For most of the season Souths have looked anything but premiers. Woeful displays against North Queensland and the Titans in the last few weeks have reinforced a view that Souths does not have what it takes to win the premiership. But unlike last year 2014 is a strange wide-open contest where the team who takes control of their season in August could well emerge from the pack and charge into September.
A trademark of previous years, Souths have struggled with ball security for most of the season. Predictable and lacking spontaneity, they have struggled to convert possession to tries close to the opposition line. Sam Burgess aside, high-profile players such as Inglis and Luke have been quiet in important games. Half-back Adam Reynolds has had to endure consternation from fans and media regarding his place in the team with ongoing rumours that he is unwanted by coach Maguire.
But somehow they have finished July with their wheels back on track. A passably solid win against Parramatta was followed by a convincing win against Canberra – Reynolds and young guns Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston standing out with tremendous forays on the Raiders left-side defence. Souths fans already rocked by the loss of Captain Sutton let out a collective sigh of relief when scans on the outstanding Sam Burgess cleared him of serious shoulder damage.
A big test of their premiership credentials looms this month on the hardened cricket pitches of the SCG. A win against the very tough Manly team could well catapult Souths into premiership favouritism. Among the ghosts of Frank Hyde, Lurch O’Neill and Jimmy Lisle it might just be what is needed to shift Souths into gear and take the chequered flag.
