In the same week they take over Allianz Stadium, the home the Roosters, for their annual Indigenous Round match against Parramatta, the Rabbitohs’ Origin contingent is likely to dwarf their bitter rivals, showing the disparity on the field between the two heavyweights in recent weeks.
Only NSW captain James Tedesco looks a certain selection from the Roosters, and even then it will come with one of the game’s most decorated players desperately battling for his top form.
The Rabbitohs’ defence is second only to the Panthers in 2023.Credit: Getty
But the imbalance of the NRL draw to accommodate the introduction of the Dolphins has made the Rabbitohs’ path through the Origin period an easier one to navigate – and perhaps making them even more formidable in their premiership push.
They are yet to have a bye this year, and won’t have their first one until round 16, the weekend before the second Origin match in Brisbane.
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It means Demetriou’s side should, in theory, be one of the best rested heading into the finals with three byes in the final 12 rounds of the season, including one straight after the third Origin match, allowing his best players an extended break if needed. Their other will come in the penultimate round of the regular season, just before the traditional pre-finals showdown against the Roosters.
If that wasn’t a bonus enough, they only have to play two current top eight teams (Raiders and Warriors) in their next seven games.
But for all the star power of Mitchell, Cody Walker, Murray and Cook, Demetriou will point to a Craig Bellamy-like resurrection of a number of forwards this year.
While Bellamy has struggled to get his unheralded Storm forwards to fill the gaps left by the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi to a required standard in 2023, South Sydney is becoming the home of the reborn forward.
Jacob Host (Dragons), Michael Chee Kam (Tigers) and Hame Sele (Panthers) were all unwanted at their previous clubs, and part of their starting pack against the Tigers. Each of them are providing significant value for money in South Sydney’s salary cap, along with the injured Siliva Havili (Raiders).
The Rabbitohs’ problem will not be making the finals, but lifting the curse of the preliminary final, the stage they’ve been tripped up in four of the last five years. It’s the time of year when the best defensive teams usually rise to the top.
With a new-age coach, who took a leaf out of Tim Sheens’ book, their fans can start dreaming again – and shouldn’t be embarrassed by taking their footy to bed, too.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.
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