The Roosters needed a statement, Souths just needed a win.
In the end, the Chooks got the points and had them underlined with a 48-6 that put the rest of the competition on notice, pushing the 0-3 Bunnies well and truly into crisis.
Front and centre of that is coach Jason Demetriou, who insisted that he is the man to lead South Sydney out of this blip, which sees them bottom of the ladder and with just four wins from their last 16 games.
“It’s disappointing, it hurts,” said the coach.
“It’s probably the lowest point of my career right now but I know how we get out of it. We’ll fight and fight together.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“We’ve got to turn it around. I’ve got no doubt that I’m the man who can do that. The only thing that’s going to make a difference is getting our training right, get our performance right and gett some results on the board.”
Souths were battered and remain winless through three games, but that wasn’t the story here. Neither was Latrell Mitchell, sin-binned midway through the second half, or the absence of Lachlan Ilias, who played reserve grade beforehand, or a
This was all about the Chooks. They were great and, if they keep this up, there’s absolutely no reason why they can’t win the Premiership.
James Tedesco was back to his best, scoring twice, while Dom Young and Joey Manu made a case to be the most damaging right edge in the comp. Jack Wighton, on debut, had no answer.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, in Game 300, lead from the front and, in a marked difference from their last outing at Brookvale Oval, everyone else was there too. Brandon Smith has never looked this good in red, white and blue.
Sam Walker, himself dropped a year ago, was exceptional before being forced off with a HIA.
“He was exceptional,” said Trent Robinson of his captain.
“He’s been exceptional for three games. He’s been very clear on his prep and leading from the front in attack and defence.
“It’s positive for Ted and we’ve run off the back of him. It’s really impressive.”
Souths were struggling before this but are now officially in crisis. They’ve had a tough start to the year on the fixture list, but that doesn’t excuse this disintegration.
Losing to your rivals is bad, but losing like this, where they were so obviously second best, shows how far they have fallen. Less than a year ago, they were top of the table. Now, they could be bottom by the end of the round.
Jason Demetriou has the job of his life on lift this team’s confidence. Dropping players won’t help. Neither will shouting at them.
The Roosters pack rally around Jared
The NRL’s obsession with milestones can be a little overblown at times, but when it’s a club like the Roosters, going into a derby against Souths, celebrating a figure as talismanic as Waerea-Hargreaves, it was sure to get the boys fired up.
There was no doubt that Jared would be fired up – when is he not – but what was so impressive was the way that everyone else raised their level beyond the usual to batter South Sydney and deliver the win.
Top of that list was Naufahu Whyte, who seemed inspired by the company around him to charge the ball in and, when the chance came, lay blokes out in defence.
One shot on Latrell Mitchell fired the crowd up no end and, on the stats sheet, he delivered over a third of his metres post-contact, which shows just how effective he was in winning rucks.
At one point, as Alex Johnston raced clear on the outside and kicked in, it was Whyte who was on hand to clean up. Those are the effort areas that coaches love.
Whyte was the new and shiny option, filling the role that was once Terrell May’s, though that isn’t to say he wasn’t also effective.
May did his bit, as did Lindsay Collins, and that the four middle forwards were next to each other in the metres list shows just how much the job was shared.
On the back of that, Brandon Smith had what might have been his best game as a Rooster.
The hooker was at his impish best, nicking the ball, taking early kicks, jumping out of rucks and noising up the Bunnies as much as possible.
The Cheese is all about his confidence off the field, but there were times last year when that seemed to be an act. Today, covered in his own blood, he saw himself on the big screen and laughed.
All of this came on the back of a performance at Manly in which the Roosters were battered in the middle.
Call it the milestone, call it playing for your mate, call it bouncing back after being bullied. Whatever it was, it worked for the Roosters tonight.
Souths’ problem is not their halves
All the narrative going into this one from the Bunnies’ perspective was the demotion of Ilias to reserve grade and the promotion of Dean Hawkins to take his place.
Ilias played NSW Cup before and came out of it with a couple of try assists and try savers in defence as the Bunnies’s second string ran out easy winners, so at least his end of the bargain was kept up.
Hawkins had little opportunity to shine, given Souths’ general problems in ball security that limited how much they were able to put on their attack at all.
Cody Walker, who hasn’t escaped criticism, overplayed his hand at times, but that was almost through trying too hard to make things happen.
But it was the five eighth who created Jacob Host’s try and almost everything good Souths did went down his side. He made five errors, but with a player like Walker, that usually is a byproduct of him trying things, and you don’t want that out of his game.
Tonight wasn’t on Cody. So what was it?
The middle, obviously, was second best. They didn’t stand a chance against a Chooks pack in this mood.
The ball control remains a nightmare and essentially ended any challenge in the first half. It’s all well and good having an attacking style of play, but if you’re dropping it in your own end, you’ll not win many games.
The left edge, featuring Jack Wighton for the first time, was good going one way but ripped apart going the other, and the other barely touched the footy.
If you’re defending South Sydney, you know what play they’re going to set up for and that makes it a lot, lot easier to defend.
Rumours of their demise are probably a little overstated.
This is Round 3 and they’ve already travelled to two of the three most difficult games they will face all year, plus faced a red hot Manly side in Vegas.
It’s all still salvageable. For now. But it has to improve quickly.
Albo
Roar Rookie
But these days the Redfern locals go for a latte and visit art workshops ? Real Souths footy fans are still down at Heffron Park (Maroubra / La Perouse) way. :silly:
Boss man
Roar Rookie
Nothing better than a delusional Souffs supporter revealing their massive Roosters chip at every opportunity . Throw in the irrelevant score lines of three years ago and the old chestnut over the cap BS. Surprised you didn’t throw in an always in our shadow and talk about those fantastic premierships that your grandfather used to reminisce about . You lot are a joke .
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Be lucky to beat Saints.....
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I seem to remember that comment being quite complimentary as in "FFS not another one....." You have a permanent agenda of including in your posts regularly that Penrith are somehow ar a greater disadvantage than any other club by having their players change clubs. That's the boring bit. I'll continue to call you out when you are being silly. And no, not a Panthers fan in any way. Like some of the players, eg. Cleary, Martin but most of them are flogs
Panthers
Roar Rookie
You’re a crusty supporter of another club. Who just can’t stand any talk of the club I support & you’re a hater of them. Witnessed by the fact that when you found out on here ,that they might even have another half named Cleary ( Jett ), who may also be a good player . You said ‘FFS’ … So you’ve become A T.rol.l of my comments. Notice that I never do likewise to any stand alone ( or otherwise ) comments of yours. ( Those not aimed as replies / insults at me ). As why bother! In any case . You enjoy your day. I’m done with any more discussion about your nonsensical rhetoric.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
That is why he can't be trusted at FB and needs to be moved to left centre so he can't hide in defence. When Mitchell is ON he is close to the best defensive FB in the game. Look at his try saver on Reece Walsh in Souths left defensive corner. When he puts his body on the line he can stop most players. But then when he isn't in the mood too often he feigns that he was wrong footed and let's players step inside him without even making an attempt. Also, too often he gets caught at marker defending on Souths try line instead of sweeping behind the defensive line to cover the ball in play. In short, Mitchell wants to have the prestige and money of playing FB without the work and mileage that goes with it.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Graham is tipped to be out until round 22 originally. But that has been updated to round 20. So almost the entire season. Arrow was tipped to be out for the season as well but was reassessed and is believed be 6-8 weeks according to the coach but he is listed as TBA. Munro should be back round 5 - 6.
Get_real
Roar Rookie
In my household we play the where was LM when the opposition scored game, that cheeky fella is never where I thought he would be when we spot him in the 3rd or 4th replay angle , never shows emotion, true professional????????
Get_real
Roar Rookie
Taafe has talent, played FB better than LM just proved too small running the ball out of his in goal a bunch of times. Is there any word on when Campbell Graham will return?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Nucleus = keepers In the context of Panthers question would you make any changes. Traditionally, nucleus would refer to a select few, essential personnel like with the Storm, Cam Smith, Cronk, Slater. Souths can build around that group IMO.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
The real deal is $10.99 at Woolies
Robbo
Roar Rookie
You lost me at Wighton being part of the nucleus
Robbo
Roar Rookie
No - you are doing your usual tripe - you know it and I know it - it's in most of your posts. I'm calling you out because its boring
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Two very good signings.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yes, you are 100% spot on WB, but would Bennett want to come back to coach Souths and coach this rabble especially replacing what he put into place at the Bunnies when he left a coach called JD? This has been a systematic stuff up by the coaching staff since Bennett was there and especially from the administration and making huge mistakes with and letting Adam Reynolds go, who was a great organizer and was exactly what the Bunnies needed when they let him go. Its no coincidence that Sam Burgess gave them the flick and must have had some huge frustrations with the admin at the Bunnies and must have had enough, as he saw what was coming. The Bunnies will not be a top 8 or a threat to this comp in the next 3 years with the players that they have, Mitchell needs an 100% improvement as he is NOT a FB and needs to be a centre, Walker looks worn out and you can see that he’s not fit and he can't do it on his own, just like Murray, Cook is not as quick as he was but imo is still affective if he had a decent pack of forwards. The difference between the Bunnies and the over the salary cap Roosters (which is their usual go :laughing:) was humongous last night and will not be breached with the current squad that the Bunnies have, you can get Mitchell, Walker or Cook to play 1000% better, as it won’t make any difference, as the system has to be changed, as they have NO CHANCE of beating the Roosters, Broncos or the Panthers as the difference between the Bunnies and all these top 4 sides is huge.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Steven, the fall from mid season last year has been astonishing. They have gone from the look of contenders to bottom feeders. The culture appears to be rotten which the coach has presided over. Graham and Arrow huge outs whilst Walker looks well past his best. Latrell just doesn’t get involved enough. It’s a complete mess. Not sure how much longer JD stays in the job. I would take Bennett back in a nano second.
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
48 points worth of bouncing balls..... :laughing:
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
I think Inglis and Burgess used up the free medical passes for retirement....
criag
Roar Rookie
Wow! After reading all those comments, I'm not prepared to put the boot in (tho we do remember jibing comments from some in the past!). Three tough teams for Souths to start off with (though I will say that for the Roosters, starting off with the Broncos, Sea Eagles, Souths and Penrith ain't no picnic either!), and a few players to come back, so no need to hand your members badges back just yet..but could the 'muffin top' comment about the Souths players in the sheds be the most pertinent one? Roosters fans aren't getting carried away. Great win, especially after snuffing out the comeback, and Sandon Smith taking charge confidently after Walker's exit, but they're facing a massive test against the benchmark next week. There were a couple of defensive lapses last night that would be punished by the Panthers. But the best start to a season in years and such a win last night is cause for a certain lightness in the step of those around me on the tough streets of Bondi today (or is that just one of the many female gym classes set up in old shops around here flying past?). As for the sin-binning, to cut a long story short, though Latrell was ill-advised to do what he did, I thought it was harsh, it was play on for me (I was just annoyed the ball was kicked in the first place!).
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
Get your point with Maguire, but that was after a number of years...one thing though is Souths need a lot of fitness after the last 3 games where they basically run out of puff after 10 minutes. Except Murray!!