Supercoach Wayne Bennett has wasted no time placing rival NRL teams on notice after masterminding South Sydney’s season-opening statement win over Sydney Roosters.
In what may prove the dawn of a bold new era at Redfern, Bennett revealed the simple philosophy he hopes will lead the Rabbitohs to 2019 title glory after Souths’ stirring 26-16 victory over the reigning premiers on Friday night
“We have very talented halves and we have a very good fullback and an extremely good hooker, so my job is to free them up and let them play their football,” Bennett said.
“Not to try and put them in a box or play with structure. That is detrimental to the way they play. They have a freedom to play and that is what they bring.
“That is the beauty of what makes them the players they are.”
Indeed, halfback Adam Reynolds, with a hand or boot in four of Souths’ five tries, was masterful at a rain-soaked SCG, while five-eighth Dylan Walker also starred with a try and try assist.
Dynamic fullback Alex Johnston, hooker Damien Cook and superstar skippers Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess also stood up as the Rabbitohs brought the premiers crashing back to earth barely a fortnight after the Roosters added the World Club Challenge to their trophy cabinet.
Even Roosters coach Trent Robinson could see how Bennett’s issuing of a licence to thrill had already transformed the Rabbitohs following the seven-time premiership-winning mentor’s off-season coaching swap with Anthony Seibold.
“They have got much more freedom in the way that they play,” Robinson said.
“They were very structured last year. You could read it.”
“We’ve still got structures. I think every team in the NRL’s got structures. It’s whether you stick to them monotonously.
“If we see something, he (Bennett) has encouraged us to take it and I thought on occasions tonight we did that.”