If an ordinary television show like Gogglebox can win a silver Logie, it stands to reason a superbly talented Greg Inglis can lift South Sydney from the NRL basement to the penthouse.
And it’s time for that talent to stand up.
South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has bitten the bullet and moved fullback and captain Inglis to five-eighth, a move that will make a significant difference to the Rabbits’ attack and defence.
Inglis will be in tandem with exciting halfback Adam Reynolds, and just as importantly Inglis will be closer to the pack where he must fire up three Burgess brothers who have been relative spectators this season.
So tonight is time for South Sydney to reignite as a team and stop being an embarrassment to their loyal fans.
And it’s doubtful if there will be a more intriguing game this season with Parramatta the opponent at what should be a packed Pirtek Stadium.
The Parramatta fans have been kicked in the guts by the ‘Gang of Five’ administrators who have rorted the salary cap, been threatened with de-registration, and been responsible for losing 12 hard-earned competition points.
But the club is now officially under the salary cap and tonight will be playing for points.
On the one hand, there are the Souths supporters who feel cheated their club has been playing some pathetic rugby league, and the Parramatta supporters who have been cheated of 12 competition points.
But only one support group will leave Pirtek tonight with relieved smiles on their dials, and for mine that will be Souths.
The Greg Inglis factor heads the list, with flying winger Alex Johnston taking over the fullback role, where he prefers to play.
But let’s have no more of the fact Inglis was the match-winning Melbourne Storm five-eighth in the 2007 grand final, scoring two tries and capturing the Clive Churchill Medal for best on ground in the 34-8 victory over Manly.
That’s nine years ago for heaven’s sake and as history records the then-NRL boss David Gallop ripped that win and the 2009 premiership off the Storm for rorting the cap.
So there are many side issues on show tonight in what’s a vital game for both sides.
The fact this is the Indigenous Round is also significant with tomorrow night at Suncorp record-breaking.
It will be a superb and rare double-header – Storm-Cowboys and Manly-Broncos – the 52,500 seats were sold out by Wednesday.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Eels 13+ hey Parrafan? I thought Johnston was pretty good at fullback last night
Simoc
Guest
Nice prediction. On the money for a change.
Muzz
Guest
Peats was given a relocation/incentive to move fee.
Souths Yobbo
Guest
Joe, Gi is now only a has been. His knee is stuffed, and his best position is still being in the centres. Either as being 5/8 of fullback, has too much running for his liking. Centres generally have a bit more relaxed workload when it comes to key positions. With GI as fullback, he was doing as much workload as any current forward then the current team has. As for Cody Walker, he doesn't have anything to offer. Keary doesn't have a kicvking game, but is more vocal and more running game then Cody any day. If you are a so-called "star player" and haven't craked it into the first grade by your 24, then you were as a never was! Yes, Souths are having issues which they keep saying that there isn't Where's there is smoke, there is fire.
Souths Yobbo
Guest
I meant if Keary hasn't signed with Rugby Union
Souths Yobbo
Guest
Peats offer was basically contract that he had with Parra with the Titans (as they do apparently have some spare space under their cap). Not only that, they are ex-Rabbitoh players in the Titan squad, and also the proboabilty of Luke Keary going there as well (if he does sign with RU) and possibilty of others form South disgruntled ranks, he may feel more at home there. Otherwise, his backside would be sitting on the gutter. Preferably he would have liked to sign back to Souths, but with Madge still being coach, he will avoid the place. Souths could drop McInnes from the side (who is totally useless as a hooker) and Peats would fit straight in. Otherwise, I say Parra with get up tonight, and they should win comfortably. Most of the Souths team does have the fire within themselves as there are too many factions within the squad to play together. This can be seen with the media reports of Keary saying his piece to Crowe (who loves the "Burgi"), Madge has his favorite players that he uses week in and out who really need to dropped to the Regiies, and the rest of the team who are on the outer are sick of the nepotism whitin the team. When a coach and captain says there is no smoke in the camp with internal issues, means there is fire within the camp that they cannot control. Look at the Wests Tiger with Farah and Taylor!
Slane
Guest
It doesn't matter, Parrafan. The team is full of players who wouldn't be on the team if Parra hadn't cheated in 2013-15.
Mike from tari
Guest
Why did Peats go, what incentive was offered?????????
Parrafan
Guest
This is the last time I'm going to explain this. The Eels were under the cap for 2016. The NRL added an amount of 700k to the Eels 2016 cap for guaranteed 3rd party agreements for the years 2013-2015. The Eels teams between 2013-2015 were over the cap, but the team fielded since round one of this year was under the cap in a general sense, and only pushed over by the addition of guaranteed payments for 2013-2015. On to the football, fullback may be Johnstons preferred position but he is below average there. The Bunnies outside backs are terribly average, and their forward pack has been monstered by smaller packs such as the Tigers. Moving Inglis to 5/8th doesn't remedy any of this. Eels 13+
Joe
Roar Rookie
As long as the Burgess twins keep dropping the ball and are plodders in defence and Sam Burgess plays like an average first grader there will be no light at the end of tunnel no matter where you move GI. And what the heck has happened to Cody Walker who was playing pretty good footy before they decided to go with Keary? I think there's more to this Souths tale than is being let on and I don't think they will win tonight.
Red Dog
Guest
I think s more pertinent example would have been ,,,, if someone as lame a waleed aly can win a gold Logie , Mitchell Pearce can single handedly win this years state of origin.
BillK
Roar Rookie
David Please! They are referred to as the Rabbitohs.. NOT the Rabbits.. A Rabbitoh ( after whom the team is named) refers to the men who once roamed the South Sydney area selling rabbits for meat and I presume their skins. More importantly , please dont suggest that any points the Eels have lost were "hard earned"!! Hard earned?? Are you serious? THEY CHEATED! and have done so since 2013!! Not only should they have been stripped of all points, but they should be disqualified from the competition for the remainder of 2016.Clubs that have lost to them so far this season have been cheated! Aside from that, yes, this game is there for the Rabbitohs to lose. It is time for them to stand above the rest, ignore the media driven hysteria surrounding the CHEATING Eels and win in their own right!
steve b
Roar Guru
Taka will get him.!
Slane
Guest
'If an ordinary television show like Gogglebox can win a Silver Logie, it stands to reason a superbly talented Greg Inglis can lift South Sydney from the NRL basement to the penthouse.. One of the most bizarre comments ever written on the Roar. Generally 'reason' requires the use of logic. If a bad TV show can win a lame award then a champion League player can turn his teams fortune around? There is absolutely no way those two claims form a cogent and coherent argument.