They've had injuries, and suspensions to key players at varying times during the year. Both Sam and Luke Burgess have had long stints out, Roy Asotasi has been out for most of the season, Inglis has missed 5 games to origin and suspension, Luke has missed 4 games to suspension.
Yet they've continued to win.
Every team has injuries to be honest. Canterbury have lost two halfbacks this season (Hodkinson early on, Keating for the last fortnight), yet have kept themselves in pole position. Plus Kasiano has missed a few weeks as well.
I think the comparison with the dogs is unfair when one considers at what time the dogs have played the other top 4 sides they've defeated.
In round 20 they beat a Manly side without Brett Stewart.
In round 16 they beat a Melbourne side without Billy Slater.
This weekend is the first time they play brisbane, who have just been beaten by Canberra and Parramatta.
Now this isn't to take away from the Dogs form. They've been great no doubt, for the majority of the season. More importantly, they've improved out of sight. They've also had really solid wins against inform Cowboys, Dragons, warriors and Tigers at important intervals. But so have souths.
You play what's in front of you - fact. The Bulldogs have got stuck in when it's mattered and defeated the teams they've played. Manly were practically full strength bar Stewart if I recall correctly in R20. The Dogs also had only 15 men available by the 20th minute. Souths have been similar but I'd argue they've had far lower quality opposition to overcome in the last month or two.
For reference though, let me illustrate the last six weeks for each side (not including last night):
Bulldogs
def Storm (1st) 20-4
BYE
def Tigers (8th) 32-20
def Eels (16th) 32-12
def Manly (5th) 20-12
def Cowboys (4th) 32-18
def Knights (9th) 26-10
Souths
lost to Brisbane (3rd) 26-12
def Penrith (15th) 38-12
def Knights (12th) 34-14
def Roosters (12th) 24-22
def Dragons (10th) 36-14
def Tigers (8th) 32-6
def Titans (8th) 22-18
The two games between the dogs and souths were both high quality games, and the reality was there was a trounce of luck between the two sides in both. But some of the games they've lost. Against Newcastle, against the Gold Coast, those are games that make you wonder if the dogs can really show up on the day against a team ready to play.
The same can be said for every team in the league. The losses you've referenced happened in Rounds 4 and 10, by the way.
Souths' losses have come against the roosters (round one- should never have lost that game), Melbourne (round two, who went on to win 10 straight), brisbane (round 4- in perth 2nd game against an opposition who won the next 6 straight), Warriors (in NZ with a severely depleted forward pack) Bulldogs (see above) and brisbane a second time (without Burgess and King, most importantly, against a mountain of possession against Brisbane side only missing Hannant).
This is what I don't get. "The Bulldogs losses make you wonder" but Souths losses all have excuses...
Both teams could be found out come finals time. That's what it comes down to, whether they both life.
Another stat I might point out, wins against top four sides:
Souths v Manly, Melbourne and Canterbury: 1/4
Bulldogs v Souths, Manly and Melbourne: 3/6
