What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Rabbitohs' finals berth chase begins now, not at back end of season, says Burgess

Messages
14,937



Michael Chammas

March 28, 2012



Focus … Sam Burgess, centre, is hoping Souths can get back to the winner's circle. Photo: Steve Christo

SOUTH SYDNEY have fallen one win short of playing finals football in each of the past three years.
The Rabbitohs have gone into the final few rounds of each of those campaigns with a chance of sneaking into the top eight, even surrendering a position in the finals after dropping out of the top eight in 2010 to finish ninth after 26 rounds.
While their 1-3 start to this year isn't a true reflection of how well they've been playing under new coach Michael Maguire, their strong performances will count for very little if they are again left to rue close losses at the start of the year.
Advertisement: Story continues below
They lost five of their first seven games last season, but four wins on the trot between rounds 21-24 gave them a chance of snaring a top-eight berth. The Rabbitohs eventually went down in the final round to the Knights to hand Newcastle eighth position, but their season wasn't lost in round 26.
It's at this stage every year teams establish their spot in the finals.
Of the eight teams that featured in the play-offs last year, six of them were in the top eight after four rounds of the season.
Second-rower Sam Burgess knows just how important it is for his team to get back on the winner's board on Sunday against the struggling Wests Tigers, determined not to be fighting to save their season at the back end of the year.
''It would be so much easier at the end of the year when you don't have to win, knowing that you're comfortably in the four or eight,'' Burgess said.
''It's our aim. The most wins you can get first up, the more comfortable you are towards the back end of the year. We're looking to try to do that.''
South Sydney have been in match-winning positions in each of their three defeats this year.
They gave up an eight-point lead in the final three minutes against the Roosters, struggled to compete with the Storm in the final 20 minutes, and capitulated in the final third of the game against the Broncos in Perth last week.
It's something the Bunnies are aware of and a problem they believe is caused by a lack of attention to detail.
''When it does get to crunch time, especially around the 60-minute mark, that's where games are won and lost,'' Burgess said. ''We've just got to learn to ride the wave a bit better.''
Burgess's mother Julie is in Sydney and will be out at Allianz Stadium this Sunday.
While Sam is delighted his mother is in town, he's glad he won't be near her come kick-off.
''I used to go and watch my brothers play in England and sit with my mum,'' he said.
''It was quite painful at times. I'm glad I'm playing this time and not watching her be all nervous and jumping around.''



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ays-burgess-20120327-1vwlu.html#ixzz1qODt8ztm
 

pierced

Juniors
Messages
246
Well, were off to a cacker then. Geez i'm booking my grand final tickets. Bloody hell, Maguire thinks we need to play 80 mins and Burgess thinks we need to win games at the start of the season. Can South's cope with such a revolution in culture. Or is this just another bullshit article that means very little when we put 60 points on the tigers and they put 42 on us! With genius like this running the show Omfg the skies the limit!
 

Bundy Rabbit

Juniors
Messages
73
What a great idea! Where have we heard this before?
Talk is CHEAP................go and DO IT!

And not just for one game either.Another problem with this club is that when we win one game,all of a sudden we're looking good for the title!Don't work that way!You gotta do it CONSISTENTLY right through the entire season and that takes a massive amount of effort.
 
Last edited:
Top