Also, a couple of articles from Sporting News,
Wayne Bennett admits almost half the South Sydney Rabbitohs side are less than 100% ahead of Preliminary Final
South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has stunningly admitted that almost half his team are less than 100% fit ahead of Friday night's
preliminary final against the Canberra Raiders.
After news broke on Thursday afternoon that
James Roberts would be out with a thumb injury, Bennett spoke to the media about the fitness of the rest of his squad.
And when asked how many of his players were fully fit for the Raiders clash, his answer was very surprising.
"Probably 10," he said.
“Those guys can all play, it’s just that time of the year. You look at the other clubs and they have all the same problems, but they’re all manageable.
"We wouldn’t play them if they weren’t fit enough to play, but they are carrying injuries certain guys yes.
“At times we have played with 40% of our salary cap this year so it has been remarkable what they have done. It’s a credit to them."
The Rabbitohs have been dogged by injuries and suspensions throughout all of 2019 - headlined by the
loss of legendary centre Greg Inglis after just two rounds.
And one man who has emerged from the shadows and into the starting side is 24-year old
front-rower Liam Knight, who Bennett was full of praise for on Thursday.
“He’s been
really good for us Liam, I love working with him," he said.
"I saw him play here last year and that’s what attracted me to him, I’m pleased he came to the Rabbitohs and he was confident enough that we could help him.
"There was interest from Penrith at that stage, but he took the punt on me and the club and it’s worked out great for all of us.
The Rabbitohs will enter a hostile GIO Stadium on Friday night that is officially sold-out, and will face an uphill task against an
in-form Green Machine.
Damien Cook reveals Wayne Bennett's strategy behind Rabbitohs players driving to Canberra for Raiders showdown
Having coached seven premierships, Wayne Bennett knows a thing or two about preparation during finals time, and the supercoach was up to his usual tricks this week ahead of his side's preliminary battle against the Raiders.
Star Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook has revealed how Bennett had his players drive themselves down to the nation's capital 48 hours prior to Friday's kick-off, rather than the traditional bus or flight down.
It's a strategy Bennett has adopted before, and one he used back in round 10 when the Rabbitohs traveled to face the Raiders in Canberra and claimed the two points.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Racing's
Big Sports Breakfast on Thursday, Cook says the pre-game tactic has been crucial in helping the side relax ahead of what's sure to be a hostile atmosphere at GIO Stadium.
"We get our own way to ANZ Stadium and we did it last time we came to Canberra," Cook told
Big Sports Breakfast.
"Wayne says he doesn't like the bus so you get your own way down there. I don't mind it, everyone's pretty relaxed, you don't have to get there on a set time and get the bus together.
"I jumped in the car with AJ (Alex Johnston). We got down here pretty quick yesterday afternoon.
"(It's) good to get down here early and have a night here and wake up ready to go for training."
Unlike the other three side's who have made it to the grand final qualifying stage, South Sydney have seemingly limped their way to Friday's final with a heavy loss to the Roosters in week one, and slim win over Manly last weekend.
There's a theory circulating that Bennett's side are too battered and bruised to do any damage from this point in, with a number of niggling injuries affecting key players.
Despite struggling himself in the post-Origin phase of the season, Cook refuted these suggestions and is confident Souths aren't far off from discovering another gear against the Green Machine.
"If you asked me before the Brisbane game, personally I had a couple of tough weeks where I was feeling tired and a bit run down," Cook said.
"To be honest, I was talking to Wayne during the week and personally, my energy has come back.
"Since we got Tom and George back, they've got some minutes under their belt, Sam's back as well two weeks in a row which is good for us, it's rare for him this year to play two weeks in a row.
"I don't think we're looking busted, I know we've got some injuries around with Jimmy the Jet and certain boys playing different positions.
"We've had to play in different positions throughout the year and we've got the job done.
"I think we've had a lot of practice in bad situations which could be good for us in these finals games."
James Roberts has been officially ruled out of Friday's crunch clash, with the star centre failing to overcome in time from a thumb dislocation,
according to The Daily Telegraph.
It will force a backline reshuffle with winger Campbell Graham likely to shift onto Roberts' edge with Corey Allan placed on the wing.
