Michael Maguire needs to pull a bunny from his hat

Spot on uglykiwi. THAT is exactly what killed the Bunnies chances when they played the Tigers (as I have posted on at length before). It will be interesting to see if the Tigers and Dragons can repeat this effort in Round 2. Second phase play is even more damaging to the defence than quick play the balls as it gives the defence no opportunity to adjust or get back in the defensive line. You see the same thing in SOO when a team lifts and are able to keep the ball on play it is draining on the defence who have to constantly scramble and can't rest. Good comment mate. I can't agree with Souths missing the 8 though so you will have to give me that one.

The best way to win games, is through second phase ball. Simple. if your game does not revolve around this, then the defense will smash you out of the game. Just look at Saints last weekend, they decided to change the way they attack..... and bang, not only do the win the game, they smashed the Riff. Quite clearly (apart from big Sam), Souths do you have the players to carry this off. And even Big Sam makes too many mistakes in this part of his game to be called great at it. Souths have not purchased well since their GF win, letting Teo go was the biggest mistake they could have made, they are still paying the price of that. GI is a massive loss, its like Cowboys losing Thurston or Parra losing Norman; hes irreplaceable. I can not see Souths making the 8; Even with GI playing, I still couldn't have seen them make it. Second phase!!! look at the teams that play this way over the next few weeks and see how the results go.

Andrew how many other coaches have won a premiership in BOTH the NRL and SL in successive coaching gigs? How many other coaches have turned around a 9 game liosing streak in to a 4 game (almost 5 game$ "white hot" winning streak? How many other clubs would drop their current coach and jump at the chance to grab Madge if he currently became available? Of course Madge is a great coach (just as Des Hasler is despite his current detractors opinions. You and I and most other serious and impartial observers of the game all know this is the case. Beware of Trolls and their "click bait" comments. I think that hook was meant for me but this fish ain't biting'.

"But for some reason Madge seems reluctant to drop them." Crowe is behind our juniors and no doubt behind this to some extent as well. I don't think he tells Madge what to do but I am sure Madge knows his opinion. "Tyrell & Clarke in again, give the young forwards a go" "Tyrrell and Clarke... to be only used to cover injuries" Sad but true, but then I have also said this many times already. Tyrrell has had too many serious concussions and should retire for the sake of his health and life after football. He has been a great servant of the club (along with Clark) but should never have been moved from the back row to prop. He is NO prop. The Burgii need to find their mojo fast or Souths go forward will stall. Cherrington and Rochow are going to take time. They have been out of first grade for a LONG time and need to find their feet and get their fitness and conditioning back. Still, I am keen to see Cherrington get a chance after his brief but impressive performance against the Dragons.

Mate they aren't going to finish last. Don't throw your money away. Dragons, Knights and Tigers are still the safest best for mine but all three totally out played Souths last week so they deserve that recognition at least. Still, a week is a long time in RL.

"I’d give Burns a run at fullback" I can't wait to see Burns get a run at FB but I think he will be under enough pressure taking the step up to first grade as it is and he should play on the wing at first until he finds his bearings. At least give Burns 4 - 5 weeks on the wing to find his feet in first grade. Remember how both Latrell Mitchell and Jaelen Feeney suffered last year as rookies being thrown to the wolves. I feel Burns will be an ideal replacement for Inglis, in time. The key is how much time? "Cook at dummy half and Farah in at halfback." As long as Reynolds proves his fitness he will play HB and IF Walker is moved back to cover the loss of GI then Sutton is the most likely replacement (put Kelly back in the Rabbit suit and have him cheer from the sidelines out of harms way). If Reynolds is not a late inclusion then I would play Sutton and Cook in the halves (the few times Farah has played at HB in the past he has struggled as it is not his position). "Walker is a must at 5/8 where he plays his best football." I couldn't agree more and I have posted the same many times on this site already, but there aren't really are a lot of options for Souths at FB ATM without leaving them vulnerable. Souths can either embrace mediocrity and leave AJ there, take a punt and risk having Burns crack under pressure and have his confidence slide (aka Mitchell and Feeney) or go for the best option at present which (much as it pains me), is Walker.

Maguire is not a great coach. The 2014 premiership win was as much to do with Russell Crowe's wallet along with the NRL sales pitch the GF everyone (NSW) wanted. They are a rubbish with little football smarts. Inglis was the only chance the Rabbits had of being competitive.

Newcastle is in the competition. That is all.

I have been saying the same thing about tyrell and Clarke for 12 months and perhaps you guys and others have as well. But for some reason Madge seems reluctant to drop them. We need chrighton, musgrave, cherrington and rochow in to cover the Twins laterally in defence and who need to start running hard and straight. At the moment they are both doing great impersonations of tony Williams and need a good dose or reality. Perhaps the demotion to NSW cup will be that. The more Souths fans continue to push on social media etc for Tyrell and Clarke, as good a servants as they have been, to be only used to cover injuries the more pressure we can apply to the coaches to change because as it stands now they are not getting the job done. - their time has past

God I hope the1-17 that Madge named is not the run onside.. Surely Kelly can't be the side . I actually thought Tom was pretty lazy in defence . I heard George was pretty ordinary as well for the bears . But we need one of the twins to find some form if we are any chance.

Just seen Souths squad, Tyrell & Clarke in again, give the young forwards a go, very very disappointed with last weeks game, these players should hang their heads in shame.

It seems to me appointing a head couch would be going a little too crazy with the bureaucracy.

I'd give Burns a run at fullback, he is great under the high ball, equally as good in defence and with his experience as a centre can chime into the backline and bring a lot to our attack. Johnston has had his chance and has never really performed yet he is a great flyer. Cook at dummy half and Farah in at halfback. Walker is a must at 5/8 where he plays his best football.

Wests Tigers went easier on Inglis than Madge did. I asked before Rnd 1 if there was a coach with his head closer to the chopping block than Madge, and a few people replied Paul McGregor. I would say that after Rnd 1, McGregor looks a lot safer. Madge, on the other hand will have "the full support of the board" when the Bunnies are 1 from 6 and be unemployed by the finals.