The drums were beating for South Sydney after just 120 minutes of the season.
With Adam Reynolds and Dane Gagai just distant memories, the Rabbitohs had mustered just four points across three halves of football, and were already being dismissed as also-rans by many.
But after half time, despite a few miscues, their attack kicked into gear in what was eventually a thrilling golden point loss to the Storm. Then, last week, they ran riot against the Roosters.
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Brad Fittler said it took a couple of weeks, but the team looks more organised – in particular, the attacking darts from their No.9, Damien Cook.
“Cookie ran, but they reacted to Cookie better. I’ve watched Cookie the first couple of games, he also ran, but everyone was getting in each other’s road,” he said on On Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth.
The Blues coach said that the Rabbitohs went back to a simple game plan cultivated by former coach Wayne Bennett, that allowed their stars to shine without fear.
“The big thing Souths do really well, and this is what Wayne does very well, is the people that aren’t the creative people don’t make errors.
“If you’re going to make an error, leave it up to Cody and Latrell when they’re trying to score a try. You can’t have front rowers and wingers dropping the ball when they’re trying to play the ball.”
The proof was in the pudding against their old rivals, a completion rate of over 80 per cent setting the platform for a big win. And even then, two of their few errors came from Alex Johnston and Keaon Koloamatangi while trying to score or set up a try.
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Both Fittler and Andrew Johns agreed that the ruck would define Friday’s game.
“There was a stat against Newcastle last week,” Johns said, referring to the number of ‘fast’ play-the-balls each team had.
“I think Penrith had something like 50 odd compared to Newcastle’s 15, or 20 maybe. It just goes to show how hard they work in those little areas – and you’re playing the ball quickly like that, it’ll give Nathan more time, when then gives the outside backs more time.
“The ruck is the game.”
Fittler said the ruck speed was a key reason as to why Isaah Yeo was so important to Penrith’s ball movement.
“His decision making. He’ll have a bad ruck and still be able to move the ball a little bit to get a one-on-one tackle,” he said.
“His decision making – they’ve got to stop that, somehow.”
Obviously, that’s easier said than done – and it’s rare that we get to see two players at the peak of their powers, at the same position, come into direct contact. But with Yeo and his Rabbitohs counterpart Cameron Murray, that’s exactly what Friday offers.
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