Get up, get moving, rise and shine, put your colours on and wear them with pride all you South Sydney members and fans because another game day is upon us today. We take on one of our old rivals today for the first time this year, the St George Illawarra Dragons, out there at Kograh. One of our biggest, most traditional, most historic rivalries this one, a rivalry that stretches back just over 100 years to the days of the St George Dragons. In that time, there's been countless classics including Charity Shields, finals games, grand finals; You name it, this rivalry has had it. We are going to write a new chapter on this glorious Saturday afternoon. What will it bring this time? Who knows?
Jeez I've woken up fired up today!! Extremely pumped for this one, I'm just burning. Want this win so friggin bad! My blood is boiling for it! That's probably because a few weeks ago, we were all looking at this as an easy win, but with recent injury events, that certainly is not the case now. That's what's got me so fired up I think. We might be playing the team running 17th, but it's a genuine contest for us now, a genuine challenge that is not going to be easy to overcome. For that reason, I'm also extremely nervous already today and I'm sure those nerves will build as the day goes on.
It's been a very indifferent year for the Dragons so far in 2023. They've looked beyond terrible at times which lead to the sacking of their coach. However, since then, they've actually started to look a lot better to the point where I'd almost say they're actually in some good form and they're playing some good Footy. That's what really worries me today. They've found form, good form, right at the exact same time that we've been decimated by injury. This is not going to be easy today at all for our lads, the Dragons will see this as a huge opportunity to get one over us, they'll smell blood and will be extremely determined to get it done. We have seen the kind of performances they've been putting on in recent weeks and I expect them to be even better this afternoon. Make no mistake, this is now a very tough game. They're not the greatest team defensively, but I think they're pretty decent with the ball in hand and with outside backs such as Sloan, Lomax, Suli etc. you can see why. Throw in a great halves pairing led by Ben Hunt (who is probably their key man to shut down, he does everything), and a really good forward pack with the likes of Lawrie, Su'A and the Molo brothers, you can see there's plenty of strike there and I think their roster is much better than what their ladder position suggests.
For us, as I said earlier this has gone from probably an easy win to a huge, huge contest. Our chips our down, our backs are against the wall, and it seems a lot of stuff is against us, but you know what? We are South Sydney. We are the mighty friggin Rabbitohs!! This is the kind of environment we should thrive in and draw inspiration from. And that's what the boys have to do today. It's all about how we respond. Yea, we're missing a lot of firepower, but this afternoon is not about who we're missing, it's about who's there wearing that Red and Green jersey with pride and passion. The next man up mentality has been very strong this year and it has to be at its strongest today if we are to get this result. Today is all about the mental side of things. If we go out there, switched on, fired up and ready to play, well then, I think we're in with a real chance. Get in between the ears right, get our game right, play that Rabbitohs Footy and we will be well and truly in this. It all starts with the defence. That second half last week is our standard, the standard we set in the first 11 weeks and that has to continue today. We're missing some attacking weapons so the defence is crucial, extremely crucial. Defend like your lives are on the line lads. If we can get that right, it will go a long way. We also can't be gifting them opportunities. This means being disciplined on both sides of the ball. We have to be near perfect but if we can do that, we still have enough firepower to get this game done. We still have captain Cook, we still have Stretch, we still have Tassy and AJ, we still have Lachy, we still have a very good forward pack with the likes of Sele, Junior, Keaon in it. We can bloody well do this man!! I'm telling ya we can!
It's a big game for our senior players in particular today. We really need big games out of Cooky, Stretch and guys like Keaon, Hame and Junior. It's also a huge moment for Lachy. For probably the first time in his career, this becomes 'his' team. I am expecting him to lead from the front today and I will back him in. I think the key to winning this one is the forward battle. If we can get over them there, which we still have the pack to do so, it will make things easier. That's crucial today, as is shutting down Ben Hunt as he's their main general.
So let's go. Let's freaking goooooo today!!! We can do this! I've got to say, I am very nervous but I just have this faith in the boys for this one that we can get this done. Stand up and be counted boys! Go and friggin get them. Let's gooooooo!!!!
Enjoy your game day everyone!
Glory, Glory.
