Injury-hit Warriors back on course for finals return after sinking Dolphins
The Warriors are back on track for a return to the NRL finals after last year's surprise playoff run following their injury-depleted side's Sunday…
Veteran South Sydney coach John Lang says he won’t whip himself over Sunday’s 48-16 demolition by the Warriors, but some might consider he’s been doing that in the two years since he took over the struggling NRL club.
Lang, whose career is winding down with the Rabbitohs’ season, has endured two injury-ravaged campaigns since being shocked out of retirement from the coal face to take the reins from former boss Jason Taylor.
The 60-year-old premiership-winning former Cronulla and Penrith mentor conceded his final year as a first grade coach was unlikely to feature an appearance in the finals.
“Really the chances of us making the finals are long odds, that’s the bottom line,” he said at ANZ Stadium.
“But nothing changes. We play the Dragons next week and you prepare and you play to win.
“We’re still a mathematical chance of making it but we’ve got to win a lot of games of footy.
“My attitude doesn’t change at all, I’ll do the best job I can.”
Lang remained philosophical after the nine tries to three thrashing as names like Dave Taylor, Michael Crocker, Sam Burgess, Roy Asotasi, Luke Stuart and Scott Geddes watched from the stands.
“You get belted sometimes when you play this game,” Lang said.
” … We’re not in a position where we can afford to be being belted and losing games.
“(But) I’m not going to go home and whip myself.”
It was also a less than memorable day for five-eighth John Sutton, who stood in as skipper in his 150th game.
“We were 12 behind pretty much from the start and didn’t defend well and didn’t control the ball and paid for it,” he said.
” … It just wasn’t our day today.”
Souths need to win all six remaining games and hope other results mean they can sneak into the finals.
They are likely to get Crocker back from a minor groin complaint for the clash with premiers St George Illawarra next Sunday, while Taylor returns from suspension in two weeks.
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