Inglis Effect Won’t Be A Premiership

Sorry Rabbitohs fans, I’m making the call nice and early. If Greg Inglis’ proposed move to Souths is ratified by the NRL it won’t bring you the premiership you so deserve. I’m sure you’ll compete well all season, play some amazing football and bob around in the top 8 all season but alas it won’t end with the “South Sydney Rabbitohs 2011 Premiers” shirts being printed. Look as a player purchase, Inglis will be brilliant but he’s not the solution to all your problems. Oww and let’s keep in mind he’s going to be returning from a serious injury, so don’t expect instant brilliance.

Before I go on, I’ll declare that I cannot stand Greg Inglis. Every time he opens his mouth I think he’s underhanded, unscrupulous, arrogant and selfish. But I can’t deny that he has produced some of the finest Rugby League moments of this decade.

As a Knights fan, I start every year with the genuine optimism and belief that we can win the title. Every week I will them over the line but as a realist, I’m not looking to 2011 as the year of the Knight and nor should the Rabbitohs faithful. Oww and if you’re wondering why I haven’t written about why Knights won’t win the Premiership, my fingers would fall off before I finished that essay.

The bookies have slotted you in at #2 in the early betting but I’ll tell you why West Tigers, Dragons or Storm all have better chances of holding up that trophy. The reason is the lack of true match winning quality in the spine of your team. By spine I refer to the Captain, 1, 6, 7, 9 or for the uneducated Fullback, Five-Eight, Halfback and Hooker.



Now rumours are swirling that you will instil G.I into the fullback position and by doing so you will do your chances no harm. I think an injury free G.I could chime in with any backline movement just as capably as Billy Slater or Darius Boyd. But I’ll base my opinion on the assumption that pending injury you’ll opt for Wesser, Sutton, Sandow and Luke as your spine.

I’ll start with Wesser. Rhys is a player of immense talent and big game experience. I’m always a huge supporter of bringing in players who have won premierships and even paying overs for someone with premiership winning experience. Neville Costigan is a player I’m excited to see help improve the Knights both on and off the field. But Wesser has played just 28 games in two seasons, that’s a lot of missed football. Anyone playing on injured knees and the wrong side of 30 is a massive risk.

Then there is bra-boy John Sutton or Mr Inconsistency.  On his day, Sutton can hold a game in the palm of his hand and when he runs at the line with his big frame and ability to offload he could put me through for a hat-trick let alone if he’s spoiled with G.I outside him. He’s guilty of going missing at crucial times and despite being a five-eight with Sandow and Luke on offer, I think his kicking game needs rapid improvement.

Which brings us onto what I think is the biggest problem, Mr Chris Sandow. We all know he was moved along from Gold Coast Titans for his erratic and unprofessional attitude toward training and while it seems he’s found a home in Redfurn (no underhanded jokes intended) I think he is incredibly hit or miss. When you look at the poise and direction a Ben Hornby (who I despise) or Cooper Cronk bring to their side in attack, it isn’t hard to see how Sandow comes up short (again no jokes intended). Sandow is more concerned with putting on a shoulder charge than preserving something for launching the next attack. Chris, Souths have the biggest forwards (excluding Canberra) ditch the shoulder charges and concentrate on being a halfback. Ow and we’ve all seen where one of his shoulder charges fails to wrap up the ball and the opposition bounce off, exploit the gaping whole and score.

Ow and lastly I think both Sutton and Sandow are guilty of failing to bring Burgess into the game enough. We saw with England in the Four Nations, Burgess will always go looking for his own ball but if you can structure fringe attacks which bring him into the match, Inglis on the opposite fringe, nothing would stop them.

Now the hooker Issac Luke. One disc in the spine I don’t think needs much improving or changing. While he does play quite differently to Cameron Smith or Nathan Fien who are more or less second halfbacks, Issac is a real X-factor. I think he is best suited to the way Johnny Lang does play him in explosive bursts where he can tackle and scoot til he drops then come off for a smell. I’ve loved the way he’s brought last tackle kicking into his game and I’d love to see more of Wesser or Champion or even G.I milling around the middle of the ruck, ready to provide support. Luke finding space is a guarantee but whether tired legs will back him up is another matter.

Finally I’ll end on captain Roy Asotasi. Souths paid well and truly over market value to attract him to the club and while hindsight is a lovely thing, it’s clear he has been a total disappointment. The only redeeming feature may be the support and guidance he’s provided to the Polynesian boys off the field because his effort on the field has been negligent at best. On the plus side, moving Asotasi to British shores sooner rather than later would free up plenty of money for G.I.

Now look, I’m not all doom and gloom Rabbitohs fans so I’ll tell you some of the positives. In Johnny Lang you have a truly first class coach, that’s no surprise. In Sam Burgess you have a readymade skipper who you should install to that position sooner rather than later. Dave Taylor and Beau Champion are two dynamic attacking weapons with years ahead of them and in Nathan Merritt you have the Blacklock-type pure scoring machine.

So South Sydney fans, you are in for one heck of a year. I am certain you’ll be treated to moments of sheer elation and enjoyment but you won’t be treated to a premiership. Your Toyota cup side has an endless supply of outstanding talent who need to be given a shot also, so squad wise you’re very much covered.
So just to finish up on your new messiah, don’t forget that in plenty of Origin matches and Storm games where his side in flying high, he is quite happy to sit back and interject only when it suits him. Some like me call it laziness; others call it ingenious selectiveness which others like Hayne and Marshall need to show more of.

So come on people, give me your tip for who is going to take out the 2011 NRL Premiership?

Ow and for Yacht Club members this week we have Crown & Anchor fundraising for the Junior Yacht Club on Tuesday, Gastronomy Cooking Classes with Heston on Wednesday and Ray Charles appreciation running all week long in Jersey Lounge.