Why can’t Souths win the premiership, McCarthy?

 
Steve Kaless Roar Guru

By , 22 Jan 2008 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru

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Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court celebrate a Souths victory - AAP Image/Action Photographics/Grant Trouville
Since when did reality come into play in the rugby league off season?

The off season is time when players and fans alike can look at the losses column and see a big fat zero and therefore dream of Premiership glory.

It’s the time of year when traditionally everyone feels romantic and you get the type of article which would predict a player like Owen Craigie or John Skandalis would play Origin or Test football. I must have read that Craigie article in six consecutive January’s.

So what is the story with Bob McCarthy playing scrooge and claiming the Rabbitohs can’t win the Premiership?

First, I’ve always liked Bob McCarthy, a true great in his playing days and he has managed to continue to hold an air of dignity and nobility about him even when everything at Souths was going mad.

But the call that Souths won’t be lifting any silverware this year at this early stage is like providing that moment of clarity to an alcoholic by showing them a video of their actions the night before.

In short, nobody wants it and it borders on being downright unAustralian. (Although given the state of some members of The Burrow before kick off, perhaps such tapes could become a feature of Souths’ membership packs.)

It is also the sort of call which could cause all manner of chaos to the way Russell and Peter look after their play thing.

Will Russell come to his senses and realise that the gourmet steaks and salad after training aren’t worth the cash and opt instead to drive to the local service station for 25 chicken heroes?

Will it deemed more cost effective to recite some poetry from Tennyson while the players hold off the early bouts of food poisoning?

Big Bob needs to learn fast that scripts have played a huge part in Souths new fortunes and they will also play a key role in their future.

So stick to it Macca! How can you ask people to trudge out to the soulless Telstra Stadium without even the smallest glimmer of hope they could be making the same trip in October?

Apparently, it was the Hollywood dream which lured Roy Asotasi to Redfern with the promise of a role in the next Gladiator film (Roman history isn’t my strong point, but I can’t remember many Maoris being in the middle Colosseum, I don’t even think they had bouncers.)

But maybe, Bob has seen an opening in the sequel of the Grinch.

Meanwhile, if it was an Asotasi salvo which put the final nail in the coffin of Gary Kemble’s New Zealand coaching career then hopefully something good will come of it and the NZRL will appoint someone with enough know-how to whip the Kiwis into shape.

Step forward Wayne Bennett.

There is a mountain of New Zealand rugby league talent on either side of the Tasman as well as earning the big pounds in England (and putting them on as well) and Bennett is just the man to bring the structure and discipline to the squad they need before the World Cup.

Bennett’s stature in the game surpasses any argument about nationality and if the NZRL aren’t able to make it happen then it is probably time they put the cue in the rack permanently.

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