The Round 12 match-up between the inconsistent South Sydney Rabbitohs and the struggling St George Illawarra Dragons is Adam Reynolds’ opportunity to stand up and make his mark in 2014.
Reynolds and halves partner John Sutton have been struggling to play consistent football for the Rabbitohs all season, leaving Souths’ attack disjointed, pedestrian and bereft of ideas.
Souths have averaged just 21 points a match this season, the ninth-ranked team in attack in the NRL.
The match against the Dragons presents Reynolds and the Bunnies an opportunity to kickstart their season. If the Rabbitohs click, and Reynolds rediscovers his attacking mojo, he can lift Souths from eleventh into fifth. If he doesn’t, the calls will get louder for the speedy return of the sublimely talented Luke Keary.
Reynolds will get the perfect platform to attack from, with the Burgess boys, Ben Te’o and Chris McQueen set to steamroll their much smaller and softer opponents. The Dragons cannot match the physicality of the Souths forward pack, and this will allow a lot of front-foot ball for Reynolds.
Coach Michael Macguire should shoulder a portion of the blame so far this season for under-utilising Reynolds and setting a boring and power-orientated platform. Souths’ one-up-and-one-out attack close to the ruck has restricted Reynolds from playing with any creativity, but free reign from the coach against a poor defensive team should see Reynolds shine.
If Reynolds can get his kicking game on song and the big Souths forwards make lots of yards up the middle of the ruck, Reynolds should look to attack the line and take on the fragile Dragons defence. But he needs the confidence to do so, and confidence just doesn’t seem to be there at the moment.
Lets hope for Souths fans that the match against the Dragons is where Reynolds gets his confidence back, and inspires Souths to a big win. If he fails, it will be a telling point in both his season and Souths’.
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