South Sydney deny their jet-setting NRL schedule – some of it self-imposed – is undermining their premiership push as they prepare for a difficult run towards the finals.
Knocked off top spot on the ladder by bitter rivals Sydney Roosters last weekend, the Rabbitohs continue their long-distance touring on Friday when they meet revitalised premiers Melbourne at AAMI Park – where they have never won.
Souths are coming off a 32-12 loss to North Queensland in Townsville last Saturday, having spent the week on the Gold Coast after playing the Titans there.
Souths also recently hosted “home” games in Cairns (v Titans on June 18) and the Warriors in Perth (July 7).
In stark comparison, the longest trip made by the Roosters since May 18, when they won in Townsville, was to Newcastle, two hours drive away, and their remaining five games of the regular season are all in Sydney.
Pace-setters for most of the season, the form of coach Michael Maguire’s Souths team has become patchy, with defeat to a struggling St George Illawarra side in round 19 closely followed by the last-start loss to the similarly lowly ranked Cowboys.
That run has coincided with the unavailability of star fullback Greg Inglis due to a knee injury, his absence set to be exacerbated by the ankle injury which will sideline five-eighth John Sutton for up to four weeks.
The Rabbitohs once again board a plane on Thursday to fly to Melbourne to take on a Storm side who returned to form in style with a stunning 68-4 win at Canberra to end the Raiders’ 12-game unbeaten home record.
However, veteran Nathan Merritt, who’ll make his 200th appearance for the club, said the travelling was no excuse for some under-par displays.
“You like to think you can play anywhere at any time,” Merritt said.
“We have done a lot of travelling but it hasn’t affected us as a group.
“We are professional footy players and you have to adapt and play in all sorts of conditions.
“We just didn’t perform at the weekend – that’s all there is to it.
“If you don’t play at your best in this league, you can be punished and we were.”
After facing Melbourne, Maguire’s side meet a red-hot Manly in Gosford followed by another huge test against a Canterbury outfit who have found their mojo at the back end of the season to move into contention for a top-four spot.
They then take on lowly Wests Tigers before rounding off the season with a potential minor premiership decider against the Roosters at ANZ Stadium.
However, halfback Adam Reynolds believes the run-in is the ideal way to prepare for the intensity of finals football.
“It’s good to have a few tough games coming into end of the season and it will give a chance to see where we are,” Reynolds said.
“Every team goes through a few rough patches but we know we will just have to go one step harder to get where we want to be.”