Who can beat Souths this season? On current form most sides are going to struggle: they’re well drilled, big and fast, and they’re playing very confident football.
That said, I’m still not convinced that Souths will be there on Grand Final day.
What? I can almost hear you spluttering in your coffee.
The reason is simple: I think Souths are playing to their maximum ability right now. This is as good as it gets, and as good as that is, when semi-final football rolls around, all teams have to go up another 10% in intensity.
I just don’t see where Souths will find that lift.
This is where the teams that have been there before will rise to the occasion. I’m talking about Melbourne and the Bulldogs, in particular.
At the start of the season, I predicted that those two teams would fight it out for the premiership title again and nothing has changed that opinion. The way those teams play, when they get to the semis, they invariably take it to another level.
This is where Souths will struggle. They are so clinical, they actually remind me of Melbourne, which is hardly surprising given Michael McGuire’s pedigree.
While I have no doubt that individual players such as Inglis, Burgess, and Luke can go to the next level at the big end of the season, it’s the younger, less experienced players who may be overwhelmed once they hit the big stage.
One thing I’ve learned about Des Hasler over the years is that he can always get his players to lift for the big games. The Bulldogs get a lot hungrier.
Are they playing well now? Absolutely not. But they are capable of turning things around.
That said, they’ve got to make the top four to do it, so they have to start stringing some wins together.
Outside of Melbourne and the Bulldogs, Manly are another side that can win the crunch games; and the Roosters have really surprised this season.
Honestly, I didn’t think they would turn things around the way they have. But they look like a very happy, well drilled team. Coach Robinson has done a great job in having them in contention for the top four.
But back to Souths. It’s notable how closely Michael McGuire has mimicked the Bellamy approach to coaching: mistake free, hard grinding football, complimented by a few game breakers who can quickly change the direction of a game.
It’s been exciting to watch but I just don’t think it’s going to be enough this year.
aaron
Guest
I predicting a Souths Melbourne gf and what a game that will be
greatwhite54
Guest
Souths will be in Grand Final....wizz what price will you give me souths wont be there.... just wondering areCERTAIN teams struggling with a change in SUPPLEMENT program ??
Renegade
Guest
Not really mate.....i think the dogs over achieved last year and their current mid-table position is probably just. They have a very good forward pack and a star in Ben Barba at the back but i don't think their halves are good enough to win a grand final.
Realist
Guest
Dogs of war, You're speaking as a fan of the team not as someone simply looking at teams performance and in doggies performance so far they will be at least two weeks away from the grand final this year... Manly, storm, roosters, Souths are four much better teams than the dogs lets be honest last year you were dragged to the grand final on the back of barba magic and the team fed off of it the same as parra when hayne dragged them to the big one... maybe next season champ but don't hold your breath on that one either
turbodewd
Roar Guru
lol
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Barba is a defensive liability and an offensive genius. Im not sure if u can win a GF with that dodgy combo unless the dice really roll your way.
Jimval
Guest
Wizz must've had a few too many before he wrote the article. Dogs in the GF? LMFAO I don't think they're good enough to make the 8 let alone a GF. Souths on the other hand are stating that they are always finding room for improvement after every game and are achieving that. For Wizz to state that they can't improve only highlights that either he has absolutely NFI or he has a dislike for the club. It's abundantly clear. Storm have beaten both Souths and the Roosters thus far. If their big 3 are healthy it will be a Storm v Souths GF. Roosters is the only other possibility. Seriously, Dogs supporters that think they can make the GF are kidding themselves.
Arthur fonzarelli.
Guest
Whatever happens , the roosters will top the ladder for hyphenated surnames and first names .
Mike from tari
Guest
Hey Wizz, you weren't very outspoken on Sunday when Easts Tigers beat the Devils, my boy was the Tigers no.9 who ran rings around both th Devils hookers & he says that you are wrong, the Dogs will not be in the Grand Final.
Morfs
Guest
Woops! Well, that last sentence should read: "I wouldn't say they'd be "gone", though." That's a bit embarrassing.....
Bulldogs
Guest
Sorry to burst your bubble mate but the mighty bulldogs arnt out of the race for the title just yet.. Beware of the wounded dogs
Bulldogs
Guest
What about us dogs are we scary when we're on :?
Zaccaaa
Guest
Lol
Zaccaaa
Guest
It's going to be the best finals series ever!
Matt B
Guest
I can't agree at all. The last month has been a time of experimentation at Souths, nothing about it shows a team peaking. Reynolds has been experimenting with his running game while Maguire has been testing combinations with Luke Keary in the halves with Sutton as a roving lock and debuting a new Burgess brother. Meanwhile Inglis has either been away or limiting his involvement due to origin commitments. There are a load of elements still yet to mesh into the final product, an plenty of journalists are saying Souths have won games without being at their best. Still plenty of rounds to go and with all Burgii on the field, Inglis at his game breaking best and possibly changes around the halves / utility role we will soon see everything Souths can do. But not yet
Conor Hickey
Roar Pro
That's a pretty bold prediction there, Bulldogs aren't even in the top 8 at the moment. They do have a fairly easy schedule coming into the back end of the season, only having to play the Storm and Rabbitohs (and Canberra at home if you count that as tough). Is it really a problem if the Rabbitohs can't lift? Maybe the other teams will bring that extra 10% but I wonder whether that is still enough to match the Bunnies. Storm have their own problems too with Garreth Widdop out for most of the year, he is a big part of their team even if he doesn't get as many accolades as the Big Three.
Dogsman
Guest
Dogs Of War....Knights are definitely one of the most unlikely to put it together for finals time, but they have schooled the Dogs twice this season. Regardless of the 10% lift required in finals time, In my opinion only the Roosters, Rabbits and Storm have it this year. Dogs won't make it. They aren't putting it together often enough to even be considered contenders...and I'm a 30 year supporter. When they win, it's only short and when they lose it's been lost in a poor way. Barba was their X-Factor last year and now feels the pressure. He'll be better in a year or two when he finds his feet in the game (last year was just one of those miracle years as a newby). Unless it gets messy in the final 8 or some team manages to pull a Parramatta and win the next 10 straight, I predict Souths v Storm.
Horatio
Guest
Wiz, Talk about a nothing article fair dinkum
Morfs
Guest
And if the Bunnies lose Reynolds, (Sam or George) Burgess, or Inglis, they will struggle as well. I would say they'd be "gone", though.
Devout Saint
Guest
If Melbourne lose Slater, Cronk or Smith they are gone.