Wayne Bennett has declared no-one can doubt South Sydney’s ability to beat the best in the NRL’s finals after their record-shattering 60-8 flogging of the Sydney Roosters.
The Rabbitohs’ demolition of their arch-rivals was one of the greatest attacking performances in the club’s 112-year history, bringing up 60 points for the first time since 1937.
Bennett himself claimed it was the best attacking display he’d seen as a coach, particularly given it was against a team in pursuit of a third straight title.
But more crucial is the timing. After being shocked by Canterbury in the penultimate round, Souths will still enter the finals with seven wins from their past nine games.
And after not beating a fellow top-eight side for the first half of the season, they come to October with three – the same amount as next week’s do-or-die opponent Newcastle.
“We don’t know what the future will bring, but nothing they do in the next month will surprise me,” Bennett said.
“It was a quality team we were playing. The back-to-back premiers who’ve had a great season and are in the top four comfortably.
“We took on the Storm, until halftime we had a lead then. We played Parramatta (and beat them 38-0) in the last three or four weeks.
“No one has to ask the question if we can beat teams in the top four – because we can.
“Our challenge is to be that team every week for the next month.”
What also can’t be questioned is Souths’ attacking threats across the park.
Cody Walker is popping up on both sides of the field, routinely looking dangerous linking with Adam Reynolds.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Campbell Graham could suddenly enter the State of Origin debate at centre, while Corey Allan is growing more and more into the fullback role with Latrell Mitchell injured.
And that’s before you consider Alex Johnston, who claimed five tries for the second time in his career on Friday night to go past 100 for the Rabbitohs.
His last three came in the space of five minutes, taking him to the top of the try-scoring charts with a little help from Allan, who passed one back to him over the line.
“They were great tries he scored too, Alex Johnston classic,” Bennett said.
“I thought how lucky we were to go with Corey at fullback and Alex at wing, because we were thinking about going the other way at one stage.
“Because Alex is a genuine finisher. And Corey has some great passes in him to link everyone up as well.”
Col in Paradise
Guest
The Roosters didnt throw it..they were ambushed tactically and with the bunnies attack and defence ripping them apart the players'and coaches faces showed shock.. they went pale and eyes said it all...yes a few guys out..but same for souths...Bennet and the Bunnies have worked out the Rorters game plan weakness..one t juh Inc it showed is they may be big across the park but they are slow..run them ragged and dont play the game there way...people saying they threw it dont have a clue..the chooks were fried !
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Was he shown the door or did he ask for too much? The fact that there wasn't many takers suspects the price was too high
StuO
Roar Rookie
As sweet as this victory was the cynic in me suspects the Roosters threw this game to suit themselves in the finals. Although there is no guarantee they will avoid the Storm in week one it is hard to believe B2B premiers could be spanked that badly so close to the finals, and at the hands of their oldest rival no less. It is next to impossible to prove, but if this was the case it is a show of sportsmanship equal to milking crusher tackles and resting the majority of your starting side in the final round of the regular season. It would be an insult to the history shared by the Rabbitohs and Roosters and a mockery of the NRL. "There has to be an investigation into this!"
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Nice theory, but Parra would rather face Storm, they kept them to nil last time but Panthers recently made them look ordinary. No way Eels want to lose today. Other NRL conspiracy theories abound... "It's all staged to ensure a Roster v Storm GF"..
Reg Grundy
Guest
Roosters were preparing for finals. I wouldn't read too much into Souths thrashing them. However, a win is a win for Souths. Roosters would more than likely flog them come finals time! I really would wish Channel 9 get rid of that bell ringing red flashing warning for 6 more tackles it is really annoying!
Rob
Guest
Yeah I said the same thing about the Tigers and Cowboys in 2005. Tigers came out and gave it to the Cowboys in a game at the end of the season then smashed them in the first semi followed by the Grand Final. A lot of the game is played between the ears.
JGK
Roar Guru
Still quite stunned at the result. It really was one of those nights for Souths when just about everything stuck. I don’t think Easts threw it as some were suggesting. Playing a red hot Panthers is no picnic and then, if they lost, playing the Raiders coming off a relatively easy match v the Sharks.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Shhh. It's the first day in 20 weeks Broncos haven't been in the news.
Aiden
Guest
Would have been 70 but for the bunker. How about this, Captains call has worked well. Over 40% of wrong decisions overturned. Instead of the ref going to the bunker all the time, none of that, and increase the Captains calls to a max of 7 per game. That’s 14 overall. With tries and the current number of captains calls and other bunker related interference you are getting more trips to the bunker than that anyway. The players usually know what’s up.
Aiden
Guest
It’s delicious isn’t it, some executives who think they know what they are doing are eating shitake this morning
Aiden
Guest
I enjoyed how they all cracked up over Johnson leaping to his feet to race upfield to scream for the ball. And in the post game Allen was pretty funny, ‘ I don’t score many so I was about to put it down but he was calling for it so I went, oh all right then.’
Big Daddy
Guest
If the final score had been 24-22 Rabbitohs you may have copped it but that second half they threw the towel in. I still reckon they didn't want to play Melbourne next week.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
Nothing. Move on to next week.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
If the Eels lose it’s more likely just a general lack of ability rather than a strategy
Chuck
Guest
Happy happy joy joy!! Always a good day when the Chickens are beaten, but extra special when they get thrashed, and by the Wabbits! Go the Wabbits! (i am a Cows fan but, well, gotta support someone in the finals and She-who-must-be-obeyed is a Wabbits fan so there we go).
Peter Anderson
Guest
This game smacks of the roosters avoiding going to Brissy to play the storm next week. Now what if Parra (assuming Raiders reserves lose to sharks) also lose to avoid same???
BuffaloTheorist
Roar Rookie
Watching the game on fox/Kayo certainly added to the theatre. Voss’s prescience in connecting Johnston’s feat to Ellery Hanley’s ten tries, and then for Allen to throw the pass after he crossed the line was brilliant. The commentary box were willing the Rabbitohs towards a bunch of records and they all fell, as if on command.
mushi
Roar Guru
I do wonder if they used a different defensive structure. When the defensive half cheated into the line two things happened that typically don't with their structure. The half seemed to have an invisible barrier that they'd hit and stop, rather than follow through to the ball carrier. Maybe souths played far deeper than other teams in early tackle plays but it was odd. Normally the rule is once committed you have to follow through. The other part was the next edge defender didn't follow as closely. Leaving a north/south gap. Then Walker, or the other play makers, just had to run at the edge defender and had an easy read for inside the gap or a 3-2 outside. It's the type of defense you'd run in a drill for young playmakers to deliberately create a gap for them to practice setting up the defender. It was just really odd. Walker ripped it apart, but then the Broncos probably would have too.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Haven't seen Easts get rumbled like that since Manly beat them by the same margin. Then, the Easts players did a lap for every point scored against them at training.
Spanners
Guest
Roosters brought their A game and it looked like they'd be the ones clocking up 60. Souths found another 2 or 3 gears and absolutely blew them off the park in what was easily the most comprehensive win from any club this season. Roosters have now lost to the Panthers, Raiders, Storm (twice) and the Rabbitohs lapped them. Technically they can still win, but I'd reckon they are even money to go out in straight sets (Penrith next week and Raiders?? the week after). It certainly doesn't help their cause to lose Friend.