From the Daily Telegraph,
Matty Johns: Bunnies cannot make grand final in cruise control
The Rabbitohs have been masters of quick ascendancy against a lot of their rivals this season and then just strolling to the line. But Matty Johns asks will that style hold up come finals?
Matty Johns
Some of Souths Sydney’s recent performances have resembled a nice Sunday drive … I write that with both praise and criticism.
Since
Latrell Mitchell’s returned, the Bunnies have suddenly found confidence and they’ve found their successful formula.
Cam Murray’s quick feet and intelligence in the middle part of sets which then gives Latrell, Damien Cook and Cody Walker time, space and opportunity on tackles four, five and six.
Souths have their favourite set sequence which ends in a string of pass options blocks to the left, but the real damage is caused when they simply get on a roll and centralise their attack with short passes and fast feet rather than pushing possession toward the sidelines.
The Rabbitohs must avoid standing back and watching gun fullback Latrell Mitchell play one-out. Picture: Getty Images
When the Bunnies’ intensity is high they look every bit capable of winning this competition.
But they’re getting into dangerous territory. They’re toying with their opposition too often.
They’re like the boxer who knows, after the opening exchanges, that he has his opponent’s measure, but carries him 10 rounds just because he can.
The Bunnies take control of a match and from there only look for the accelerator when they need to.
A few performances come to mind. The Bunnies fooled around with the Knights, they started slow, got themselves in front and then cruised to the siren in a night devoid of defensive attitude, 40-28.
Against the Dogs they found themselves down 28-22 with ten to go, and it was then that they hit go and scored two tries inside five minutes to win 36-28.
In their strong 24-12 victory over Melbourne there was a definite lift in attitude, they led 10-6 at halftime, shortly after got to 24-6, and controlled the rest of the match comfortably.
The thing with intensity and composure under pressure is that it’s not something you simply reach for when you need it, it needs to be practised. It’s like a muscle, it needs to be exercised often, or bit by bit it disappears.
That principle showed itself in their loss to the Sharks.
Latrell Mitchell is a genius but the Bunnies must not be one trick ponies.
In Golden Point the Bunnies had numerous opportunities to win the game but just couldn’t find the composure. I thought it was a valuable lesson learned.
Last Sunday afternoon against the Warriors, on a dry, fast surface I expected a big statement from Souths, and in the first half they delivered it.
The intent was there, as was their successful blueprint. They led 24-0 after only twenty minutes, and 36-6 at halftime. I thought a 70 point score was coming. But in the second half the intensity totally disappeared.
I get that the game was already won and all that, but this is bad practice.
In the second half the cameras captured the Bunnies coaches’ box laughing, and clearly enjoying themselves. There’s nothing wrong with that, I love coaches showing emotions in different forms but I see it as a representation of where Souths are at.
Souths are a brilliant attacking team but they’re putting too much trust in their talent.
Players like Latrell Mitchell are the icing on the cake. When you start to rely too much on their talents, you’re in trouble.
Souths to me look like a team in a comfort zone, and they need to surge out of it fast.
Friday night is a hugely important game for both Souths and Parramatta, both fighting for a top 4 spot.
Parramatta have been so impressive in the last two weeks. Their victory over Manly at 4 Pines Park was a beauty and they did it without their most crucial player Mitchell Moses. Souths have had the wood on Parramatta over the last few seasons. Parramatta’s rushing outside-in style edge defence really suits the Souths sweep option shapes.
The Eels can’t rush in blindly as they often do, otherwise the Bunnies will peel them short all night.
Friday night I’m going for a Souths victory on the back of the rise and rise of Latrell, but I want to see the Bunnies pour as much energy into their defence as they do their attack.
