For the past 10 days many heads have been scratched in the wake of Greg Inglis’ appointment as captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The ex-Souths captain John Sutton was the first to win a grand final since 1971 for the red and green club. Before Sutton had time to recover from his grand final hangover, he’s been written into the history books as the first premiership winning captain in 107 years to be axed from the role before the start of the following season.
Michael Maguire says Inglis’ appointment as skipper will help refresh the squad ahead of their title defence. For 43 years South Sydney have been trying to find a winning culture at the club, they finally grab a hold of that culture and now they feel it’s time to refresh from that same winning formula.
In modern times at the Rabbitohs it does seem a lot safer to be a captain of a wooden-spoon winning team than to captain a premiership winning squad. Bryan Fletcher won two spoons for the club in 2003-2004, yet continued as captain until the end of the 2005 season. Peter Cusack was given a second chance in 2007 to captain Souths after winning the spoon in 2006, but if you lifted up the Provan-Summons Trophy as a captain of Souths for the first time in four decades, you’ve just played your last game in the leadership role.
Inglis was handed the captaincy from Sutton on the 22nd of this month and two days after the rugby league community found out that Greg is staying loyal to his adopted club by turning down two multi-million dollar deals from European rugby clubs Bath and Toulon.
Have Souths just used the captaincy as a bargaining tool to keep their superstar fullback from leaving the foundation club? Is this the right decision to push aside a Kensington United junior who has played 229 first grade games for the same club? In my opinion it takes a little bit of shine off the captaincy title at South Sydney.
The club have had many distinguished names such as Clive Churchill, John Sattler, George Piggins and Bob McCarthy in the captaincy role and all have earned the honour. Giving the captaincy away as a deal sweetener just doesn’t sit right.
“John is comfortable with the club’s decision and supports the change, and he knows his role within the team won’t change much either in terms of what is expected of him as a senior player and a leader among the squad,” Maguire said last week.
If Sutton is comfortable with this decision then hats off to him, the man shows to be a true clubman. If he was a little more high profiled he’d be able to hold on to his childhood dream for a little bit longer. The self proclaimed pride of the league have a bad track record of repaying loyalty at their club, you just have to look at the way Souths repaid Nathan Merritt for his time spent there.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Can you see Sutton playing middle third though? None of Stewart, McQueen, Sutton or turner are that sort of player. I think a prop like George or Tom or even tyrrell will end up in the 13.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Well for one you wouldn't switch captain mid season and I think the Rabbitohs were very tentative about playing Keary until Sutton got injured late in the season, for another on the edge he was able to play the first 60minutes or so. I'd think Stewart will play where Te'o was (while Sutton moves to Lock and McQueen starts on the left edge), which is the same position he played at Manly (he may have worn the 13 jersey, but Watmough played in the middle while Stewart played on the right edge). Co-captaincy is.. well as far as I know no team has won a grand final with co-captains, certainly in recent times, better to just have one voice to make the final call on the field.
Mike from Tari
Guest
When Sutton was out injured Inglis Captained the side, when Sutton came off the field during the final series for a breather, Inglis captained the side, but let's face it, the real captain on the field was Big Sammy.
cedric
Guest
yeah, heard this news last night while watching the opening event here in Auckland. Thought maybe Sutton was being dropped to metro or like someone said maybe something happened? Otherwise why would you do it, all the ideas above just don't cut it for me. Inglis is always gunna be good yelling from the back, but John, a local boy, took them to a GF and won it!!!!!!! Geez, if John can pull through this and still be a 1st grader at the end of the season, I'll take my hat off to him.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
If my source is right there was an incident on the boat when Dylan walker lost his GF ring that could be the reason he's no longer captain
Scott McGufficke
Roar Rookie
*Glen Stewart
pjm
Roar Rookie
You can't drop the captain so a year or two before he retires you take the captaincy off him so it gives you flexibility in how you play him. Ask Roosters fans what they would of preferred. Letting Mini play out the season like they did, or , drop him and give back to backs a real crack?
pjm
Roar Rookie
Because Madge is smart enough to realise the 'co' captains concept as the ridiculous one that it is.
Scott McGufficke
Roar Rookie
He played the in the second row in the whole 2014 finals series as captain.. if you were worried about him not playing for the whole 80, why didn't souths just make him and Inglis co-captains? did Souths really have to take the captaincy away from their club junior? I'd say Glen Steward would play at lock not Sutton..
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Sutton is no longer playing at 5/8th and therefore won't always be on the pitch -- will be spending even less time on the park if he plays at lock rather than second row which is a likely plan with Burgess gone. A lot of coaches like their captain on the park for more than 50 minutes per game, which is all anyone can expect of Sutton if he's at lock. As for Merritt, the fact they kept him playing in 2014 long enough to break the record was good treatment considering his speed (which was his only really strong attribute) was horribly diminished.
Scott McGufficke
Roar Rookie
Souths never won a grand final with Jimmy Lisle as captain and before 1967 they hadn't won a grand final since 1955, I can't see your point with that argument . Didn't souths win the grand final last year?? So wouldn't you say it was a master stroke having Sutton as captain, using your theory?
sheek
Roar Guru
In 1967 Clive Churchill took over the coaching reigns at Souths & punted then captain Jimmy Lisle for Johnny Sattler, which ultimately proved a master-stroke. While Lisle was a fine leader, Sattler brought a tougher edge to his captaincy. The team thrived, playing five successive grand finals 1967-71. Promoting Inglis to the captaincy might also prove a master-stroke, beyond refreshing the team. Sutton was a mentoring captain, a quiet leader. Inglis is mostly similar, except that he can also lead by example, through his individual brilliance. I think it's a very smart choice.
The eye
Guest
What is the on field role of the captain these days ? All the big decisions come via the waterboy,Shaun Johnson does all the talking and leading for the Warriors as does Cronk for Melbourne to cite the 2 biggest examples of leaders without the (c).. ..seems you get the right to talk to the ref,but even that isnt exclusive anymore..but Sutton has obviously upset the club somehow.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I like the appointment, while it is tough on Sutto no doubt I think it will be good for the squad having a new leader and voice. Sutto wont be on the park for 80 minutes so that might have come into calculations also. I like the change by Madge.
coogeerabbit
Guest
are you kidding - merritt? what did you want? the club did show loyalty to merritt as they allowed him to play on and reach the record, we could all tell he was WAY past it should we have let him play on with AJ just sitting at norths? it was his time
Epiquin
Roar Guru
As a Rabbitohs fan, I have Mixed feelings about this one, but I just get the feeling there is a lot being kept hush-hushed. It's also hard to know what is factual information and what is tabloid click-bait. If giving Inglis the captaincy kept him in League, then so be it. I know the idea of a foundation club's captaincy being used as a bargaining chip is somewhat off-putting, but it wouldn't be the first time. From memory, Steve Price was offered the armband to move to the Warriors and Kimmorley, I think, was offered the job for a move to Cronulla. Besides, we live in an era of co-co-co-captains. Even Souths themselves have had up to six captains at once since re-entering the comp. If I was captain of a successful side and our best player was being lured away, I'd probably be willing to relinquish the role to keep him. As for Merritt, much like Campese at Canberra, there's only so much loyalty you can offer before the stakeholders (read: fans) start demanding results. I love Merriit. He was my favourite player and one of Souths favourite sons, but it was hard watching him slide off tackles the way he did. Loyalty is great, but it can only protect you for son long.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I know of a little story that may be the reason he isn't captain anymore and may have involved a grand final hangover
Mikey
Guest
Similarities could be drawn between this and Manlys treatment of Gifty, Canberra with Campese...