Are the Rabbitohs going to make the eight?

Given a decent run with injuries I think they'll finish top six.

I like Alex Johnston at fb, if he still has the wheels.

I think Gagai has also been a huge loss. Lets give Taafe a go. Next year Nikorema arrives. My 2c they'll make the 8 and be close to top 4. They just need a bit more time together. They've lost some gun players. I'd rather be supporting the Rabbits then Warriors, Titans and Knights

On the two meetings v Broncos this year, you'd definitely be on crack to think Souths finish higher on the ladder.

Hi steveng. It seems their concession future planning was ‘Reno to old do we won’t keep him too long, Full stop’. Did they look at a seasoned replacement? (Not many going in that department to be fair). Did they just ‘hope’ the Jr coming through would be up to it off the bat? Did they just accept they slide down ladder a bit? Did they not have the money for Reno? If not money, I would have kept him for those few seasons he wanted, had him there guiding, being massively involved with the new halves, maybe having him play not even full games, to get him running with new guys and ‘showing them’ in game. But I know little. All tough decisions.

If the hooker Mamouzelos can be the first grade hooker , is something that they’ll have to decide fairly quickly. As good 9’s , halves & fullbacks are hard to find. Cook is the first grade hooker their. If Mamouzelos doesn’t get to be first grade hooker within a fairly short amount of time. He’ll seek opportunity elsewhere, if he’s a good player. A few clubs may be looking. Titans for one. Parramatta next season. St.George & possibly the Panthers next season.

They have been if Ted the softest draw in the comp and should make it even though they are a shadow of what they were last year.

Maybe the Broncos (with the guidance of Adam Reynolds) are simply starting to realise their potential, rather than Souths are playing like rubbish-they're just being beaten by a better team! Yes, I accept that it was foolish for Souths to only offer Reynolds a 1-year contract extension to someone who would have been happy to be a one-club man, when many teams like the Broncos, were desperate for an experienced player to guide them around a game and would pay bigger $ for that experience, but you gotta lock that down. I also accept that letting Gagai go at the same time was a poor decision. I understand Gagai wanting to go back to Newcastle and help them after they threw him a lifeline when he stuffed up at the Broncos but Souths should have done what was needed to keep him too.

I think it's time that people re-evaluate Souths for this year, and reflect on what has been. It's pretty clear that Souths targeted a Premiership while Bennet was at the club. After it was confirmed he would leave, the club needed to look to the future. Letting Adam Reynolds go was a bad decision, no doubt about that, but our future looks strong. Blake Taafe, Ilias, Murray, Koloamatangi, Graham and Moale are our future. Where Mitchell plays, whether Mamouzelos can be our hooker, and who our halves will be are the questions we need to answer. Take this year to really grow these guys and maybe have 1 more shot with Cook and Walker at the end of their careers. Bennett was brilliant at Souths, and last year was so, so close. I don't think too many appreciate how close that GF was. An intercept pass, a missed goal, a 2point FG that bounced over the sticks. Any one of these things go differently and the whole convo about Souths changes. Penrith deserved their reward for 2 brilliant years but what Souths had built very nearly paid off. After we lost I went outside to breathe and try to be Zen. It was nearly there, and it won't be that close for a while yet.

You are on crack Jenny if you seriously think the Broncos have a shot at a top 4 finish. :laughing: The Broncos will miss out on the top 8 or finish 8th and get knocked out of the finals in week 1. Souths will still make the top 8 once Latrell Mitchell returns and Souths sort out the right starting 17. They have blown their chance of a top 4 finish though I fear.

Reno was the marquee/key player and he evolved for 9 years within the Bunnies best sides, you can’t replace experience and talent like that ever, its very apparent of how Cody Walker is playing and our whole attack is in 2022, he was the key to our attack, it’s just not there with Ilias and Waker, who just kick to statues on every 5th and just up and unders with no tactical kicking at all, hence the total mess in our backs that are just a complete rabble! As what we had last year is not there. Its like taking Hughes or Munster out of the Storm, Cleary out of the Panthers. Letting Reno go was the dumbest and the most opposed move from all us Bunnies fans ever, as this is the same and since the Bunnies let Ron Coote go to the Roosters.

HAHAHA You compare Sam Walker to Ilias without mentioning Walker is a absolute turnstile in defence. Sam Walker is probably the worst defensive half in the NRL. Absolute liability in defence.

So you think Reno would be able to do anything with Souhs being 15th for completed set %. No, he couldn't.

Souths problem is dropped ball. 15th in the nrl for completed set %. Adam Reynolds could do nothing about that'll.

You have done well, Glory Bound, in outlining the many things awry at Souths. Keep speaking of them so that other fans will have the message sink in. I have commented before that Bennett doesn't leave behind a great structure, dedicated ethos or a fine succession plan, not even at the Broncos. A couple of weeks ago I was giving you a touch up in your absence :silly: and I offered advice from a long term Rabbitohs disciple to your good self. When daydreaming of what might be down at Redfern you are better off living in the past! - reflecting on Jim Morgan, Richie Powell, Bob Grant, James, Branighan - no, the other one! :stoked: - and the great good they did for Souths, Manly, Easts, NSW and the Kangaroos. Post World War II the Rabbitohs have appeared in 7 consecutive grand finals ('49 to '55, won 5), St George in the next 11 ('56 to '66, lost 0!) and Souths in the next 5 ('67 to '71, won 4). No other team has since approached that dominance.

South’s player retention is better than the Panthers. The Panthers lost the likes of Burton, Capewell, Naden, Momirovski etc , last season. Next season they lose Kikua, Korisau , O’Sullivan & one of the brightest rising stars of the game in Katoa . That’s just to start with. They don’t buy any decent players at all. Garner ? What the hell…Most of the Panthers NSW Cup forwards are better players, with better stats than him. Then they say that it would be difficult for them to retain Crichton plus some of the NSW Cup players? How ? With just Kikua & Korisau…That’s $1.4-1.5 million. Let alone all of the other players that have left every year. They aren’t the only club to suffer without having huge individual & independent corporate backers. Yet they still suffer more top , first grade & lower grade players leaving than any other club.

Jai Arrow is one of the most overrated players in the competition. All the talk about how great he was & the huge influence he would have on the South’s team, when he was signed from the Titans. Yes, he does work hard sometimes & has been good playing for Queensland at times. For the big money he’d be getting at South’s, still not that great a deal for them. Sometimes you rarely notice that he’s playing. Many forwards work as hard as him or harder.

Was clear for all to see what has turned Broncos from a cellar dweller --> to contemplating top4 has also turned Souths from a top4 team --> to contemplating cellar dweller. Adam Reynolds.

roll in... I'm blaming either FTS or AC for that. Others do, sovwhy can't I? :silly:

Just hand me the axe Col and stand well clear. :silly: