As Sydneysiders begin searching for their beanies and scarves, Souths have gone missing, slumping to a flurry of losses in crucial games. And after the loss to Brisbane in late June one could have been forgiven for thinking that a heavy mid-winter fog might yet again descend on Redfern Oval. But this 2012 team is a different type of team. In fact, this team has been anything but cold in July. Five wins from five games sees Souths’ supporters donning their beanies and scarves to queue up for Grand Final tickets. Both critics and supporters are sensing something special about this team.
Rabbitohs 38 – Panthers 12
In early July Souths notched their second dominant victory this year over a troubled Panthers team. After again relinquishing a 12-point lead, Souths took over in the second half to run away with the game. Dave Taylor, overlooked for the final State of Origin game, displayed both power and skill, setting up tries on the right-hand side and scoring himself off the ever-improving Adam Reynolds. Dylan Farrell announced a return to form showcasing grit and talent to contest a bomb and then deliver a sublime flick pass for Merritt to score his first of two tries.
Rabbitohs 34 – Knights 14
Taylor was again dominant the following week, his bulk and passing skills consistently causing enormous concern to the Knights’ right-side defence and resulting in multiple breaks and a neat try for Farrell. Adam Reynolds has been an enormous reason why Souths have done so well this year. Again he demonstrated his ability to think quickly and adapt under pressure with his beautifully guided cross kick for Everingham to score. But it was up the middle where the game was won, with Souths’ forwards overpowering the Knights pack, Crocker, Clark and Luke combining to score and McQueen and Sam Burgess also impressing.
There were disappointments. First of all, while clearly dominant, Souths failed to trouble the scorers in the last 20 minutes, thereby missing an opportunity to notch 40 or 50 points and improve their points differential. Secondly, a frailty in our left-side defence was exposed with Matt King particularly appearing to struggle with poor defensive reads.
Roosters 22 – Rabbitohs 24
Seventy-eight minutes of this game were quite forgettable but the last two minutes will be remembered forever by Souths supporters. Trailing by 10 points with exactly two minutes to go the Rabbitohs conjured up a freakish victory over their arch enemies with two very late tries, the last a remarkable team try from the kick-off. After squandering possession for most of the game, Souths switched into gear when all seemed lost with Reynolds sending fans and players into delirium as he scooped up Isaac Luke’s pass to score.
Rabbitohs 36 – Dragons 14
In the lead-up to the next game against St George-Illawarra, many commentators questioned whether Souths would “back up” from their much-celebrated Monday night victory. The Dragons, after all, were clinging to final-eight hopes and desperate to win. However, the new Souths put on the sort of follow-on performance that has evaded them for many years, dominating in both backs and forwards for a comfortable victory. Sadly, Souths’ solid performance was overshadowed by the ensuing controversy around the Inglis tackle on Dean Young and a week of debate over the future of the shoulder charge.
Nonetheless, it was an impressive victory, with Souths in control of the match throughout, led by an assertive Johnny Sutton and three tries to local hero Nathan Merritt.
Souths 32 – Tigers 6
And in the last days of July Souths ensured they stayed well and truly in the premiership race, moving to outright second with a comprehensive victory over the Tigers. The team was focussed and convincing in attack and defence with Sutton once again impressive, supported well by Peats, Clark and Merritt.
So it is now the time to begin thinking about taking off the beanies and scarves in readiness for the coming of the finals. And although perhaps a little inflated by adrenalin and beer, if the celebrations at the Captain Cook Hotel after the Roosters game are any indication, there is an undeniable groundswell of support and a growing belief that this could indeed be Souths’ year.
