Souths captaincy up in the air
By AAP, 19 Jan 2012 AAP is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Michael Crocker, NRL, Roy Asotasi, Rugby League, South Sydney Rabbitohs
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South Sydney coach Michael Maguire hasn’t ruled out using Michael Crocker and Roy Asotasi as co-captains at the NRL club in 2012.
Maguire shared the stage with Crocker and Asotasi on Wednesday for the launch of next month’s Charity Shield between Souths and St George Illawarra.
The rookie NRL coach said he would make a call on the captaincy in a couple of weeks.
“I’m still talking with these guys (Asotasi and Crocker) and many other players about which way we want to go but at the moment it’s still up in the air,” he said.
“I’ve got a reasonable idea of which way I want to go but I’ll decide that in a couple of weeks.”
When asked about dual captains for the Rabbitohs, Maguire said: “I’ll make a decision in a couple of weeks … I’ve been talking with these two quality people next to me and over time we’ll come up with which way we want to head.”
Crocker took over from previous skipper Asotasi in May last season when the New Zealand prop suffered a season-ending wrist injury with the Rabbitohs struggling in the bottom half of the ladder.
Backrower Crocker warmed to the captaincy as Souths narrowly missed out on making the finals despite a strong finish to the season.
“I’ve got that leadership tag now, so whatever decision is made, that won’t change. It’s just about me doing the best job I can for the team and leading by example, ” Crocker said.
“I’ll still play the same way, there will be plenty of talk.”
The captaincy is the last thing from Asotasi’s mind; he’s just happy to be fit again.
“I’m just concentrating on training and trying my best to impress the coach,” he said.
“There’s a lot more stuff to think about than worrying about the captaincy … it’s nice to be fit and be able to get stuck into the pre-season.”
Asotasi has been impressed by his new coach.
“He’s unreal … but you don’t want to get on his bad side,” he said.
“He’s come in full blast and is looking to turn things around and all the boys are working very hard for him.”
The Charity Shield is on February 18 while the immediate focus for Souths is a trial against English Super League club Warrington at Redfern Oval on January 28.
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January 19th 2012 @ 8:19am
Paul said | January 19th 2012 @ 8:19am | Report comment
I cant believe the coach is already worried about upsetting the players. Asotasi is a terrible interview and the way they came back under Crocker it would be a sign of weakness on the coaches behalf to have dual captains. Im no expert but what other high profile team in what code has dual captains and are succesful?
January 19th 2012 @ 9:43am
Blake said | January 19th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Paul, I think Manly has co-captains. I have a vague recollection of them winning the NRL last year.
January 19th 2012 @ 9:52am
Paul said | January 19th 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Are u sure? im pretty sure its just Jamie Lyon!!
January 19th 2012 @ 10:06am
Mals said | January 19th 2012 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Blake is right. Jason KIng & Jamie Lyon were co-captains at Manly in their premiership winning season last year.
January 19th 2012 @ 9:44am
Greg said | January 19th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Wigan had a ‘leadership team’ when maguire took over and they didn’t do too bad, did they?
January 19th 2012 @ 9:54am
Paul said | January 19th 2012 @ 9:54am | Report comment
All teams have a leadership team, its called the senior playing group in the NRL. alot different to a Captain.
January 19th 2012 @ 10:10am
Greg said | January 19th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
No, at Wigan it was a group of 5 players, and the captain for that game would be picked on a game by game basis
January 19th 2012 @ 10:19am
Todd Slater said | January 19th 2012 @ 10:19am | Report comment
I would like to see Mick Crocker captain the Rabbitohs in 2012. His game went to another level in the second half of last season as a result of his taking charge. The team responded,especially the forwards. His game at Woollongong in late July, to lead the team from 0-20 down against the premiers, to win in an eighty minute performance was outstanding & falling just under Gallen’s 80 minute effort for N.S.W. Most importantly he has the respect of his team mates & leadership qualities in abundance
Crocker is an old school footballer, hard, aggressive, skilful with a huge motor. Dallas Johnson is a similar type & its no surprise Mal Meninga loves both of them, they are made to play origin.
I’m a huge Asotasi fan as well & would love nothing more to see him reassert his dominance in the middle. He was hitting top form last season before being struck down with injury. I believe relieving him of the captaincy would be a bonus to his game & allow him to once again dominate the likes of Kite, Scott, Shillington, Gallen, Snowden & more.
January 23rd 2012 @ 8:37pm
crip said | January 23rd 2012 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
I’ll second that.
January 19th 2012 @ 11:53am
GC Tiger said | January 19th 2012 @ 11:53am | Report comment
I am an Asotasi Fan but in 4 years he has proved nothing but that his is injury prone. Mick Crocker did a great job last year but he is also injury prone. They would be better off picking a younger person and grooming them whilst these 2 players are still at the club. Would say Burgess or Inglis but they are just as injury prone, would have said Isaac Luke at the beginning of last year but not much respect for him around anymore. Maybe John Sutton and move him to Lock.
January 19th 2012 @ 11:55am
Boz said | January 19th 2012 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Just pick one guy to be captain and be done with it FFS. If he is found to be not up to it – take the captaincy off him.
I know this is a little off topic – but what happens when both captains are on the field at the same time with regards to who the ref adresses as captain etc.
January 19th 2012 @ 12:03pm
GC Tiger said | January 19th 2012 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
I agree with the one captain.
I pretty sure they pick a lead captain at the coin toss so the ref knows who it is and if they are not on the field they go to the other one.