing for Rabbitohs supporters - was the ease in which Martin found a support runner, with options on his left and right.
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By the time Johnson received the ball from Martin about 15 metres from the line, there was barely a Souths defender still in the camera frame.
The poor defensive effort was played on NRL 360 on Monday night with the panel debating how long before Souths’ embattled coach Jason Demetriou is sacked.
“We saw this try where Nicoll-Klokstad makes a break, he’s got a Warrior on the left, he’s got a Warrior on the right, he gives it to Shaun Johnson and there’s not a South Sydney player within cooee of him,” Paul Kent said.
“Where are the Souths players?
“There’s more Warriors jerseys in those frames than there are Rabbitohs jerseys and your effort off the ball goes into the culture and the mood within your club and that’s telling with what’s wrong with Souths.”
NRL great Gorden Tallis said the players must also take responsibility for the club’s struggles.
“Sometimes the players need to pack that. The coach always gets blamed and we’ve all been in that situation but on Saturday you pack your attitude,” Tallis said.
“That’s not something from training, chasing back in defence, that’s something in your own DNA.”
The Rabbitohs have lost 15 of 20 games since Round 11 last season when they sat on top of the ladder and Demetrio will be axed if they lose to Cronulla this Saturday.
“Gordie, you seem to think we’re jumping after five weeks of the competition, we’re jumping on 20 weeks of complete failure,” Phil Rothfield said to Tallis.
Originally published as ‘Not a Souths player within cooee’: Damning vision exposes Rabbitohs’ biggest problem
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