South Sydney verging on crisis, as Rabbitohs unable to rediscover their premiership-winning hunger

GREG Inglis is wounded. Sam Burgess isn’t himself. They miss Dylan Walker’s speed. But South Sydney are missing their attitude even more, writes BUZZ ROTHFIELD.

GREG Inglis is playing wounded, looks unhappy, and has virtually no lateral movement. Sam Burgess hasn’t been the same since his neck injury scare at the SCG a month ago.

The twins George and Tom can’t hold onto the football. They miss the creative skill of Issac Luke from dummy half. They miss Dylan Walker’s speed and spark out wide. They miss John Sutton and need him back ASAP.

All the above is stating is stating the obvious.

What the loss to the Cowboys on Friday night really showed is that the Rabbitohs are missing attitude more than anything else.

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Turn the clock back 20 months to the 2014 finals series.

Watch a video replay of their demolition of the Sydney Roosters in the grand final qualifier in one of the most brutal and dominant performances from a pack of forwards in the modern era.

They absolutely smashed the Roosters and were hitting as hard in the 75th minute as they were at the start. Admittedly they are missing the enforcer Ben Te’o from that finals pack.

But they are missing that attitude even more. That hunger, that determination and that incredible resolve that marked their premiership triumph

The performance against the Cowboys was on Friday night was soft and lazy. At times it was almost like they gave up, such was the ease of some of the Cowboys tries.

Their defenders either misread the Cowboys plays or refused to put their bodies on the line.

Any coach will tell you that defence is all about attitude because players know how to tackle by the time they reach NRL level.

The statistics back up what we’re saying.

In 2014 the Rabbitohs conceded an average of 1270 run metres per game. This year they are conceding more than 1500 per game. Their missed tackle average is up from 19 to 24.

In attack they are actually making less errors than 2014. They also have a better completion rate than the year they won the grand final. It’s the proof the slump they are in is all about defence, or lack of.

Sam Burgess couldn’t hide the disappointment after the Cowboys thumping.

Rumours continue to emerge out of Redfern suggesting coach Michael Maguire has lost the dressing room. Your columnist has been hearing this off and on since midway through last year.

I have no proof this is the case although I did hear a rival coach was approached about the job before the start of the season.

What we do know is the Maguire is a demanding in-your-face coach. Players are still talking about one of his more recent halftime dressing room sprays.

He has been at the Rabbitohs since 2012. This is his fifth season. Pressure is building every week and they’ve got the Broncos this week.

Unless he can fix the attitude, the defence and the lack of effort, you can guarantee the Rabbitohs will soon be looking at other coaching options.

Originally published as South Sydney verging on crisis, as Rabbitohs unable to rediscover their premiership-winning hunger