Not content with making up the numbers, South Sydney are ready to hit the go button in pursuit of an all-important NRL top-four finals berth.
With super-coach Wayne Bennett back on deck following his mandatory two-week stint in self-isolation, the eighth-placed Rabbitohs host ninth-placed Manly on Saturday night with an opportunity to all but eliminate the Sea Eagles from finals reckoning.
But while they’re already four points clear of Manly and Wests Tigers with six rounds of the regular season remaining, Souths are aiming for more than merely separating themselves from the chasing pack.
The Rabbits needed a converted try and then an Adam Reynolds field goal all in the final five minutes to snatch an unconvincing one-point victory over lowly North Queensland last outing.
Last year’s preliminary finalists know they need to be much better to seriously challenge for the title in 2020.
“We gave up too much ball, we’re scoring 31 points but leaking 30. There’s so many areas that we can improve,” playmaker Cody Walker said on Wednesday.
Teammate Cameron Murray admits it’s nice to have a “safety net” ahead of the finals, but that won’t amount to much if they go out in the first week of the playoffs.
“We’ve got six weeks to go and I don’t think we’re satisfied with where we are at the moment,” said the NSW State of Origin star.
“Everyone at our club sees our organisation as a top-four organisation so that will be our goal and that’s what we’re pushing (for) over the next six weeks.
“I still don’t think we’ve hit our strides at all in terms of the way we’re playing and our consistency week to week. Even though we have won a couple on the trot now, we’re still not where we want to be.
“It’s really time to ramp up the way we want to play.”
Despite winning two from two under stand-in coach Jason Demetriou, the Rabbitohs are expecting Bennett to instil some added energy when he returns on Friday after serving his time in isolation for breaching the NRL’s COVID-19 biosecurity protocols with lunch at an Italian restaurant.
“He’s probably a bit embarrassed about the whole thing,” said forward enforcer Tom Burgess.
“He probably won’t make too much of it. He realised he made a mistake and he’ll probably just want to get back on with things.
“All the boys and coaching staff will welcome him back. He brings a lot of freshness and energy.”
For Manly, it’s the last throw of the dice and Souths know it.
“They’re going to be hungry and we’ve got to match it,” Walker said.
