Both had stellar years in the red and green. Reynolds, runaway winner of Rookie of the Year, was also the first Souths player to score over 200 points in a season since the great Eric Simms. Sutton’s season changed many people’s minds about him, as he courageously and consistently delivered high-quality performances throughout the season.
Souths’ and Reynolds’ fates were inextricably entwined. He’ll be remembered this year for his calmness and cleverness under pressure as he and others guided Souths into a top-four position. As it turned out, the link between Souths’ fortunes and Reynolds remained right up to the last game of the season, and ultimately it was his hamstring injury in the preliminary final against Canterbury that ended the dream of Souths making their first grand finagl since 1971.
As Reynolds limped off the field in the 26th minute, a quietness descended among supporters as they tried vainly to think of a way that Souths could win without him.
So as we enter into a long void known as the off-season, it is worth reflecting on the highlights of Souths’ best season since 1989.
Sutton and Reynolds aside, the team delivered for much of the season, winning the games that in previous seasons they inexplicably lost. And while there was still a propensity to go to sleep and leak points there was a newfound resoluteness and dare I say pride that has been missing in previous years. Greg Inglis was phenomenal at fullback, scaring teams with his aggressive kick returns, many times turning defence into attack as he scooped up balls behind his own goal line.
Sam Burgess just got better and better each week, and with his courageous trench worker Crocker by his side, played with pride, passion and aggression. With the final of the four Burger boys arriving at the club next year, he is now down for a long stay in Sydney, and if he can stay injury free Burgess has the time and potential to be remembered in the same vein as McCarthy and O’Neill.
Other notables were Andrew Everingham, a 25 year-old debutant and top try scorer. Who could forget that infectious enthusiastic smile after he scored off Reynolds’ kick in the semi-final against Canberra? Issac Luke – discipline issues aside, is there a better sight than Issac scooping from dummy half surging and bumping his way through defences?
The lesser profile players such as Clark, Peats, McQueen and Tyrell also performed well at various stages throughout the year, and with the experience of finals football can only continue to improve.
But the standout was Michael Maguire, a debutant NRL coach who showed that he has the steel and people management skills to take a good South Sydney team and turn them into a great one. He showed his hand early, demoting players to the bench or NSW Cup (such as Peats, Taylor and Luke) when their on- or off-field behaviour was not up to team standard. The way he handled Sutton, simplifying his game and unburdening him of the responsibility of playmaker, made a huge difference to the team and allowed Sutton to show his maturity and leadership on the field for the first time. And, yes, there still are some problems Maguire needs to address, notably our defence out wide. But there is a quiet confidence that exudes from Maguire that says he will address this issue, and while Taylor had some great highlight package moments this year, the recruitment of the more mobile Teo may go a fair way to resolving this.
So as we pass through the five stages of grief and enter a far shorter off-season than that to which supporters are accustomed, there is an emerging acceptance that Souths are back and under this new coach and with an array of current talent and emerging juniors we might be here to stay. Bring on 2013!
