Tragic new for Big Tino and the Titans. To have an entire season written off after just 2 games is heartbreaking.

That was my point. 😛 👍

That explains it. As everyone played on regardless and the Sharks weren’t disadvantaged I thought it would stand.

The refs need to get these calls right. Play advantage rule and let the bunker sort it out after the fact.

It seems that in the majority of cases once the ball is dropped the referees blow the whistle even though they should be playing advantage rule and zero tackle once the defensive team takes possession. They are calling unnecessary stoppages and slowing the game down.

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.

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.

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.

Congrats Tigers fans. A well deserved win for the Tigers and for Benji Marshall. Perhaps all the Tigers games should be played at Leichhardt Oval?

Can someone explain why the 30 metre break for Api Koroisau got taken back to the Tigers 20 metre line just after he left the field with cramp? A little later on the Sharks dropped the ball at their end of the field it was picked up by the Tigers (Fainu) who ran the ball 8 metres before getting tackled and they called play on.

Are they playing drop ball rule or advantage rule? Do they even know? The NRL is a joke. There is too much inconsistency. The ref’s are now making up terms as they go.

Api Koroisau was a wizard working his magic. Olam had a strong debut for the Tigers. All the Tigers players stood up.
Aiden Sezer played a solid role. He played the kind or role and game that Souths have been missing since Adam Reynolds was shown the door at Redfern.

And have people think that I am unoriginal? Perish the thought. 😛

I don’t think it will let you duplicate comments and as all my comments get screened I think there would be no chance.

It was just another LAZY play from Latrell, trying to do as little as possible to pick up his pay cheque before heading back to the farm in Taree for the start of the week.

While the Panthers and players like JWH always seem to get a Free Pass! 😂

And Souths were 1st on the NRL ladder after 11 rounds in 2023 and then missed the finals. Even Souths could still win a premiership at this point. After 3 rounds, ANYTHING is still possible, and it is still way too early to make long-term predictions at this stage.

Sounds like you are JD, giving Mitchell a choice. I don’t see Bennett asking for permission. I would imagine Bennett would say something like; “Latrell, I’m switching you to left centre and when your performance merits it I will reconsider switching you back to FB if it’s better for the team. The rest is up to you.”

I totally agree, Tony. Unfortunately, I already commented on this at length in a reply to ‘Panthers’.

Demetriou has ‘no doubt’ he can turn around Souths after disaster derby sees Latrell binned in Roosters riot

I heard Jye Gray blitzed it in NSW Cup. In terms of height and size, Gray is bigger than Geoffrey Toovey, Alan Langer and Preston Campbell and just under Matt Bowen. So he is in good company. If you are tough enough and good enough, you can make it regardless.

This might be long, but it should answer your question…

The nucleus of Souths side is Murray, Cook, Arrow, Koloamatangi, Duncan, Mitchell, Walker, Graham, Wighton and AJ (assuming he doesn’t lose any more speed). They are all safe, but Mitchell and Walker need to have an attitude and performance adjustment. Munro and Gray are part of ‘Generation Next’ and both are ready to play in the starting 13 now.

Souths need a clean out, though, IMHO. Milne, Kennar, Tu’itupou Thompson (another former Illawarra Cutters player like Milne and Host), Ilias (unless they move him to hooker), Host, Chee Kam, Mamouzelos (won’t make it in the NRL just like Billy Brittain, great in NSW Cup but not for the NRL), Lovett and Keppie should all be moved on. Tom Burgess probably escaped that list by virtue of the fact he is already going to the ESL. Shaq Mitchell also needs to improve his fitness and performance levels, or join that list too. Souths need to look to opportunities to introduce young players like Munro, Gray (who could be anything in the game) and Te Hau. Plugging holes with Milne, Kennar and Thompson will not save Souths going forward. If Souths don’t start to give these kids opportunities, they will probably be picked up by other clubs.

Also, AJ appears to be losing his speed. He is still a great finisher, but his speed was one of the important factors in giving him an edge over the opposition. Currently, he still has to score 12 tries to pass Billy Slater and 25 tries to pass Ken Irvine’s NRL record. Before the start of this season, that looked to be well within reach. Now, I’m starting to worry. Except for FB, I don’t see AJ playing anywhere else in the team, and I am starting to see a hint of what happened to Nathan Merritt where he was moved aside for young gun Alex Johnston.

Having Graham, Arrow and Munro out is certainly significant. Also, Wighton was playing his first game of the season, although, why he didn’t play in the trials is beyond me. He may have been carrying an injury. But over the entire off-season?

Still, Souths can’t hide behind that excuse. The Storm have Munster and Asofa-Solomona missing and have still won their first two games of the season, holding the Panthers to NIL which is an impressive feat in itself, and a 4-point win over the Warriors who have looked pretty solid this year with only two 4-point losses and a gritty, high energy come from behind performance to defeat the Raiders last night.

Souths have conceded 112 points in 3 games, with an average of 37 points conceded per game. That is simply not good enough! Defence is based on attitude, and clearly the attitude at Souths is poor. I put a lot of stock in Sam Burgess’ assessment of the club just before he was forced out the door. I think he nailed the problem.

Souths have a coach who is intimidated by his 2 biggest stars in Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, with Latrell it was reported having influence in picking the team. Would that have happened under Wayne Bennett? Demetriou appears to fear that trying to discipline either pair would have them requesting an immediate release from the club. As both behave more like a couple of sooks and pamper prima donnas much of the time, I feel those fears may eventuate if Mitchell and Walker are too immature to handle the truth. The fact that every other NRL club in the competition would be lining up to sign them and leave Souths without two genuine marquee players I’m sure is a frightening prospect, but at 34 yrs old Cody Walker might not have much time left, and Latrell Mitchell may never grow up. It appears he is more interested in running his farm in Taree and if the NRL was a corporate environment he would be pushing for ‘Work From Home’ options.

The fact remains though, both Mitchell and Walker are NOT performing on a consistent basis, their involvement levels and attitude are consistently poor, and you can’t run a footy team without discipline or consequences for not meeting team standards. Bennett and Bellamy both know that, and that is why they are not afraid to drop players to wake them up.

Although Bennett never went as far as dropping either Mitchell or Walker, he would sometimes deliver a well aimed barb in their direction during press conferences and doubtless told them some uncomfortable truths behind closed doors. I don’t see Demetriou doing that.

This neglect has a flow on effect. The rest of the team look to Cameron Murray, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker for direction and as a measure of team standards. Murray never lets the team down in that respect but given that 2 of the 3 club leaders are NOT leading by example, when they slacken off it becomes infectious. Souths are down as a unit because their coach and the majority of their senior leadership are failing them.

Additionally, Demetriou picks and sticks with players based on either his past relationships with them (i.e. he coached Milne and Host at the Ilawarra Cutters) or making a call on Lachlan Ilias and sticking with it even though it has clearly not been working over the last 3 years. Personally, I think Ilias would be better suited to hooker. He can give good service out of dummy half, can run if needed or kick if required, and his defence is pretty solid most of the time. He just seems incapable of performing to a consistent standard and adapting to pressure in the halves.

Finally, Souths were on the cusp of signing Dominic Young thanks to Sam Burgess until Sam’s departure from Redfern torpedoed that move. I just shake my head and think, “Slippery Solly the Roosters’ mole strikes again!”.

Like I wrote elsewhere ‘he took one for the team’ under the coach’s instructions.

Congrats Jason Demetriou on a record that even the great Wayne Bennett has never achieved. THREE successive losses to start the season and a defensive record that sees your team averaging 37 points conceded a game!

But you’re still in there defending your marquee star player aren’t you? Even though he dialled in yet another performance along with his partner in crime, who like the club show pony, has plenty to say off the field, but can’t back that up with a solid 80 min effort on-field.

On their sheer lack of effort, consistency and involvement in truth, both Mitchell and Walker deserve to be dropped. They need to learn a lesson. They are not untouchables. They are currently overpaid and are not held accountable for their performances or lack of desire and commitment.

Milne and Host only get picked in the team because you coached them at the Illawarra Cutters. They wouldn’t make the starting 17 at any other club.

You are in denial Dumbo Big Ears. You can’t coach. You are an assistant coach and nothing more. You are still letting Latrell pick the side and are too afraid to upset either Mitchell or Walker. Because you have no control or discipline and no authority within the club you aren’t respected by the players. Certainly not by the fans.

Sam Burgess will take over your job soon enough once Wayne Bennett gets the club back on its feet. For FIVE consecutive years Souths made it to the preliminary finals and to one GF and by your second year you had the club out of the top 8 and in the following year at the bottom of the NRL ladder after 3 rounds for the first time in 14 years!

I can’t wait until Jason Demetriou, Slippery Solly and Mark Ellison, the architects of Adam Reynolds being unceremoniously punted from the club, suffer the same fate as Reyno.

There are no boasts for Souths fans tonight, except this. Jack Wighton might not remember his first game for the Raiders but he will NEVER forget his first game for the Rabbitohs! 😱

#SackDemetriou
#BringBackBennet&Sam

At what point does leaving your arms out of the tackle, bending your body forward and leading with your head towards a player’s face become an indefensible, undeniable tactic?

100% there was intent. Well disguised intent. But intent nonetheless.

May run a in to cut the play, pulls out of a traditional attempt to tackle, jumps up, arches his body forward and aligns his head with Walsh’s face. The timing was perfect. Well rehearsed.

If it had been a lesser play I might have been less sceptical. But it was the ONLY player that was a serious threat to the Panthers. The one player who was giving the Panthers defence serious problems. What are the odds that this ‘accident’ would have happened to the one player who could have led the Broncos to victory? What are the odds that it would happen so early in the game instead of late in the second half when players are under fatigue?

I have been calling it out for ages. The Panthers are prepared to che@t to win games and to win premierships and clearly, the welfare of their own players is a secondary concern in meeting that objective.

Why would a player arch their back, aim their head and brace for impact jimmmy? It seems to go against all instincts for basic self-protection. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck… then it is probably a Rooster if not a Panthers folliwing coach’s orders.

Are you still making premature predictions based off of 2 rounds of football, FT? Or have you bought your Grand Final tickets already based on Manly’s 2-0 start to the season?

“I am liking the look of Manly”

So far yes. But don’t forget how good Souths looked after 11 rounds last season when they were on top of the NRL ladder. It is way too early to tell anything at this point. At this point, even Souths could become minor premiers and premiers. Anything is still possible… except for the Tigers and the Bulldogs.

It is still too early to make long-term predictions, but it isn’t too early to make team changes. Not when clearly nothing has been learnt or fixed by Souths alleged post-season review. Ilias being dropped is well deserved and long overdue. Next I would be moving Latrell from FB to left centre to put a rocket up him if he doesn’t have a dramatically improved performance this weekend. Neither Latrell nor Cody should feel safe at this point.

Surely that has been a significant factor for all 4 Las Vegas teams and for the Panthers with the WCC. But It doesn’t appear to have effected Manly’s form or energy. Strange that. Although it is undoubtedly a factor, it can also be used as an excuse. Without any shadow of a doubt, of the 5 teams that have played overseas to start the season, Souths alone have been unrecognisable as an NRL side and look better suited to the NSW Cup!

Truth be told, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker have turned in back-to-back lazy performances. Latrell is only prepared to play for 20 mins and Cody looks like he is running away from the ball instead of demanding it like he does when he is ON.

Playing Murray on an edge instead of at lock also hasn’t helped, and neither has the coach persisting with Ilias at HB. Thankfully, the latter, is no longer an excuse for round 3. But there is no point judging Dean Hawkins on just one game against a tough and committed opposition. He needs to be given a proper chance just as Ilias received.

If Souths can’t put on a committed performance and finally look like an NRL side against their hated rivals this weekend, I will be calling them gutless and soft and the drums will be beating in Redfern for Dumbo Big Ears to be sent packing as the band strikes up the tune of “Hail to the Chief” in preparation for Wayne Bennett’s return.