Roosters 26 – Rabbitohs 16

By Stephen Fenech from Tech Guide.

People kept saying to me: this game means nothing – we play the Roosters again next week. Someone forgot to tell the Roosters. They dominated from the opening whistle and easily weathered our late comeback when we decided to start playing a little bit of football. This was a huge occasion – a brand new stadium, a massive crowd and a local derby that we wait all year for. Unfortunately Souths weren’t at their usual standard and were dominated by a determined Roosters team.

I knew from the time Cameron Murray came off after a solid head knock in the second tackle of the game inside the first 30 seconds that we were going to do it tough. He does the work of four players and is there to tidy things up in the middle.

Add to that Damien Cook sitting at home watching the game on TV thanks to a positive COVID test and Campbell Graham also sidelined and were up against it before they had a chance to work up a sweat. And our coach also caught the game on TV thanks to a positive COVID test. Some will call these excuses – they might be – they are also facts. The Roosters were also missing four regular first grade players as well.

Now with all of that in mind – and our best players on the sideline – you would think that players like Latrell and Cody would stand up and take charge. Unfortunately they didn’t. I’m not sure what got into Latrell but we didn’t get a level-headed performance and a measured approach. Instead we got a bratty, arrogant display that cost us points and field position and our foothold in the first half. For God’s sake – can someone tell him that the short dropout is a disaster waiting to happen. And that’s exactly how it went down – twice! TWICE!! Roosters took the two points after the first screw up by not going 10m but then when Latrell thought it was a good idea to try it again when we had our backs to the wall and were already behind on the scoreboard. It failed to go the required 10m again and the Roosters went for the try off the ensuing penalty and they got it. Sam Walker kicked the ball past Latrell – he stuck his leg out to stop it – but he didn’t think to spin around and chase or to be back on the try line to prevent this from happening. My phone nearly melted with all the messages I was receiving about Latrell and the common theme was whether he was dazed and confused.

But sadly that wasn’t the only reason Souths were on the wrong end of the scoreboard. The Roosters dominated us in attack and defence. They controlled the ruck – they held us down in every tackle and got away with it more times than Souths did. But Souths weren’t fighting to get up. Just like Souths weren’t charging up off their line in defence. Roosters were – and we were waiting for them. There were some valiant efforts from our forward pack but their opposite numbers showed more aggression and more determination. And when the Roosters had the ball they easily made ground and had superior field position.

Before the Latrell brain explosion, the Roosters had already scored two tries after easily slicing through some pretty feeble Souths defence. We missed Campbell Graham out wide in defence, instead we had Paulo unable to slide in defence and tackle his man. And what was Paulo doing to cause an obstruction and deny Koloamatangi an early try. Souths scored its first try when Mamouzelos grounded the ball off a lucky Latrell kick. Souths had a set restart and Latrell got the ball and when no opportunity presented itself – he kicked the ball – on the first tackle. On this occasion his instinct was right. It was also the only time it was right tonight. Early in the game Latrell also decided to run sideways instead of straight – early on this resulted in him being dragged back eight metres into our in-goal area. I pray when we play the Roosters again in the same stadium next week we can offer a better account of ourselves. Latrell included.

The one consolation from tonight was the fact we won the second half. The Roosters scored their last try in the 44th minute and Milne scored two tries to bring us within 10 points. One of Milne’s tries was scored by the width of a bee’s dick. I don’t even think Milne thought it was a try. It was one highlight in a forgettable game. But in the end I think the final scoreline flattered us. Cody Walker stood up in the last 20 minutes and started steering us around the park with a bit of shape instead of the repetitive one-out crap. But even when we did make some ground or a half break there was no support.

The beauty about all of this is that Souths get a second crack at the Roosters next week in the elimination final. And unlike tonight’s game which so many people said meant nothing – next week’s game will mean everything. The loser goes home and starts planning their Mad Monday drinking sessions. I’d like to think that Souths would have learned a lesson tonight. Next week we’ll have Cam Murray back on deck with Damien Cook and Campbell Graham and even with Jason Demetriou back in the coach’s box. For the Roosters it looks like Manu is in doubt. Personally I was hoping every Roosters player would pull a hammy but they will be tough to beat again next week. This is it for Souths – do or die. If that doesn’t motivate them to improve, I don’t know what will. Let’s go Rabbitohs!!!