They boast a future Immortal in Greg Inglis, the Burgess boys, 2014 premiership-winning coach Michael Maguire and two of the best young halves in the NRL in Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary. So what the hell is wrong with the South Sydney Rabbitohs?
You can blame the injuries if you want. John Sutton is out until Round 17 while Alex Johnston won’t be sighted until at least next week with a hamstring problem. For argument’s sake, we can acknowledge Inglis’ troublesome knees too.
We can discuss the changing landscape of offensive game plans and the Rabbitohs’ obvious lack of evolution as other teams pass them by.
Maybe consider Reynolds has only been back long enough to have a cup of coffee?
They’re all excuses for South Sydney fans, but they’re not the reasons this team find themselves on the edge of a cliff and, with a heavy loss this weekend to the Brisbane Broncos – which is a very real chance – they could find themselves as far down the ladder as 14th.
So do you want to know what’s wrong with Souths?
It all started when Sam Burgess dropped the bombshell he would be leaving the club after the 2014 season to try his hand at rugby union.
Burgess was considered a god to fans and his colleagues. The Englishman helped win the Rabbitohs a premiership with a broken cheekbone and there were nothing but well wishes as he departed for a new ‘adventure’ and a place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
But then something unexpected happened. Sam flopped and was hammered for his role in England’s embarrassing World Cup campaign, which saw the home nation banished at the pool stage.
A doubt became a thought, a thought became a whisper and a whisper eventually saw Burgess on his way back to the Rabbitohs after an early exit from his rugby contract.
This is when the dominoes started to fall for Souths.
While the 2014 Clive Churchill Medalist was back in red and green (on more money than he was when he left), others were punted from the club to make way.
Players who had also been there on grand final night 2014 were moved on to find room in the salary cap for Burgess.
Rising star Dylan Walker found a new home at Manly and Chris McQueen joined the Gold Coast Titans. And let’s make it clear that, while Walker was involved in a prescription drug scandal at the time, his exit from Redfern was always about the cap.
Consider too that Walker had already played for the Kangaroos and McQueen had piled up six appearances for Queensland in State of Origin. These were hardworking, valuable squad members. They were mates and part of the fabric of the club.
Then Burgess decided to spend his summer with his partner at every sun-drenched beach this side of North America and, to add to matters, it was splashed right through the confidential pages of newspapers almost on a daily basis.
All the while, the rest of the Rabbitohs slogged it out in the brutal summer heat and another of Michael Maguire’s tough pre-season regimes.
Only recently, former English rugby coach Stuart Lancaster told the BBC that they didn’t even chase him – Sam Burgess chased them.
“I think there’s a perception that I somehow went on a crusade to try and recruit him from rugby league,” Lancaster said.
“What happened was I went to Australia and watched a game, popping in to see various coaches along the way.
“One of those was Michael Maguire and Sam pulled me on the way out and said: ‘Do you fancy a coffee?’ We had a chat and he said: ‘I want to have a think about playing rugby union, how do I go about doing it?’”
There has to be resentment from some in the way Burgess let this entire thing play out – especially when guys like Walker and McQueen’s livelihoods were on the line.
The difference this year to 2014 isn’t Sam Burgess.
Sam is still the same player he was.
He still leads bravely and takes on opposition packs – you can’t question his footballing talent.
The difference in 2016 is his teammates aren’t following him the way they once did.
Everything he does has a ripple effect.
Ask those around Redfern Oval and they’ll tell you of a quiet rift between the Burgess Brothers and another group.
Those in the other group are sick of the socialite snaps in the papers, NFL rumours and Russell Crowe’s eagerness to put the Burgess brothers on a pedestal.
Crowe’s love affair came to boiling point in the off-season when five-eighth Luke Keary abused both Crowe and Burgess before taking the next flight out of Coffs Harbour back to Sydney.
Where there’s smoke there’s fire.
And if you wanted any more proof, just watch the Rabbitohs in 2016.
John Greer
Guest
I could not agree more with Curtis. Its what supporters have been thinking for over six weeks or more. Crowe does not help the situation by entering the training ground and putting his arm around sam Burgess and ignoring the rest of the team. Burgess is overpaid and under performing along with his two brothers. Its about time Maguire stopped talking and axed a couple to introduce new blood.
Dean
Guest
The problem is the Burgess twins. They are useless. Yes there is some friction between the other players and the Burgess's and I do not blame them. But when you have 2 massive guys that cant take the ball any further than a back then there is an issue. They need to go! Keep Sam but lets rid the twins. What annoys me is how South's did what they did to fit Sam back into the team. What should have happened is we should have kept Chris and Walker and let the twins go to Manly. Then, the players might have the respect for the club that they once had. I also might add, let Keary go. He is overrated and cost us more that he does good. He is one that needs to be dropped to the lower grades. I can't stand the guy. He is part of the problem at South's too.
Sandra Boland
Guest
Great Article - I know that from a directly related experience. The cracks are showing now and that is indeed justice - it needed to happen to bring about much needed fairness and improvements.
Ghost Crayfish
Roar Pro
This all reads pretty biased to me. I agree the club is missing Dylan Walker. Releasing him to fit in Burgess was a mistake - a more logical move would've been to release a couple of forwards (eg. his brothers) to fit him in. But to skip past a lot of other legitimate reasons for their form slump - particularly injuries to their key playmakers and Greg Inglis' worrying form slump - and land straight on blaming Sam Burgess is a bit ridiculous. Souths were pretty ordinary last year and there were lots of rumours about a divided camp and revolt against the coach. Souths actually brought Sam back to try and fix some of those issues - to say he is the cause is ridiculous.
Ziusudra
Guest
If what is written in the article is accurate, I would say that it is Keary, not Burgess, who is causing the problem.
Sam
Guest
I know one or two others have touched on what I am about to say already and Curtis I don't want you to think that by saying this I am rubbishing the overall quality of the article but I wanted to take issue with the Dylan Walker/Chris McQueen salary cap part of it. Dylan Walker wanted out and Chris McQueen had a poor 2015 and he was starting to earn lower tier elite player money and he didn't deserve that based on his 2015 season. So Sam Burgess for a player that wanted out and a player who was taking up a decent chunk of the cap and was nowhere close to the player he was in our championship winning season. That, on the surface at least, seemed like a fair trade.
Gee up
Guest
Agree regarding Richo, Mr Lee not real popular with madge apparently. Have to say Hymel Hunt does look promising, be good to see how he goes with some ball on the front foot. His defensive reads have been sound. Hence why a lot of tries have been scored on the other side or, more worryingly up the middle. Fingers crossed they discover some form, it's been painful to watch a decent team ( on paper) play so poorly
Steve
Guest
Yep you spot on about the recruitment...it has been diabolical (I think this may be the reason they got Richo back). They are being forced to play 2 players who are clearly unfit (tom and George) simply because they have no backup whatsoever in that department. Unfortunately by the time they do start hitting their straps it may be too late.
Gee up
Guest
While you are right to an extent about walkers exit, I think you'll find that he fell out of favour with madge for repeated "offences" The burgess twins are also returning from injury/operations. In saying that, I have been bemused by some of the off season signings and the other players to be let go only to be replaced by players of similar or lesser ability. Also wondering who Cook has upset as he adds spark out of dummy half.Also Sam wasn't there at the back end of last season when they were playing worse.
Steve
Guest
Agree with most of that....although it should be mentioned that Dylan Walker asked Souths for a release so he could take up the lucrative offer from Manly. It wasn't a case of the Rabbits offloading him.....he was never going to play 5/8 there and Manly were offering him big bucks to do just that.
steveng
Roar Rookie
lol, fair comment ‘planko’! But if they win on Friday then I would say that they 'flumed it' (Souths that is) and/or the Broncos must have played pretty bad on the current Souths form. I sincerely hope that they do win!!! Because that is what all of us Rabbitohs fans want from them! All we want for them to have ‘A Go' and if they get beat (by a small margin) and they have a go for the 80 minutes then we will not care because at least they had a go!
The power of Will
Roar Pro
I have to say that I agree with this, burgess' special treatment and the removal of key members of the club have definitely hurt the souths chances! However that being said, several players such as the Burgess twins and Keary are not playing well, also GI is having a rough time
Trivette Kelekolio
Roar Rookie
I did not want to believe the rife between the players because of the Burgess boys but this article makes sense. For Rabbitohs to turn it around is for all 3 Burgess boys to make a stand and play their hearts out for their teammates to prove why they are so important. I feel effort will be put in on Friday, but Broncos to still win by 12+
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Definitely agree about Te'o, he was a player that nobody wanted to run near at that stage, had physicality to spare.
Christov
Guest
#blameburgess is back lol. Hopefully we turn it around on Friday, but who knows.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I agree with your article 'Curtis Woodward' but I don't agree that Chris McQueen and Dylan Walker (missing from the side) had that much of an impact on Souths form this year. McQueen especially had a terrible season in 2015 and Walker was just ordinary and average in 2015. The problem is becoming more evident that there is a riff between players because of Sam Burgess and the Twins and this is becoming more evident week by week. Souths are not playing as a unit and are that disorganised that its becoming a joke and an embarrassment to watch. Luke Keary should be replaced by Cody Walker and McInnes should be replaced by Cook that is one problem that they have as McInnes continually mixes up the rucks and Keary is ineffective with his kicks and only does a few good things throughout the games that he has played, there is no continuity in their plays, they continually go 'one out' in whatever they do with their forwards and the rest of them do the same. If things continue the way that they are and Madge doesn't do anything and/or tries out different combinations then Souths will end up as the 2016 wooden sooners. Lets see how they front up against the Broncos on Friday? As this will be their biggest test so far this season and if they loose they don't have anymore excuses!
Shungmao
Guest
Sorry general manager of football for Souths, hence the issue
Doc79
Roar Rookie
If being 'best in the business fiscally' means getting the NRL to exempt the large amount of money paid to Bath rugby for Burgess' release fee from Souths' salary cap, I can't argue there.
Tom Rock
Expert
Interesting read. The problem seems to be the overall culture at the club, not Sam. Hard to resent a player that busts his arse probably more than any other member of their squad. Other plays enjoy similar lives spent on the social pages, but the bloke is just sunbathing, not courting poodles. Souths just don't look like they are having fun anymore. Inglis looks old and disinterested. The Burgess twins seem to have lost all energy and their basic fundamentals are atrocious. And the players obviously are getting tired of Madge. Maybe they should just accept where they are at, select a few players to retain (Sam, Reynolds, Johnson), and start a rebuild. Nothing wrong with freshening the joint up after a premiership.
Boomeranda
Guest
As a Souths supporter and member I have to put most blame on to Madge. Team selections are poor and game tactics are poor. Our backline used to be so exciting but now, pffft! We're just too predicable in everything we do. And I hate to say it, but Inglis has to be dropped. I know it'll never happen because he's G.I. While his defensive has been pretty solid, he is seriously a weakness in attack. And he's never been a leader - another mistake by our coach to dump Sutton.