The Botak
20-05-08, 07:06 AM
Rabbitohs' revival was just a one-game wonder
Greg Prichard | May 20, 2008
SOUTH Sydney captain Roy Asotasi takes the direct route off the field as well as on it.
After the team's dreadful performance in losing to Canberra last night, he used just a few words to say a lot about why the Rabbitohs remain anchored to the bottom of the competition table.
"Canberra wanted it more than us," Asotasi said. "It seems like we go out there and just don't want to win."
Souths thought they had emerged from their rut two rounds ago, when, after losing their first seven games, they beat North Queensland before having the bye last weekend. It is clear now that what that win really showed us was just how bad the Cowboys are, because the Raiders - who had lost three games straight before last night - had no trouble skinning the Rabbitohs.
The Raiders didn't have to do anything spectacular to set up the win. They simply got to the end of their sets, kicked well, and forced Souths to play off their own line. Canberra waited for mistakes from the opposition and they came. Once the Raiders had established an advantage, they started to open up in attack and scored some good tries. Their hooker and captain, Alan Tongue, was in the thick of things, as usual, and was named man of the match.
Souths looked like it didn't mean nearly enough to them and on Saturday, at Bluetongue Stadium, they will have to face a Melbourne team that will be back to full strength - barring injuries in State of Origin I tomorrow night - and pumped up to after going down without nine representative players against the Dragons on the weekend. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire.
Last night's game was critical to the Raiders if they were going to get back on track this season. After the win, halfback Todd Carney said the players had gathered on their own on Tuesday, before training, to discuss the situation. "We had a chat about the things we needed to do as a team, and individually, if we were going to start winning again," Carney said. "Just holding the ball and completing our sets were the main things. It wasn't a crisis meeting or anything - we just needed to make sure we were all on the same page. It really helped us tonight."
The game was over as a contest by half-time, when Canberra led 24-4. The rout had begun in the first minute, when Souths botched what should have been a straightforward collection of a Canberra clearing kick and Raiders centre Joel Monaghan scored. Four more tries in the first half and another three in the second and the Raiders had won another night game at home in the middle of winter. It has always been a tough ask for visiting teams.
Souths coach Jason Taylor mentioned how hard Canberra are to beat at home. He also said his team's defence wasn't as bad as the scoreboard suggested, since the Raiders had scored a couple of tries off kicks. He still described the performance as very disappointing, but wasn't nearly as stinging in his assessment as Asotasi.
Rabbitohs five-eighth Dean Widders was penalised for a head-slamming tackle on Tongue in the 68th minute. Referee Gavin Badger chose not to report the incident, but no doubt the league's match review committee will look at it. They will probably also study a tackle by Asotasi on Canberra second-rower Glen Turner, which some people thought may have been of the infamous "chicken wing" variety.
After Carney had converted a try by Raiders five-eighth Terry Campese in the 35th minute, the big screen cut to a shot of Souths co-owner Russell Crowe looking forlorn as he watched the game from behind a glassed-in section of the grandstand. The Academy Award-winning actor had been described as a good-luck charm, since his team's first win of the season had coincided with his return to Australia after filming commitments.
It didn't take long for the luck to run out.
CANBERRA 38 (J Monaghan 2, G Turner, T Thurling, D Campese, A Purtell, B Goodwin tries; T Carney 5 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 10 (B Champion, D Widders tries; I Luke goal) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: G Badger. Crowd: 11,115.
Greg Prichard | May 20, 2008
SOUTH Sydney captain Roy Asotasi takes the direct route off the field as well as on it.
After the team's dreadful performance in losing to Canberra last night, he used just a few words to say a lot about why the Rabbitohs remain anchored to the bottom of the competition table.
"Canberra wanted it more than us," Asotasi said. "It seems like we go out there and just don't want to win."
Souths thought they had emerged from their rut two rounds ago, when, after losing their first seven games, they beat North Queensland before having the bye last weekend. It is clear now that what that win really showed us was just how bad the Cowboys are, because the Raiders - who had lost three games straight before last night - had no trouble skinning the Rabbitohs.
The Raiders didn't have to do anything spectacular to set up the win. They simply got to the end of their sets, kicked well, and forced Souths to play off their own line. Canberra waited for mistakes from the opposition and they came. Once the Raiders had established an advantage, they started to open up in attack and scored some good tries. Their hooker and captain, Alan Tongue, was in the thick of things, as usual, and was named man of the match.
Souths looked like it didn't mean nearly enough to them and on Saturday, at Bluetongue Stadium, they will have to face a Melbourne team that will be back to full strength - barring injuries in State of Origin I tomorrow night - and pumped up to after going down without nine representative players against the Dragons on the weekend. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire.
Last night's game was critical to the Raiders if they were going to get back on track this season. After the win, halfback Todd Carney said the players had gathered on their own on Tuesday, before training, to discuss the situation. "We had a chat about the things we needed to do as a team, and individually, if we were going to start winning again," Carney said. "Just holding the ball and completing our sets were the main things. It wasn't a crisis meeting or anything - we just needed to make sure we were all on the same page. It really helped us tonight."
The game was over as a contest by half-time, when Canberra led 24-4. The rout had begun in the first minute, when Souths botched what should have been a straightforward collection of a Canberra clearing kick and Raiders centre Joel Monaghan scored. Four more tries in the first half and another three in the second and the Raiders had won another night game at home in the middle of winter. It has always been a tough ask for visiting teams.
Souths coach Jason Taylor mentioned how hard Canberra are to beat at home. He also said his team's defence wasn't as bad as the scoreboard suggested, since the Raiders had scored a couple of tries off kicks. He still described the performance as very disappointing, but wasn't nearly as stinging in his assessment as Asotasi.
Rabbitohs five-eighth Dean Widders was penalised for a head-slamming tackle on Tongue in the 68th minute. Referee Gavin Badger chose not to report the incident, but no doubt the league's match review committee will look at it. They will probably also study a tackle by Asotasi on Canberra second-rower Glen Turner, which some people thought may have been of the infamous "chicken wing" variety.
After Carney had converted a try by Raiders five-eighth Terry Campese in the 35th minute, the big screen cut to a shot of Souths co-owner Russell Crowe looking forlorn as he watched the game from behind a glassed-in section of the grandstand. The Academy Award-winning actor had been described as a good-luck charm, since his team's first win of the season had coincided with his return to Australia after filming commitments.
It didn't take long for the luck to run out.
CANBERRA 38 (J Monaghan 2, G Turner, T Thurling, D Campese, A Purtell, B Goodwin tries; T Carney 5 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 10 (B Champion, D Widders tries; I Luke goal) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: G Badger. Crowd: 11,115.