Rabbitohs finally up and running in finals race

 

Roar Guru

By Alan Nicolea, 18 Jul 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru

Tagged:

 Brisbane Broncos, Ivan Henjak, Jason Taylor, John Sutton, NRL, Rugby League, South Sydney Rabbitohs

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If a week is considered a long time in footy, then a fortnight is an age if the Rabbitohs 44-12 thumping of the Brisbane Broncos is anything to go by.

Two weeks ago, South Sydney arguably suffered its most demoralising loss in season 2009, courtesy of a 40 point thrashing at the hands of the Wests Tigers.

It was a performance that put a stain on the Rabbitohs rich history, which sees it with the most premierships in Australian Rugby League history.

Indeed, it was an effort that showed why the Rabbitohs became defunct in 1999 only to be re-instated in 2002.

But seven days is a long time in the NRL, let alone two weeks.

The Rabbitohs restored some pride after their humiliating loss to the Tigers, defeating an understrength Panthers outfit 36-12 at ANZ stadium last Friday night.

It was a win that allowed Jason Taylor’s men to restore focus in a season which was beginning to unravel.

Fast forward another week and the Rabbitohs are now talking finals footy once again after dishing out the similar treatment that tarnished the Redfern based club so badly a fortnight ago.

This time, it was South Sydney who provided the Broncos with a footballing lesson that was taught by Rabbitohs five-eighth John Sutton.

Sutton tore Brisbane’s left hand edge defence to shreds in a performance which stamped him as the leading light in a Rabbitohs side now regaining its early season spark.

Souths centre Beau Champion made amends for his sacking two weeks by scoring three tries, including two in the first half.

Champion will no doubt rate this hat-trick very highly in comparision to the one he scored against the Tigers two weeks ago. All of South Sydney’s starting thirteen will rate this performance against Brisbane as the highlight of a 2009 season that may just see them book a place in the finals.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for a side that performed below NRL standard just fourteen days ago.

But like the Rabbitohs have shown, two weeks is a very long time in footy.

Although it is still premature to bet against a Broncos presence in the finals, South Sydney have shown that the race for a top eight spot is still very much alive.