davecassidy
22-04-08, 08:00 AM
A DEFIANT Roy Asotasi has promised to "lead Souths out of the mess" and made the stunning prediction that the winless Rabbitohs will still make the top eight.
The under-siege skipper yesterday opened up about the Rabbitohs' disastrous start to the Centenary season - admitting he is "hurting" now more than at any other time in his 115-game career.
Asotasi, the man last year touted as the Rabbitohs' $450,000-a-year saviour, said he was determined to lift the club from the bottom of the table.
"I have never been put in this position before," Asotasi (left) said.
"It is new territory and it hurts. The leaders of this team have to step up to the plate. I need to lead the way and it is time for myself and Kiddy (David Kidwell) to show leadership and the time to do it is now.
"We will lead the club out of the mess."
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Stung by harsh criticism - including having Rabbitohs great John Sattler say the Kiwi Test forward isn't playing like a first grader - Asotasi admitted his form was down.
"We need to get respect back and that includes me," Asotasi. "Sattler was a legend and he has the right to make comments like that.
"My form hasn't been up there and that's something I need to step up.
"It is something I want to fix sooner rather than later."
After playing in star-studded teams, including the Bulldogs' premiership-winning team in 2004, Asotasi said resurrecting the Rabbitohs' season was his toughest test yet.
"Without a doubt," he said.
"Playing internationals, you have all these good players around you. When I was at the Dogs we had (Willie) Mason, (Mark) O'Meley and Sonny Bill (Williams). At Souths we have a great bunch of players, but it is my biggest test because we don't have those experienced players."
But even without the big names, Asotasi refuses to concede the NRL wooden-spoon favourites can't make the finals in 2008.
"We are confident we can still make the eight," Asotasi said. "A couple of years ago the Dragons lost six on the trot and they made the finals.
"We can do that too."
Asotasi admitted other NRL teams thought the Rabbitohs were "soft".
'Yeah, it hurts," Asotasi said.
"No doubt. But that is other people saying that. They can play us however they like. If they feel like playing us through the middle, come at your own free will."
The 26-year-old said lack of experience - not effort - was costing the Rabbitohs victory.
"It is just a confidence thing. When you lose that many games (six), your confidence isn't really sky-rocketing," he said. "Losing Nigel Vagana and Craig Wing has hurt.
"Wing was brought to the club to fix our halves problem. We are inexperienced in the most important positions in the game, especially in the halves, and also at fullback.
"Fetuli Talanoa is doing a great job but he has only had four games. Other sides are very experienced in those positions. The Broncos have Karmichael Hunt and Darren Lockyer, the Roosters have Anthony Minichellio and Braith Anasta . . . they all have experienced guys.
"We just have to persevere, you can't ask for any more than that."
The under-siege skipper yesterday opened up about the Rabbitohs' disastrous start to the Centenary season - admitting he is "hurting" now more than at any other time in his 115-game career.
Asotasi, the man last year touted as the Rabbitohs' $450,000-a-year saviour, said he was determined to lift the club from the bottom of the table.
"I have never been put in this position before," Asotasi (left) said.
"It is new territory and it hurts. The leaders of this team have to step up to the plate. I need to lead the way and it is time for myself and Kiddy (David Kidwell) to show leadership and the time to do it is now.
"We will lead the club out of the mess."
Related LinksFenech and Coleman: Now is the time for loyalty
Stung by harsh criticism - including having Rabbitohs great John Sattler say the Kiwi Test forward isn't playing like a first grader - Asotasi admitted his form was down.
"We need to get respect back and that includes me," Asotasi. "Sattler was a legend and he has the right to make comments like that.
"My form hasn't been up there and that's something I need to step up.
"It is something I want to fix sooner rather than later."
After playing in star-studded teams, including the Bulldogs' premiership-winning team in 2004, Asotasi said resurrecting the Rabbitohs' season was his toughest test yet.
"Without a doubt," he said.
"Playing internationals, you have all these good players around you. When I was at the Dogs we had (Willie) Mason, (Mark) O'Meley and Sonny Bill (Williams). At Souths we have a great bunch of players, but it is my biggest test because we don't have those experienced players."
But even without the big names, Asotasi refuses to concede the NRL wooden-spoon favourites can't make the finals in 2008.
"We are confident we can still make the eight," Asotasi said. "A couple of years ago the Dragons lost six on the trot and they made the finals.
"We can do that too."
Asotasi admitted other NRL teams thought the Rabbitohs were "soft".
'Yeah, it hurts," Asotasi said.
"No doubt. But that is other people saying that. They can play us however they like. If they feel like playing us through the middle, come at your own free will."
The 26-year-old said lack of experience - not effort - was costing the Rabbitohs victory.
"It is just a confidence thing. When you lose that many games (six), your confidence isn't really sky-rocketing," he said. "Losing Nigel Vagana and Craig Wing has hurt.
"Wing was brought to the club to fix our halves problem. We are inexperienced in the most important positions in the game, especially in the halves, and also at fullback.
"Fetuli Talanoa is doing a great job but he has only had four games. Other sides are very experienced in those positions. The Broncos have Karmichael Hunt and Darren Lockyer, the Roosters have Anthony Minichellio and Braith Anasta . . . they all have experienced guys.
"We just have to persevere, you can't ask for any more than that."