After South Sydney finally got over their preliminary final hurdle, there were understandably some jubilant Rabbitohs after the match – but not Alex Johnston.
“After we won the prelim, the boys were all cheering for that long – and I was like ‘what’s going on? We’ve got one more’ and tried to settle them down. Since then, they’ve all realised that the big dance is this week,” he said.
Johnston was a teenager when Souths lifted the trophy seven years ago, and is one of three players who could win their second ring at the club, along with Tom Burgess and Adam Reynolds. Api Koroisau will line up for Penrith after also beating the Bulldogs back in 2014.
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The winger has been a fixture on that left wing for the Bunnies over the years, racking up a huge glut of tries and being part of many successful teams – but it’s been a long wait for a second shot at the Provan-Summons Trophy.
“I’m only 26, I don’t feel like I’m that old – I’m still young if you want to call me young gun still,” he joked.
“I think back then, I was just in awe still of just being in first grade and just going out there playing footy and loving every minute of it.”
He said the seven years since the 2014 grand final had made him understand the everyday grind of rugby league, and that those chances don’t come along every year.
“It’s sort of hard to put into words. I love the club and I just feel very lucky that I got to a situation where I could stay,” Johnston said.
“Signing with Souths for the last couple of years has been one of the best decisions, for myself personally and for my family. And now to make the GF is the cherry on top.”
Prop Tom Burgess agreed completely that there was still plenty of work to be done.
“There’s a period there where we won and we’re in the final, but the job’s not done yet. I definitely had that feeling – I was on the bench at the end of the game and I didn’t want to stand up until the whistle sounded,” he said.
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“We keep reminding each other that there’s still one more game to go and we’re not getting carried away, because nobody remembers the runners up, really.”
Burgess had played just nine first grade games going into the 2014 season. Since then, he’s been a mainstay in the team and has outlasted all three of his brothers in terms of both time spent and first grade games at the club.
“It’s definitely different [the second time around]. I’m at a different stage in my life with my career, I’ve got two kids now, I’ve got a partner, and you share it with those people. If you look back to 2014, I was a young 22-year-old lad.”
Burgess had been a starter for most of the year before moving to the bench – a move that has benefitted both he and replacement Mark Nicholls, both of whom are enjoying career-best form.
“Wayne obviously knows a thing or two about footy, and seeing where the game is going. He’s always been able to adapt, and he’s made his career off being able to adapt to how the game is,” Burgess said.
“There was a spot there for me to be able to come off the bench and bring that impact off the bench, and I was happy to do that for the team.”
But has the supercoach asked Burgess and the other grand final winners to keep the rest of the squad grounded?
“It’s not really an official sort of word or anything like that, but we’ll be in each other’s ears and having little chats here and there just to enjoy the week and embrace it. We’ve worked all year to get to this position,” he said.
“It’s going to be one of the best weeks of your life, and you’re going to remember it for a while.”
Halfback Reynolds agreed that the key was to stay relaxed, and to enjoy the privilege of making the big dance.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to do something special,” the skipper said.
“We’re having fun along the way, I think that’s the most important thing. To enjoy the week, don’t think about the game too early.”
Reynolds added that the involvement of Bennett, who is looking to win a premiership with a fourth NRL club, has been vital.
“He’s calm, he’s pretty cool around this time of year. He’s not overly flustered about it, he’s obviously been there and done that.”
Reynolds said his groin injury occurred while running and shaping to pass at training, but that he felt “fine” while running today.
He didn’t confirm whether or not he’d take the goalkicking duties back from Blake Taaffe but that he was “pretty confident” he’d be shooting for goal.
Regardless of what happens on Sunday, it will be the last time the Bunnies’ all-time leading pointscorer pulls on the cardinal and myrtle jersey. That, he says, comes second to the team.
“I’ve got a bigger task at hand. Obviously I want to win this game, that’s the most important thing at the moment – then we’ll worry about the rest after that.”