Wayne Bennett admits he was worried about how South Sydney would respond to the sudden postponement of Saturday’s game which has now cost them a day of preparation for a top-four NRL showdown with Parramatta.
A last-minute change in Queensland’s health orders forced Saturday’s game to be moved from Rockhampton to Brisbane, but Souths were already sitting on the plane ready to board the bus to the ground.
They learned of the change in schedule while in the air on the way to Rockhampton on Saturday morning.
They were then ordered to fly back to their hub on the Gold Coast before the NRL confirmed the game had been postponed to Sunday night at Suncorp Stadium – a chaotic switch which has now eaten into their preparation time for the Eels.
Before a 50-14 win over St George Illawarra on Sunday night, Bennett said he was concerned about how the mayhem would affect the team.
“We lost a day yesterday and I think we all were pretty tired at the end of it,” he said.
“I was a bit worried about the day, how we’d handled it, but we treated it normal.
“I tried not to overplay anything.
“We turned up here with a pretty good attitude at the end of the day.
“We got a good start, lost our way a little bit, but in the second half we dominated more than we did the first half.”
If Souths were disrupted they didn’t show it after running in nine tries to three against the Dragons on Sunday night.
The win put them in equal second on the NRL ladder with Penrith, behind on for-and-against points.
A victory against the Eels on Friday night would put them second and jostling for a top two finish over the last month of competition.
Star centre Latrell Mitchell could be key to the push.
The NSW Blues star was arguably the best player of the State of Origin series win and brought his form back for Souths for the run home.
His two tries and 12 tackle-breaks on Sunday night showed he can light up the back end of the year for Souths.
“He’s an x-factor regardless of who he plays for,” Bennett said.
“He was in the Origin series.
“Every team needs that type of player but we’ve got to have everyone else around him doing their jobs as well otherwise the x-factor doesn’t come into play.”
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Souths will be a far tougher challenge than an under strength and injury ravaged roosters outfit. Still, I can’t see Parra getting within 15-20 points of Souths based on respective performances from the weekend
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Considering Mitchell is still learning the fullback position, I think he will can only get better and better. The Dragons were never going to beat Souths - Parra might have a chance, they must be hurting from all the criticism.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
compare the quality of players on both injured lists
Gee Up
Guest
No, no, no. Only the Roosters have injured players.
Nat
Roar Guru
Are you still holding onto that from the Roosters or because he left? Any evidence of that "bludger" in his 23 games at Souths? I did put him 2nd to both Tede and Turbo as far as FBs go but he is also 23 games into his FB career and the gap should be significantly wider considering the other 2 have more than 5yrs experience on him.
steveng
Roar Rookie
As Bennett said we’ve still got 7 players out and that has been the case for quite a while now as allot of the replacements are just kids and rookies. Yes next week against the Eels will be a different game but and what I’ve seen of the Eels I can’t see them beating us on their form. As far as the Bunnies long term and in comparison to the contenders, the Bunnies have got to get their best side on the field and play a few games, as that is what’s been missing all year. As far as their defence and going at it for 80 min, well its part of their game unfortunately and could be the thing that will bring them undone, especially against a relentless Storm side and when the Panthers are at full strength, as doing their usual starts to games just won’t cut the mustard come September. Let’s see what happens as we need a bit of competition for this 2021 NRL comp to mean anything, as what happened in the game Storm v Panthers just won’t do for an NRL comp where you have one dominant side and especially with this virus thing games being turned on and off and such confusion reigns. Btw, great effort by the Bunnies full of rookie’s side as that is what I’m saying and is the difference between us and especially the Storm side.
She’ll be right mate
Guest
But on a bad day you would have 13 bludgers with a bad attitude, and I can’t say I’ve never seen either of the other two commit a deliberate dirty play . He’s good , but he’s got a ways to come to outrank Teddy or Turbo.
Nat
Roar Guru
For many years I discouraged the comparison between Latrell and Inglis but I have to say it's getting closer. Maybe, in the Storm system, GI just matured much faster out of the Sydney spotlight where Mitchell was a star at a glamour club. The way he is playing now, I would have him easily 3rd best after Turbo and Tede and the only reason he is there is because they actively chase involvement. If the old rule of thumb was "13 of one player..." I think Mitchell would be the best player in the comp.
Paul
Roar Guru
The Eels will be a far tougher challenge than an under strength and totally demoralized Dragons outfit. Still, I can't see Parra getting within 15-20 points of Souths based on respective performances from the weekend
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Based on this weeks form the Bunnies will beat Parra while in 1st gear But you never know...