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Souths to go undefeated? Calm down, it's only Round 4

Adam Reynolds has been ruled out of State of Origin 3, but is expected to play for the Bunnies. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Expert
27th March, 2015
37
1087 Reads

With surprises, upsets, scandals and teams wrecked by injury, the first few rounds of the NRL competition have taught us that we know very little about how the 2015 season is going to pan out.

Despite this, after Round 1 people were already making big generalisations.

Everyone, take a big breath, keep calm, and remember we’re a long way from October.

My favourite big statement to be made about the season thus far was Phil Gould announcing, “Souths have forgotten how to lose”, and various media outlets asking whether Souths could go a whole season undefeated.

Really? After only three rounds?

The Bunnies are definitely one of this year’s form teams. Along with the Bulldogs, Roosters and Tigers they are leading the charge. However, it is extremely difficult to go a season undefeated. Injuries. State of Origin. An off night. These affect even the best teams.

We saw it on Friday, as Souths had an off night. They were ill-disciplined, looked flat, and had none of the flair which they displayed in Rounds 1 and 2. They were beaten by the better team, and congratulations to the Eels on a spirited performance.

The Eels are certainly this year’s unknown. Without Jarryd Hayne, many experts were unsure about how the Eels would perform and had the Eels missing the top eight.

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Despite a big opener against the Sea Eagles, Rounds 2 and 3 saw the Eels hampered by injury and many wrote the Eels off two weeks ago following the loss of Semi Radradra and Beau Champion (added to the suspension of Junior Paulo).

Friday showed that the Eels are capable of defeating the top teams in the competition when they are on their game. They are a team with attacking prowess all over the field and when Chris Sandow is on, he is on. If the Eels can find consistency, even with injury concerns, they will be a force in 2015.

The final myth is the Cowboys. No one feels more resentment toward the Cowboys than me at the moment (I have tipped them every week so far including, despite common sense, this weekend).

While the Cowboys have been atrocious in their opening rounds, it is still far too early to write them off. I would never be so foolish as to write any team with Johnathan Thurston off.

Give the Cowboys some time to find their groove – we will see them there come October (but if they lose this weekend, I won’t be tipping them again for a while).

Whether your team is 0/3 or 2/4, the NRL season is still young, and anything can happen. Let’s not get too carried away.

This is @mary__kaye from @ladieswholeague

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