South Sydney halfback Luke Keary says the NRL premiers are confident of avoiding a World Club Challenge hangover and are set to hit the ground running next week.
In years past, premiership sides have been slow out of the blocks in the NRL as a result of a long trip to England to face the English Super League titleholders.
However after returning from England earlier in the week, Keary foresees no negative effects for the Rabbitohs.
He said the playing group felt refreshed and ready for Thursday’s season opener against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
“I think it’s all mental and if you think it’s going to affect you it will and if you don’t it won’t affect you,” he said.
“The travel isn’t a burden and it gave us time to spend together. And how else would you rather spend your time than overseas with your mates.”
The Rabbitohs have given indications they are ready to hit full speed come round one after adding the Auckland Nines and World Club Challenge trophies to their collection in the pre-season.
“It was one of the best trips I’ve been on and it was a great week with the boys,” he said.
“We’re home now and we’re trying to regroup now, spent the last couple of days trying to get some sleep. We’ll have the weekend to rest and then jump into it.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
Could have been more but souths were out of the running for 43 years. Out of contention for 43 years of a history of around 100 years is a pretty good effort.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
If there's anything I've learned from sport it's that every club has redneck like supporters. All they need is a wagon to jump on.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Muzz, One million dollars would make many people do many things...
Renegade
Guest
Why? Sharks fans aren't a bunch of rednecks like Souths and Broncos fans...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well if you're not counting NSWRL souths only have one premiership.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Ah, then you know what you are talking about. Let the good times roll.
3 Hats
Guest
No mate, I didn't forget about 1984 and 85, NSWRL,
3 Hats
Guest
Yes Your correct Wayne the Doggies are a very good club. But the one stat missing is.... Rabbitohs and Bulldogs have played 2 GFs against each other now Souths 2 wins, doggies zero!
3 Hats
Guest
It is called tongue in cheek mate. Maybe putting up with my mates bad behaviour who are mostly Bulldogs, Roosters, Sea Eagles and Tigers fans who enjoyed rubbing it in over the last 20 years? So I do enjoy rubbing it in a little, can you blame me? Finals Series wins smashing Manly then Easts then Canterbury in succession was defining and exhilarating to say the least! Led Manly 40-nil then took the foot off the Pedal. Gave the Roosters 12 start then smashed'em with 34 unanswered points. Let the Bulldogs "think" they were in the GF match before putting on 24 points in last 9 minutes. PRICELESS
Muzz
Guest
But no club, since the inception of the NRL has been able to 'manage' back to back premierships.So its fair to say that under the current format of 26 rounds plus finals, SOO, Internationals, WCC. 9s that it's impossible to manage. What is obvious though, is the fatigue reigning premiers exhibit which leads to a flat like performance filled with uncharacteristic errors at the pointy end of the season.Meanwhile, their competition is firing. Why is this and what can be done to increase the chances of going back to back? If i were the head coach and the board made it clear(as well as a healthy financial bonus like $1mill) that going back to back was the number one priority and i had the option of giving the WCC and the 9's a miss(and i know your not going to like this) i would do so however i'd get back with the program the following year for the betterment of growing the game globally.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Muzz, while its been a while, I've still got my degree in sports studies, including a major in sports science, so I've got a reasonable idea of the issues involved. Unless human physiology has changed, then what you are referring to is management. Some clubs manage the physical and psychological health of their athletes better than others but even then, with such an eveness amongst the teams, the odds are stacked against a club going back-to-back. Even without a WCS.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'd assume that winning a premiership would be enough. I don't think that souths are all that devastated.
Muzz
Guest
I'm fine with the Titans signing DCE, GI, SBW, S Burgess, Hayne, Taumalolo, Foz, Merrin as long as they don't win the comp.
Don
Roar Rookie
I like the way your old grandmother thinks. Yep, stuff 'em.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
In the words of my kind old grandmother. Stuff 'em. The NRL aren't paying them over the cap and from all reports they aren't even helping with recruitment in any direct way other than guaranteeing the titans existence.
Muzz
Guest
The other issue with the WCC is you taper/freshen up to peak for this game and 1) It makes it difficult to build a program for season proper so as you peak at the pointy end of the season 2)Some experts/sports science guru's involved in the NRL will tell you that you'll only get 1 maybe 2 peaks max out of a season.Then throw in the mental and physical intensity of SOO, a relatively close comp where the wooden spoon team defeated the minor premiers last season and it your well and truly up against it.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Fair enough. But I think other factors are more important and the benefit to the code is worth it. But then, I'm not a coach.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I think that's it Sleiman. When other NRL teams are still having trials, and only easing their best players into it for 30 maybe 40mins, the premiers fly to the other side of the world, play in different conditions, using all their top players in a proper game rotation, in a finals like intensity. Not only that but you are playing against a team that is 3 rounds into their season proper. How much more match hardened is a team in Rd 3 v Rd 1 of the NRL? Even if you take the travel out of it, as the Roosters did last year, you are still playing a September like game in February. In such a tight competition, that is surely going to have a detrimental effect at the back end of the season. Cam Smith, who has played in 3 of them, has stated it takes til Rd 5 to completely get over the effects of the WCC. I think I'll take his word over Luke Keary, seeing as he is yet to experience it. It's all well and good to say it will have no negative effect, but how would he know? I'm not saying it is the sole reason why teams don't go back to back. But it certainly has an impact.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Rusty bringing the Rabbitohs & world club series more attention in the US http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/23/sport/russell-crowe-rugby-league-world-club-series/
Don
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see him at the Titans along with DCE. Just what they need to draw fans. Imagine the cries from clubs who lost players to an NRL owned club though...