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07-07-08, 08:11 AM
Craig Wing hasn't given up on 2008 just yet
By Christian Nicolussi | July 07, 2008 12:00am
CRAIG Wing spoke with coach Jason Taylor before his return from injury about trying to salvage something from the remainder of the Bunnies' 2008 season.
So it will come as no surprise Wing will be keen to steer the Rabbitohs to their fourth win on the trot - a feat the club has not achieved in 14 seasons - when they tackle the Bulldogs tonight at ANZ Stadium.
Despite holding down favouritism for the wooden spoon just a month ago, Souths now find themselves a remote chance of sneaking into the finals.
And while he played down the prospect of playing finals football, Wing said it was up to his teammates to finish the year with a bang.
"We've won three in a row and it would be great to win four, but we're under no illusions and know we're still at the wrong end of the ladder," said Wing, who tonight will be playing just his third game of the season.
"It makes it easier arriving at training knowing you've won, but we're still nowhere near our best.
"We're not getting carried away with our past performances. In fact we were woeful at the start of the game last weekend and lucky to come away with the points.
"I'm not ruling anything out or trying to think too far ahead (in terms of finals football). But it's important we worry about the now. Anything can change and who knows where we can finish up.
"I actually spoke with JT just before I came back from injury and told him I wanted to finish the season with a bang."
Wing said his team was full of talented individuals yet had struggled for the bulk of the season because there was "no combination bringing them together, which is usually the six and seven".
The 28-year-old hoped to continue to learn about halfback Chris Sandow's game and help Souths continue their momentum.
The Dogs will be missing Reni Maitua, who was yesterday ruled out with a shoulder injury, Jarrad Hickey (corked leg) was given the green light while Hazem El Masri is keen not only to win but reignite his own chase for the all-time points-scoring record. El Masri is just 66 points short of Andrew Johns' 2176- career haul.
BULLDOGS: 1 B Crisp, 2 H El Masri, 3 D Millard, 4 T Winitana, 5 H Nanai, 6 A Taumata, 7 B Roberts, 8, J Hickey, 9 C Hughes, 10 F Briggs, 11 S Williams, 12 A Ryan (c), 14 L Te Maari. Interchange: 15 B Morrin, 16 J Kite, 17 A Groom, 18 G Warburton.
RABBITOHS: 1 L Capewell, 2 N Merritt, 3 J Simpson, 4 B Champion, 5 F Talanoa, 6 C Wing, 7 C Sandow, 8 S Geddes, 9 I Luke, 10 R Asotasi (c), 11 L Stuart, 12 D Fa'alogo, 13 J Sutton. Interchange: 14 B Falloon, 15 S McPherson, 16 M Manuokafoa, 17 M Greenfield.
By Christian Nicolussi | July 07, 2008 12:00am
CRAIG Wing spoke with coach Jason Taylor before his return from injury about trying to salvage something from the remainder of the Bunnies' 2008 season.
So it will come as no surprise Wing will be keen to steer the Rabbitohs to their fourth win on the trot - a feat the club has not achieved in 14 seasons - when they tackle the Bulldogs tonight at ANZ Stadium.
Despite holding down favouritism for the wooden spoon just a month ago, Souths now find themselves a remote chance of sneaking into the finals.
And while he played down the prospect of playing finals football, Wing said it was up to his teammates to finish the year with a bang.
"We've won three in a row and it would be great to win four, but we're under no illusions and know we're still at the wrong end of the ladder," said Wing, who tonight will be playing just his third game of the season.
"It makes it easier arriving at training knowing you've won, but we're still nowhere near our best.
"We're not getting carried away with our past performances. In fact we were woeful at the start of the game last weekend and lucky to come away with the points.
"I'm not ruling anything out or trying to think too far ahead (in terms of finals football). But it's important we worry about the now. Anything can change and who knows where we can finish up.
"I actually spoke with JT just before I came back from injury and told him I wanted to finish the season with a bang."
Wing said his team was full of talented individuals yet had struggled for the bulk of the season because there was "no combination bringing them together, which is usually the six and seven".
The 28-year-old hoped to continue to learn about halfback Chris Sandow's game and help Souths continue their momentum.
The Dogs will be missing Reni Maitua, who was yesterday ruled out with a shoulder injury, Jarrad Hickey (corked leg) was given the green light while Hazem El Masri is keen not only to win but reignite his own chase for the all-time points-scoring record. El Masri is just 66 points short of Andrew Johns' 2176- career haul.
BULLDOGS: 1 B Crisp, 2 H El Masri, 3 D Millard, 4 T Winitana, 5 H Nanai, 6 A Taumata, 7 B Roberts, 8, J Hickey, 9 C Hughes, 10 F Briggs, 11 S Williams, 12 A Ryan (c), 14 L Te Maari. Interchange: 15 B Morrin, 16 J Kite, 17 A Groom, 18 G Warburton.
RABBITOHS: 1 L Capewell, 2 N Merritt, 3 J Simpson, 4 B Champion, 5 F Talanoa, 6 C Wing, 7 C Sandow, 8 S Geddes, 9 I Luke, 10 R Asotasi (c), 11 L Stuart, 12 D Fa'alogo, 13 J Sutton. Interchange: 14 B Falloon, 15 S McPherson, 16 M Manuokafoa, 17 M Greenfield.