South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has turned the blowtorch on his underperforming NRL team.
The Rabbitohs committed 11 of their 15 errors in the second half – most of them in their own half – during their limp 23-10 defeat to North Queensland in Cairns on Sunday.
It was the South Sydney’s 11th loss in their past 14 matches, leaving them in 14th spot and six points out of the top eight with seven games remaining in the season.
A furious Maguire was in no mood to discuss his team’s effort at Barlow Park.
Asked where his men had failed against the Cowboys, Maguire said: “A lot of areas, a lot of areas. We spoke about it in the changeroom and I’m going to leave it there.”
The sixth-year coach then thanked the people of Cairns before pointing the finger at his side, who now need to win a near-impossible six of their remaining finals games.
It will be the second year in a row the Rabbitohs will miss the finals.
“As you can tell, I’m burning about the game because I know what I have in that changeroom and we’re not achieving that at the moment,” he said.
“The boys need to find a way to find those performances because what we put out there today doesn’t represent us.”
The Cowboys were just as guilty of poor ball security, but it mattered little as they broke the Rabbitohs’ goal line defence at will.
“We let in a few soft tries on our line which at this level is not good enough. The penalty count was 6-1 at one point,” skipper Sam Burgess said.
“In those conditions against a high completing team, it’s going to cost you. We just didn’t defend well enough. On the flipside in the second half, we didn’t hold the ball, so that’s the game right there.”
Roger
Guest
As a member I'm sick of MAGUIRE saying the boys are training well and putting in the effort we just drop the ball at cruisal times. They don't drop the ball at cruisal times THE BURGESS BOYS DO!!!. Show some BALLS!! MAGUIRE and piss em off or piss off yourself!!!
steveng
Roar Rookie
Read my post again, what I'm saying is, if Souths played as well as they did against the Panthers (which is within their capacity and their talent) and not played like a disorganised rabble, then the Cows would have lost the game on Sunday. Souths let the Cows score some pretty soft tries and their handling gave the game to the Cows. This game is no benchmark for the Cows and they shouldn't be too cocky by winning it. I don't think that the Cows are a top 4 team or have any chance of winning the GF.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I heard his heart skipped a beat and that because he was technically dead for a second it relieved him of his duty.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
How would the Cows lose in a game between the panthers and Souths?
steveng
Roar Rookie
Souths let them look that way, if Souths played like they played against the Panthers the Cows would have lost.
Rob
Guest
Martin has some very good qualities with his support play and kick chase. The commitment of the team in defence is good and they are creating opportunities in attack with a good kicking game and ball control. I'm not seeing Hampton in the same light. I would prefer Leary, Ponga, or G Mosby coming of the bench myself.
Rob
Guest
I understand you are disappointed in your teams performance but it's disrespectful to the Cowboys saying they are not a better team. The score and the ladder position of the Cowboys would suggest they are a better team than South are at this time. The Cowboys are playing smart solid football in my opinion.
Rod
Guest
Yep very disappointing by the Rabbitohs . The forwards are just too predictable no ones big enough or strong too simply smash through defensive lines, our forwards are sitting ducks with all there one out running. I disagree Sam has lost his effectiveness , he is still a great player. But we needs a right wingers another centre, a decent back up fullback and two props and we are back in the hunt
Suechi
Guest
Souths have lost their mojo big time - and only changes will bring it back. The forwards are getting smashed and the backs have no pace. Time for Sutton to retire - someone has to make that call soon, and having twin brothers was fun for a while, but neither are currently at a first grade standard. Sam Burgess has a go, but since his stint in rugby and the banning of the shoulder charge, he has lost some impact. Farah just doesn't look right in the jersey - whilst he looks busy, his heart is at the Tigers. The weight fell off their shoulders when they won the comp, and their motivation went with it.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I was a bit disappointed with the Cowbies taking their foot off the throat in this one. The for & against could use a little nudge northwards, and they didn't take advantage. Still there's seven games to settle and build towards a surge for the finals. Brisbane in round 26 looks to be a large indicater of who will play Melbourne in the big dance. Special mention to the young fella Tia Maria Martin, his first game he ran off Michael Morgan's shoulder all night and yesterday he tried a few other things - looking positive. Granville was excellent, as were the whole pack, Lowe putting burgess on his buttocks is always good viewing. Also liking what I see of Ben Hampton, good acquisition. Morgan taking a more dominant role is pure serendipity.
Wild Eagle
Guest
I haven't heard the old chestnut about the coach not being out on the field dropping the ball and missing tackles for a while. Apparently Million Dollar Madge is unable to influence how his team plays? Surely they could pay someone 100 grand a year to ramble on and chuck a wobbly now and again but have no effect.
kk
Roar Pro
Souths in freefall has robbed the Roar of the wisdom of 3Hats SSTID 2014. That is a tragedy.
steveng
Roar Rookie
At 6-0 and straight after the Cows kicked off, Tom Burgess does his usual by dropping a ball in the 20m and things go from bad to worst, the Granville and Hess tries were pathetically soft and its a reflection of the Rabbitohs soft attitude. How many times has that happened???. This has been 'part of the course' and happening at the Rabbitohs for 3 years. Poor handling and especially poor effort has been the spine of the Rabbitohs for years now. Not that the Cows were brilliant and/or a much better side. There has to be a complete and utter reshuffle at the Rabbitohs, It seems that Madge is too soft and just can't get anything out of his players, if things don't change and things continue the way they are, the Rabbitohs will never ever make the 8, even if GI, Gagai and Maloney join the squad.
souvalis
Guest
Don't know if Madge should be allowed to continue..admittedly he's has to put up with some really average players in the threequarters,well,everywhere....but that performance was beyond disappointing,Tom,George,Tyrell and Clark just don't cut it..get a caretaker in there for now..give some more time to blooding young forwards.....going to need more respect for their coach when they bring Gagai and possibly Maloney in..