All I can say and advise the Panthers and any NRL club on this matter is this, develop local talent and not talent that will always want to go home e.g. from either NZ or Queensland, as this is what happens with all of them once they get on top 😂 the fish has done a dirty on the Panthers imo and has negotiated a contract behind the Panthers NRL clubs back, he had 2 years left on his contract, which imo he’s done the dirty on the Pnathers! Where is the NRL integrity committee, as they are the biggest joke going around for continually allowing this to happen with so called “NRL Players Contracts”.

Its Mark Ellison who is responsible for all on-field requirements of the Club including coaching, recruitment, retention, player development, pathways and NRL team management and he should be sacked as he’s been on a siesta all 2022/23 and done nothing, as he could have seen what was going on in this roster.

That’s what I’ve been saying also SSTID as unless that changes Souths have no chance the way they are going now. Souths have NO decent crop of emerging players and very few in the rookie area who are NRL standard, this is the management fault and that is where Souths need a change also. Can’t see things being fixed in 2024 and at least 2 years after as Souths will be lucky to be higher than 14th on the ladder this year, as this side will go from bad to worse.

Its NOT a rant, it might NOT register with you, so give us your answer smarty pants as you seem to ask allot of questions and you seem to criticize every answer, but have nothing in return.

That is not a valid excuse for a coach like Des who is trying to get his side up every week and he’s done everything for the Titans to be competitive, last nights game was 25% ruined by the referees’ bad decisions. The Titans imo were the better side even with all the bad decisions that were made and they should have won. A referee getting experience should not be at the expense of a team as that is not how a game of NRL should be decided as the game last night was.

Of course I have, but I’m the biggest critic when games are games are refereed like they were last night. I very rarely have complained on a well-balanced refereed game, unless its so blatantly bad like it was last night, when I have to speak out (and its NOT because Des Hasler is blowing up either) this was a badly refereed game overall. The massive 6 again against the Titans, and the most important stage of the game, when the charge down by the Raiders was an offside and should have been a penalty to the Titans are all questionable decisions by any referee. which are all a sign of a badly refereed game, that is what I’m complaining about.

I realize that Kasey Badger is a new referee in the NRL but that is not an excuse for a get out of jail card by the NRL, as they should appoint a competent referee. To tell you the truth, this game was a very painful watch, but I forced myself to watch the whole game as my main interest in games like these, is the phycology of how these referees work overall and justify their bad performances, is it just plain incompetence or is it a tactic of refereeing games that they are instructed to do from the top, as their decisions at the end of the game and how the NRL will justify all this is intriguing and very interesting.

Firstly I’m not the only one that thinks this way, and if you thought that this game was a fairly refereed game, there is something wrong with you or you are a Raiders fan. The 6 again is the worst rule ever introduced into the NRL, as no one has a clue why they are called, as the referees don’t call them out why? The 6 again has absolutely ruined the competitiveness of an RL game imo (and its not like a penalty or a better rule to replace a penalty) and the sooner its scrubbed out the better, but I’m not holding my breath. There is NO WAY in a million years that I or any punter should have a punt on an NRL game while the 6 again is in play, as its even worse than having a punt on the shortest favorite at Randwick. If you approve of a side winning because of receiving 6 gain and penalties like the Raiders did last night, then keep watching the NRL as I’m getting sick and tired of seeing close and well contested games being ruined by a referee like it was last night. I don’t know where Kasey Badger comes from but if my hunch is correct and she is related to Gerald Badger in any way, then its no surprise where she gets her refereeing standers from.

This game was the worse refeered game I’ve ever seen, Des ain’t too happy about a few things and I agree with him 100% as the amount of 6 again and penalties that the Raiders got is ruining the game of RL. Very disappointing as if this keeps going on the NRL will lose allot of fans.

yes GB fully agree and as i’ve said they don’t have the roster and/or the coach and coaches to get this side going, ever since Sam Burgess left it seems that the wheels have fallen off and everything has collapsed. Lets just see what happens in 2024 and 2025 as I don’t have much faith in the mob that is managing and/or coaching this side, Souths need a compete clen out from the coaches to the chief executive Blake Solly to the chairman Nick Pappas as they have been asleep at the wheel, and this is the result of their stuff ups!

Its a bit late to give Sione Katoa anything for the Cam Murray high tackle, as it should have been a 10min bin, as it doesn’t help Souths in any way a day later.

Ok so JD is going to stay, but the biggest problem that Souths have for the coming rounds is the roster, yes, they have some players that can make some sort of a difference, but they still won’t get this side into the 8. Yes, players like Graham and AJ are crucial to this side but they will not be back until when? Then we have Arrow who is back supposedly by R8, but he is not enough to make a big difference as we only have Tom Burgess and Cam Murray that really have a go, as LM and CW are not the answer, then we have Keaon Koloamatangi who has dropped right off and done nothing, then add the rest of them and what does Souths have? JD must have had a plan for 2024 or since R11 2023 WHAT IS IT JD as it aint working 😂 ???

That LM cover tackle wasn’t there to hurt JAC, it was a tackle to stop a potential crucial try being scored, a FB coming to do a cover tackle like that and especially stopping a winger from scoring in the corner, he has to make a decision way before it happens of what he is going to do, as he knows what wingers do to score tires today, as they are virtually impossible to stop once they are midair and a cover smothering tackle by a FB is the only way to stop them, and that is what LM was trying to do, it didn’t work out for JAC and that is one of the risks that wingers take, if they want to go all in like JAC did 😂

Last night’s Souths NRL side was an embarrassment of what this side has been dwindles down to and is a reflection of what Souths management and coaching staff have done over the years, as there are players that should have never ever been retained over the years like Tevita Tatola who is big enough but doesn’t have a go and when he has a go, he always gets injured this is every year (a broken foot?) then you have Jacob Host who is useless and should not be in this side same as Michael Chee Kam, and then we have Siliva Havili where has he been, as this is the first game I’ve noticed Siliva Havili having a real go or even playing, but this has been the case with Souths over the years. The only forwards that are worth anything are Cam Murray and Tom Burgess and that is it, why?

The bottom line with Souths is that JD post Bennett only retained his favourite players and did not listen to his assistant coaches like Sam Burgess and John Morris hence and since Sam Burgess left, Souths have collapsed and the results of 2023 post R11 and R6 2024 are right before our eyes. JD only relying on Walker and Mitchell to win games was a bad bad mistake and especially letting Reynolds go was an even worse mistake that the Souths officials should never ever be excused for and they should be all sacked, as what Souths NRL side has ended up is a train wreck to what this once great side was! The look of Souths 2024 and beyond is what it looks like now and at R6, which is in 17th spot on the ladder, with 94 points for and 192 points against and with a difference of -102, which is what Souths top brass reflect and are all worth, as they should all be sacked! The Gladiator has to start putting his armour on and get into this fight “Where are your Russell???” as he has to start yielding his sword and start chopping a few heads (metaphorically speaking only 😂 ) as if not, Souths have NO chance of bouncing back from this situation in 2025 or in the next 3 years, as that is how far behind Souths NRL side is compared to the top 4 NRL sides in the comp.

If and when JD goes so should Solly and a few others at top of Souths management should also be sacked, as their efforts would not retain their positions in any other business on this planet as it would go broke!

He doesn’t look like it to me Stewy76, as if that is what “up here he’s a bucket of laughs and everyone’s favorite Uncle…” looks like looking at Wayne, I don’t want any part of being up there, as it looks like Wayne’s at a funeral every time we see his melon and especially when the Phins win 😂

The Phins won’t be at the top of the ladder for much longer, their current placing is because of their easy draw, after this round they will be relegated to 5th and afterwards they would be lucky to win 3 games to R15, lets see what happens? Btw, we don’t want Mr Grumpy old Wayne, stay up North Wayne 😂

Cam Murray can lead by example but he is not captain material, he doesn’t look too authoritarian and/or back chatty at the pressers to me. he looks too quite.

Manly are making a big mistake as this will come back to bite them

The talking is done by Trell from the back at FB, Fox put a mic on Trell against the Tigers for a game last year and Trell was the one giving orders from the back including blowing Cook up to have a go, while Trell is on his pat malone at the back doing nothing. All throughout that game Trell looked like doing nothing, which is the problem at Souths as Cam Murry doesn’t have the authoritarian personality to lead by the example he sets and it stems from there onwards.

Latrell Mitchell is NO leader if he keeps going on the way he does “year in and year out” he has let us down in the 2021 GF and heaps of other games and season(s) which is NOT a sign of a leader but a spoiled litter/big brat! And here we go AGAIN in 2024 as by the time Trell comes back in R10 and the game against the Dragons, Souths would be very lucky if they were on 6 points including the 2 from the bye, as there is NO WAY that Souths will beat the Storm or the Panthers!

Trell has no excuses left and imo this should be his last chance and he should be told that “if he doesn’t shape up then he will be shipped out” as I’m getting sick and tired of seeing him get suspended for this sort of unnecessary behaviour “year in and year out”. The higher management at Souths have to give Trell an ultimatum and they have to lay down a code of conduct game effort (as he’s on plenty of $$$) as the way he goes on, is not a reflection of what the Souths fans are all about and what we want at Souths or expect from our players! Go You Bunnies!!!

Yes, that is true, but Billy hasn’t achieved what Cooky has so he doesn’t deserve that sort of dough as yet, he could in the future.

Cook is not playing as well as Billy Walters, no where near.

Well said Higgo, as “I’M AMAZED THAT JAY GRAY IS AT FB ALSO” but that should NOT surprise anyone who supports Souths, as these days everything is all A-UP anyway. Let’s hope that Jay Gray is not going to be mismanaged like Taaffe was, as Taaffe is doing pretty well at the Dogs at FB (which is really nice to see) as he also had a blinder last week until Young got dirty on him for making that outstanding tackle and stopped him from scoring. 😂

This Saturday’s game Souths are going to be absolutely smashed by the Sharks if they don’t change their attitude(s) and they continue playing like they did against the Warriors. I’ve very rarely tipped against the Bunnies in the last 70 years of being a hard-core Bunnies supporter, but with their 15 rounds 2023 performances and their abysmal 2024 performances, I’ve got no choice as I can’t see them beating any sides in this comp except and maybe the Titans so far 😂 but even the Titans made a comeback against the Cowboys which the Bunnies don’t even seem to have that in them?

You are spot on Cam, Trell can’t be at FB when he comes back, he needs to be in the centers and Jack at 5/8 and Cody at half, that is the most sensible change for Souths, as so far nothing has worked. Munro is a positive addition on the wing as we need a young tall speedy kid who can get things firing out wide, especially if Trell gets put in the centers and Munro is outside of him.

But our forwards are just shockers as the only goers are Tom and Cam as the rest of them are just a bunch of fumbling boofs that get in each other’s way, that display last week against the Warriors was absolutely embarrassing to watch, as they are that unfit that they can’t even play the ball after 20min. Lets hope this side can turn things around as the talent is definitely there, as all the Bunnies fans want out of them is that they ALL HAVE A REAL GO 👍

Fully agree with all that Phil Gould is saying, Trell is at a point where he either has a go or gets going! His game-to-game effort(s) are nowhere near what a FB should and is way off what a talented and participating team member should be. Whatever Trell decides to do is up to him, as he’s not doing Souths any favours playing like he is but especially getting either suspended or injured each year for weeks that results in Souths losing games and/or losing a GF or making the 8. Hope Trell does decide to change things around as the way things are in 2024 and up to R5 and onwards, Latrell Mitchell can’t survive at Souths unless he has a compete change of attitude and effort, its up to you Trell.