John Lang was given the reigns at South Sydney to make a difference after the controversial sacking of head coach Jason Taylor. It’s a long season, but after only two rounds Lang has taken the soft options and basically cut and pasted the failed Taylor plan.
Central to the Rabbitohs failure to miss the semis last season was the lack of communication and organisation between his Indigenous halfs Chris Sandow and John Sutton. They just do not talk and importantly do not compliment their big forwards.
Sutton is a gifted playmaker but is crying out for a half back to take pressure off him. Sandow is a 7 who plays “off the cuff” and nobody knows what he is about to do, including himself.
This strategy failed in 2009 but Lang has shown that he is not prepared to change. He has also stuck solid Rhys Wesser in the other crucial spine position of fullback as opposed to try scoring freak Merritt. Lang has history at Penrith with Wesser but he appears to be playing with a “used by stamp” on his forehead.
Young Adam Reynolds is a star in the Toyota Cup but he also may be a Sandow clone. Maybe the talented Luke Capewell can provide the missing link.
John Lang could do worse than take on board advice from Confucius: “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.”
BluesBunnie
Guest
We will win enough games this year to eclipse the last few seasons mainly because the team is going to prove to the cynics who R mostly other teams supporters who envy Souths premiership record and can't bare to see us relive the legacy claimed by the club over the last 100 years. Yes all you doubters we will eventually be the NRL's" NUMBER ONE TEAM. " again!
RJ
Guest
Great to see a bunch of big mouths (Maximus, Roy, Taylor and most Souths fans) getting humble pie shoved down their throats for the last two weeks. Wake up, you've got an average team who will win a few games, nothing more. For the record I think Maximus should take over from Lang, what a movie that would make down the track!
Andrew Watson
Guest
C'mon Scott, Langy looked like a 'dead man walking' at the press conference. You know whats going on over there at the Gladiators house, how close is Maximus to gettn his man?
BluesBunnie
Guest
Hi everyone I agree with the idea of bringing young Luke Capewell as 5/8 he has the speed and quick we need in that crucial position, I'd keep Sutto as Lock or in the " Glamor Pack " but rather then having McPherson and Clark fill the bench why don't we have Luke on there if we still want to persevere with last years half's combo? Wake up selectors and smell the boot polish!
JP
Guest
I agree with everything you have said. Our forwards, whilst not brilliant, are slowly improving and making the metres only to be wasted by the halves. I agree strongly that sandow is playing too much off the cuff footy and his team mates have no idea what he is about to do, this was evident in the roosters game. Also our kicking game is shocking ! I have given Sandow another four games to correct himself or he needs to be replaced. With who I dont know. I think souths next big buy should be a seasoned halfback. Sutton for years has shown his ability, but he is too inconsistant. When Sutto has a bad day the whole team suffers because Sandow has taken a back seat in directing the team. Another issue is our depth in attack ! Players are flat and getting no momentum running the ball. They should be using players like Taylor & Burgess on the flanks, carting the ball up at pace. Getting them in one on one situations with opposition outside backs. This to me doesnt seem like a hard problem to fix. On a side note wasnt Langs bench rotation questionable ......
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
We missed the best of Joey Williams as he can organise and has a better kicking game than Sandow and he is talks, something lacking at Souths.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Buttery I am not sure if he is the answer, but he may be the best chance of the limited players they have on their list.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Not sure if "immature" is the most descriptive adjective. Maybe reserve grade, but that would be 2 words.
Col the Bear
Guest
good to see Joey williams yesterday make his comeback for the Bears in the NSW cup..after a successful time with boxing, believe he won all his bouts..he really enjoyed being back with the Bears yesterday, sadly it didn't measure up on the scoreboard for us, just too many injuries for us and Souths at the moment, but once we get back on track with all fit we'll be right and competitive again, but it's only round 2 with 22 games to go,(NSW Cup is 25 rounds with 1 Bye) so no need for the Bears to panic just yet..can say Michael Crocker was an interested bystander yesterday.would of loved for him to pull on the red and black for the first time yesterday might be soon though....joey is going to continue to be a great asset for the Bears, and we are extremely glad to have him back with the club..he did a lot of talking yesterday, and also a great chip over and regather to offload to Eddie Paea..Maybe they should just give Johnny Lang some time, hell it's only been 2 games :-) give him a break..!!
buttery
Guest
When Rocky Capewell played with my son he was a 5/8 come half & he was good, at fullback/wing he is wasted, get him in the halves and he can create, in fact in school fottball he ran rings around Sandow.
polyglot
Roar Rookie
I tend to agree with the crux of your theory, but Souths seem to have a problem with immature half backs. I always worry when I see a show-pony half no matter how brilliant, as it tends to upset a teams rhythm. Sandow plays it up to the crowd and camera a bit which indicates a self promotional mindset, his mind is not where it should be, in the team. I have seen other potentially great half backs create instability in a team and as a result cut their own careers short and/or reduce their teams potential. Leaders need to have a calm authority about them, a composed demeanor, in order to control his team effective Sandow needs to grow up quickly - or Lang needs to find a more mature general.