Match Discussion Round 3: Rabbitohs v Sharks

[olBj]

Nearly every poster on this site wanted Trell moved to centre for Gray

His running metres were also totally nullified by good kick chase and tight defence around the ruck. This is what you get from top 6 sides

A backup fullback is exactly what he is

Just hold on there Rabbit...
When would you ever suggest Trell’s running metres were great in any match?... like hardly ever?
Not saying Trell shouldn't be FB, but dont cherry pick matches like this when Gray was one of our best players on a well outplayed team ...
Seems like you are just trying to win an old argument rather than be objective and give him the credit he deserves.

 

[Pplspoet]

And the only reinforcement next week is Johnston.

 

[Callmack1]

Sharks Too Good as Rabbitohs Suffer First Defeat of 2025 – South Sydney Rabbitohs

South Sydney have been defeated by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in what was ultimately a frustrating result for the Rabbitohs.

www.rabbitohs.com.au

Match Highlights: Rabbitohs v Sharks – Round 3, 2025 – South Sydney Rabbitohs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sharks face off in Round 3 of the 2025 Telstra Premiership

www.rabbitohs.com.au

Press Conference: Rabbitohs - Round 3, 2025 – South Sydney Rabbitohs

Cody Walker and Wayne Bennett chat to the media after their Round 3 clash against the Sharks

www.rabbitohs.com.au

I think Wayne summed it up pretty well at the start of the presser.

Rabbitohs crash back to earth as Sharks feast highlighted by two stunning first half tries

Rabbitohs crash back to earth as Sharks feast highlighted by two stunning first half tries

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[bundyrabbit]

And the only reinforcement next week is Johnston.

Defensively that 2nd half was a massive improvement. We gifted the Sharks the start they wanted and were chasing our tails. We also played some nice expansive footy, even though it didn't always stick.There's good signs there for next week.

 

[olBj]

What disappointed me today was:
- complain all you like about ref ... but...
- first time we came up against a formidable forward pack this year, we were found wanting quite badly at times
- Keppie (who has been good) and Moale were overpowered... Moale especially I think needs to develop some real mongrel in his game to compete at the top level
- I have been an Arrow fan for some rime and suggested he should be in prop rotation... but watching him again today, he looks smaller and now, backrow is much better option... not prop?
- Duncan disappointed me today
- Tatola still a ways off being a dominant prop

After all our forward issues, I was mortified with our outside back D again, especially in unstructured 2nd phase play or when they went wide early... totally outplayed

Positives ...
- we do finish well in games ... even if they took foot off the pedal
- some good individual performances...think we all know pretty well know who they were
- good first up display by Rava imo ... plenty of effort and determination
- Sullivan starting to show some real promise

Game really showed up more than anything that we really are short a big dominant middle

 

[bundyrabbit]

What disappointed me today was:
- complain all you like about ref ... but...
- first time we came up against a formidable forward pack this year, we were found wanting quite badly at times
- Keppie (who has been good) and Moale were overpowered... Moale especially I think needs to develop some real mongrel in his game to compete at the top level
- I have been an Arrow fan for some rime and suggested he should be in prop rotation... but watching him again today, he looks smaller and now, backrow is much better option... not prop?
- Duncan disappointed me today
- Tatola still a ways off being a dominant prop

After all our forward issues, I was mortified with our outside back D again, especially in unstructured 2nd phase play or when they went wide early... totally outplayed

Positives ...
- we do finish well in games ... even if they took foot off the pedal
- some good individual performances...think we all know pretty well know who they were
- good first up display by Rava imo ... plenty of effort and determination
- Sullivan starting to show some real promise

Game really showed up more than anything that we really are short a big dominant middle

I agree with some of this ,but no way did they take the foot off the pedal. We were the better side in that 2nd half pure and simple and unlucky some of our raids failed at the last hurdle.

 

[olBj]

I agree with some of this ,but no way did they take the foot off the pedal. We were the better side in that 2nd half pure and simple and unlucky some of our raids failed at the last hurdle.

I hope you are right and me wrong BR

Anyway, we do finish well which is why stated earlier that I just hoped we would be close to them at the hour mark and we a chance .... sadly ... not to be.

 

[olBj]

And the only reinforcement next week is Johnston.

Yesh ... not really like it's the cavalry coming to our rescue is it?

Maybe today was just one of those hard to fathom games where so many things just plain went wrong...
E.g. ... 2 40/20s agin us in one game? ... and so on

Happened to three fancied teams last week after all

Good wake up call for many of our players and coaching staff to better reflect on where we really are really at.

Prefer it to happen now then in 10+ weeks time

 

[olBj]

I hope you are right and me wrong BR

Anyway, we do finish well which is why stated earlier that I just hoped we would be close to them at the hour mark and we a chance .... sadly ... not to be.

Ps ... NOT having a go at Tatola by any means ....
what I meant was that he is probs 2 or 3 games away from him getting back near his best!

 

[Inais]

Let’s just hope he hasn’t been working with Hornby

It appears the variation JH showed in his kicking in the first round has totally been coached out

We got a habit of coaching things outta players

 

[Rabbits21]

And the only reinforcement next week is Johnston.

He mightn’t play mate he’s bit a definite

 

[Rabbits21]

Campbell was a bit battered today after Cronulla scored etc or a break in play where he went walking over he was walking like he might have a bit of groin tightness or something I was concerned hope he’s ok. Wilton crunched him too and Campbell got up slow a few times he will be a sore boy tomorrow. But still he made 18 tackles and 165 metres from 19 hit ups he did his best.

 

[Brownrabbit]

Latrell helps the teams go forward, if the whole team is on the front foot, Gray plays off the back of that

One of the biggest criticisms of Trell is his unwillingness at times to do hit ups or return the ball

Trell doesn’t help our go forward, one could easily argue Gray is better in this department

What Trell does is put the fear of god into edge defenders. He’s too big and powerful to defend one on one. Then if they number up, he’s ball playing is so good it gets them on the edge

So defenders are constantly second guessing how to defend him

Gray isn’t big enough to worry defenders, nor does he have blistering acceleration like Walsh to trouble them. If Gray is to become our 1 we would need to totally reinvent our attack

Maybe that could be a good thing. It’s predictable and doesn’t work without Trell. It would also be good to see our halfbacks do more than just act as a first receiver and put up end over end bombs

 

[Brownrabbit]

Just hold on there Rabbit...
When would you ever suggest Trell’s running metres were great in any match?... like hardly ever?
Not saying Trell shouldn't be FB, but dont cherry pick matches like this when Gray was one of our best players on a well outplayed team ...
Seems like you are just trying to win an old argument rather than be objective and give him the credit he deserves.

Grays game is based off running meters, Trells isn’t

So unless Gray starts to offer more than being busy he isn’t right for our fullback position

And I’m not cherry-picking anything. I said long before todays game let see what Gray offers against top 4 teams and after 12 consecutive NRL games before we all wet our pants

This is why I wanted Cook moved on for years. We need to stop judging our players on their ability against bottom 4 teams. We don’t want players who get exposed at the pointy end of the season

 

[Pplspoet]

Grays game is based off running meters, Trells isn’t

So unless Gray starts to offer more than being busy he isn’t right for our fullback position

And I’m not cherry-picking anything. I said long before todays game let see what Gray offers against top 4 teams and after 12 consecutive NRL games before we all wet our pants

This is why I wanted Cook moved on for years. We need to stop judging our players on their ability against bottom 4 teams. We don’t want players who get exposed at the pointy end of the season

I understand your point.

But based on yesterday Keppie is a reserve grader, Arrow and Graham middle of the way first graders, and Brayden Trindall is Cooper Cronk.

Gray was one of the best players in the team still.

Using that game to stamp Gray’s future while everyone else gets a pass seems a little targeted.

Especially when Wayne has already said he isn’t the first choice fullback.

At the end of the day it’s hard to take too much away from yesterday except that we got outplayed.