Sorry Souths fans. Take a giant red marker and run it through 2022. Your premiership window hasn’t just closed. It’s been slammed shut.
In fact, next year could be painful for the Rabbitohs. Pins inserted underneath the fingernails kind of painful.
Having fallen short 14-12 in the grand final against Penrith on Sunday night, the Rabbitohs are up against it heading into the New Year.
Why? I’m glad you asked.
Firstly, Wayne has left the building, and if history is anything to go by, Bennett’s departure will bring an inevitable trough on the rollercoaster.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
When Bennett departed St George Illawarra, Steve Price took over. The Dragons missed the finals for two straight years and Price was sacked.
Bennett’s exit from Newcastle was met with years of hurt, while we all remember how the more recent move from Brisbane ended for his successor Anthony Seibold.
Like Price was at the Dragons, Jason Demetriou has been the right-hand man. The successor. Groomed to take over. Here’s hoping Demetriou is the exception to what history has shown.
But the coaching change aside, the major reason the Rabbitohs have blown the chance for premiership glory in the foreseeable future is their roster.
The grand final was Adam Reynolds’ farewell match. He’s Brisbane bound in 2022 and the club hasn’t signed a successor.
The maligned Anthony Milford was offered a lifeline by the Bunnies, but he’s no game manager.
If anything, he’s a similar player to Cody Walker.
What made the Walker-Reynolds combination so brilliant was the balance.
One directed traffic and did the bulk of the kicking, while the other schemed and let his instincts guide him.
Even if Souths want to go to market, there’s no-one remotely close to the calibre of Adam Reynolds available.
He’s a top-tier playmaker. Without him, they’re extremely vulnerable.
There’s also the risk of Walker carrying baggage into next season following the intercept pass he threw to Stephen Crichton.
It had shades of Brett Kimmorley-Matt Bowen in Queensland’s famous Origin victory in 2005. Kimmorley didn’t throw a cut-out pass for almost 18 months after that.
I hope, for Walker’s sake, that pass doesn’t have the same impact.
Souths are also losing Jaydn Su’A to St George Illawarra and Dane Gagai to Newcastle.
Gagai has been a potent strike weapon for the club over the last four years. His contributions cannot be undervalued.
They also have Benji Marshall and Mark Nicholls off-contract.
Marshall, who turns 37 before season 2022 kicks off, is yet to officially make a call on his future, while Nicholls, who featured in every game of the side’s 2021 campaign, is unsigned but is reportedly close to extending.
Compare that to the 2021 premiers, Penrith and it paints a picture.
Of the grand final winning squad, Kurt Capewell heads to Brisbane, centre Matt Burton to Canterbury and Tyrone May remains off-contract.
May’s future appears a fait accompli with the utility expected to formalise an extension shortly.
That means their squad remains almost fully intact for season 2022. Their spine is untouched.
Sure, Souths get Latrell Mitchell back next season but who is the game manager? Add in that Alex Johnston, Jaxson Paulo and Cody Walker are all unsigned beyond next year and how the decision makers handle Walker’s future is sure to be a talking point.
Roster management is a difficult but necessary part of the game – an artform. The club has been criticised for not retaining Reynolds.
Time will tell whether that was a decision they’ll live to regret.
For the sake of the Redfern franchise, finding a successor is vital. Keeping Walker beyond next season is too.
There’s plenty to ponder. But no denying that the 2021 grand final is one that got away.
Good luck in 2022 Souths, I fear you’ll need it.
BillV
Guest
*won in 1970 that is, so 3 wins last 50 seasons
BillV
Guest
Maths not my strong point but including seasons 1971 and 2021, that’s 51 years already. Granted they were kicked out for 2 years ‘00 and ‘01, which saves your bacon at 2/49 - although if you want to only include seasons played, they won in 1979, so it’s 3/50. That being said I think they are done for a while. Bennett left Dragons and they turned to mud, left Newcastle - turned to mud, left Broncos - turned to mud. Left Souths .....
Rabbit Stew
Guest
Actually, you’re making it sound better than it is. South Sydney have won 2 premierships in the last 50 years ! They only just make the 50 years for 2. As the last one won before 2014, is 1971! After next season, you can bet your bottom dollar that it will go to 1 Premiership in the last 50 Years! So for all the 21 Trophies. The silver would have worn thin on all but 1, from cleaning.
Cam
Roar Rookie
To be fair, Steve Price had done nothing in his coaching career before he landed the assistant job with Bennett in 2010. In his 7 years as head coach of under-age footy teams, he won a Jersey Flegg title in 2005, but never made a GF outside of that win. He did a two year apprenticeship under Bennett, before taking the reins at the Dragons, who had an aging roster and ended up turning over most of their squad in a 3 or 4 year period. Demetriou's CV is pretty impressive by comparison. His first gig as head coach in Australia was back to back Q Cup titles with the Pride in 2013 & 2014. He also coached QLD Residents to victory over NSW in 2014. He joined the Cowboys and was attack coach for their 2015 premiership. In 2016 he was head coach with the Illawarra Cutters when they won the NSW Cup. Incidentally, they went on to beat the Burleigh Bears 54-12 in the NRL State Champs. In 2017 he was recruited by Bennett and has served a 5 year apprenticeship under the master coach. Currently he is pretty well positioned at Souths and although they lose Reynolds, Gagai and Su'A, they won't turn too many core players over in the next couple of seasons. On Dylan Walker, he hasn't signed with a club and his coach is still shopping him around. This season he played roughly 45 mins off the bench, so it wouldn't surprise if he left for a starting spot. And more money of course. Which Souths would have, if they wanted to chase him.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah. I think the Roosters showed that the difference between top 4 and top 6 can come down to things like luck or injuries But the top five or six were so far ahead of the rest of the comp, that short of disasters, it’s hard to see any of them slipping too far…
steveng
Roar Rookie
Nathan Ryan, the Bunnies were a top side before Madge, Seibs and/or Bennett came along, we always had the talent, roster like we’ve always had throughout our history and even when our club started deteriorating in the 90’s to 2000 with the salary cap that restricted our potential in harnessing all our junior talent. If you look at all the Souths juniors list of layers that didn’t play for us and contributed to other clubs success the list is enormous. Anyway, the 2022 roster won’t have Reynolds, Bennett and a few others but we still have the backbone to create what we’ve always created and that is a top side especially with Bennett’s many year offsider Jason Demetriou who has more of an idea then what went on at the Dragons and/or the Knights, totally different situations as the Bunnies are well managed (as Bennett said) and have been so for the last 10 to 15 years. Predicting anything now is premature just like most predicted that Souths won’t be in the 2021 GF as they had no chance as it will be a certainty that it will be a Storm v Panthers GF. Also, let’s not give Reynolds too much of a wrap as he had some very ordinary patches from 2015 to 2020 and has only come good lately as an overall player, this is not in his general kicking or goal kicking but his full form as he did some very ordinary things there fora few years. Also and don’t forget, that we were only 2 points short in this GF and that (I’m not blaming him at all) due to Reynolds missing that conversion, which fair enough we can blame it on a groin injury but and if Trell was there he could have taken a shot or even Taaffe should have taken it but, for a player like Reynolds and with his kicking skills and especially his accuracy kicking skills, he should have gotten that easily! Also and in addition, ok and yes as I’m not making excuses with Mitchell not playing but, if he was then things might have been completely different or not as we would have had more of a chance of coming short by 2 points and winning this GF. All I can say is “Don’t Write Us Off” as the Bunnies have won 1 GF in the last 11 years and the last time we missed out on a GF in 1969 we got right back into it and won in 1970 and 1971 until the poaching started and then eventually the salary cap ruined us.
Paul Monaro
Roar Rookie
Can live in hope
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Melbourne don't slide. They just don't. One day they will, but it's like saying that the Tigers will make the 8, or the Dragons will recruit players in their prime.
Tigranes
Guest
Souths will still be good enough for top 8...if Souths fans think that's harsh try being a Tigers fan.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Actually, he's going to FC Lézignan next season. Not quite done yet.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good post and totally agree, far too early to be writing this team off for next year. This squad still has 6 or 7 Origin players and JD has served an excellent apprenticeship under Bennett. Agree they are big holes to fill however Souths are playing the long game. This is a team they can field in Rd 1 next year which is still very handy. 1. Taaffe 2. Johnston 3. Graham 4. Mitchell 5. Paulo or Milne 6. Walker 7. Illias 8. Nicholls 9. Cook 10. Tatola 11. Kalomatongi 12. Arrow 13. Murray 14. Milford or Marshall 15. Burgess 16. Sele or Knight 17. Cartwright
Tom G
Roar Rookie
To be honest, i think the day after a narrow grand final loss is way too early to shut any premiership windows. Souths have proved to be pretty resilient over the past few years. They’re a well run club with a decent squad, even accounting for departures, and to all accounts Demitriou is a pretty handy coach.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Obviously tough when a club loses such a favourite like Reynolds, but this is how the salary cap is supposed to work. Souths with Reynolds, Gagai and Sua, Melbourne with JAC, Dale and Nico, and the Panthers with Capewell, Burton (and Naden, but just for symmetry), the best teams should be shelling players. And good to see those 9 players are going to 5 different clubs, all from the bottom 10 clubs in the table.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
After a grand final loss.. haven’t they suffered enough??? Too soon
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Tony
Roar Guru
I reckon Melbourne might be joining Souths on the slide
Phil
Roar Rookie
As the author points out, clubs falter after Bennett leaves, being in worse shape than when he came in. Even the first time he left Brisbane Ivan Henjak took over and the club flopped. History says Demetrieou is in for a rough trot. It will be worse if he can't control Latrell Mitchell, something Bennett had trouble with. We can only wait and see what happens.
mushi
Roar Guru
Penrith’s attack certainly looked worse this year
KenW
Roar Rookie
With spine players Damien Cook, Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell, Souths should still be able to prop open that premiership window (at least an inch or two) Maybe I'm all on my own here but I would've only considered Souths to barely have that window open in the first place. They have been bouncing around from 3-6 for the last few seasons, a strong team but never looking like genuine threats. This has been their best season in recent memory but the top 2 teams still put cricket scores on them in the regular season. A win yesterday would have been a great story precisely because they had overachieved just to get there. Minus Bennett, Reynolds and a handful of supporting players it's hard not to see them falling back at least a bit.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
That's if he actually caught any of Cleary's bombs! Most of the time he passed off to the winger