Some bad habits from South Sydney’s 2023 season fade-out returned to haunt them in their season opening loss to Manly amid an over-reliance on Latrell Mitchell’s brilliance.
Mitchell looked in ominous form in the 36-24 loss to Manly, but Souths can’t rely on moments of individual brilliance if they want to be a contender again in 2024.
James Hooper believes some of the issues that plagued Souths in the back half of 2023 were again on show against the Sea Eagles at Allegiant Stadium.
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“I did think with Souths it was a little bit deja vu from the back half of last year,” Hooper said on NRL 360.
“They have moments of brilliance and they look as though they could win the competition because they have got so much strike power in the side.
“But then there is also lapses where I can’t identify why, but it goes pear-shaped, they switch off and they allow the opposition to score points.”
Braith Anasta agreed Souths were guilty of looking to Mitchell to do it for them and didn’t look threatening as a team in the second half.
“Fair call Hoops because they did fade away and they didn’t look likely in the second half after the two tries from Latrell and again they were individual moments,” Anasta said.
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“And then after that they didn’t look likely and that was a lot of what happened last year.
“Yes they started well and Latrell is fit and looking great and he is firing and that is key to him winning games, but is there still a hangover from last year?
“Is it still hanging over their heads? Have they still got a point to prove?”
Paul Kent believes consistency over the 80 minutes has been an issue for Souths since last season.
“I don’t know if it is hanging over their heads,” Kent said.
“I think they have just got to try and go out and try be consistent. That’s what they are lacking at the moment.”
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However, Phill Rothfield objected that one game is a small sample size to go off, which sparked a tense debate.
“Hang on it is Round 1 mate,” Rothfield said.
“Is it? I didn’t notice Buzz,” Anasta said.
“Thanks for telling me Buddy, I didn’t know it was Round 1.
“What I am saying to you is they went from first to not making the top eight last year and it wasn’t just performance. There was issues inside the four walls.”
“But even you said they were playing strong when Latrell scored his try,” Rothfield replied.
“Listen Buzz I’m not writing them off after one game,”Anasta said.
“What I am saying is that they still had the same sort of tendencies as what they had at the back end of last year as Hoops just alluded to.
“So they have got to prove to all of us that there isn’t a cloud hanging over their head. That they have moved on. That they are a different team and they have got a different culture.
“They need to prove that to us. Did they prove it to us tonight? I don’t know.”
“Nothing changed,” Kent interjected.
“No I don’t think they did, but Latrell was a massive positive and knowing the mood that he is in,” Rothfield replied.
“That was the massive positive and when he is in that frame of mind it is a huge bonus for that club.”
“But they didn’t get the two points Phil,” Hooper concluded.
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