FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27 2019 SPORT 27 NRL Souths draw on final failure

DAVID RICCIO Stadium tonight. The sick feel- the grand final.” But losing a The scoreline in the history “This doesn't surprise me the guidance of Wayne Ben- [email protected] ing of losing the exact same preliminary final, for an NRL books reads like the contest where we are (preliminary nett can do to Canberra what game last September, has player, can often feel like was close. final), because I knew the team they failed to do against the CODY Walker could only stayed with the boys from Red- everything achieved that sea- “But they (Roosters) were we had here and I knew how Roosters in the 2018 prelimi- stand and stare. fern ever since. son, was for nothing. probably in control for a lot of far we went last year and we nary final, Cook said: “I feel An emotional Damien Tonight is all about erasing That’s the case for the Rab- it,” Cook said ahead of to- felt like we missed an oppor- like this year, we're attacking Cook dropped his head into his those memories. bitohs – who have been wait- night’s massive clash with the tunity. both sides of the field, we’re at- hands. And Adam Reynolds Because so many past play- ing 12 months for this moment Raiders. “I feel like a lot of us will tacking through the middle, could do little else but to find a ers will tell you, the pain and tonight. “We really missed an op- take the experience of last we’ve got that other A, B and C consoling shoulder to lean on. frustration of losing the pre- A year ago, the Anthony portunity. We went in with a year's prelim loss against the options to go if our game plan These are the images from liminary final, can actually feel Seibold-coached Rabbitohs game plan and the Roosters Roosters into this game isn’t working. 12-months ago that the Rabbit- worse than losing the grand were beaten in the grand final just picked us off. (against Canberra) and we “Last year, we were prob- ohs will take with them into final. qualifier against eventual pre- “For me that loss lingered – don't want to be feeling like ably a bit one dimensional. their must-win preliminary There’s always a small sense miers the Roosters and I know for a lot of the boys that again.” That’s the improvement we've final against Canberra at GIO of pride that, “at least we got to 12-4. it did too. Asked why this side under made this year.” Croft demotion a masterstroke: JT

JAMES PHELPS the new Melbourne spine of [email protected] Hughes, Munster, and be- might not be enough to beat lieves the “massive call” to the in to- dump halfback Brodie Croft is morrow night’s preliminary another masterstroke from final. Storm coach Craig Bellamy. “They have been travelling Just two weeks out from the pretty well as a combination,’’ finals, Bellamy made the Thurston said. “Hughes looks make-or-break decision to like he is getting more com- drop Croft and install untried fortable and I think they are playmaker Jahrome Hughes. defensively a better team with It was a gamble considering sessions and try assists than him in the halves. Croft led the Storm to last Croft, Hughes has missed less “But I still don’t think they year’s grand final and the tackles and made fewer errors. have enough points in them … move had the potential to put He has also busted twice as and I don’t think they have the Storm’s spine out of whack. many tackles and forced seven those points with Croft there, “It was a huge call,’’ Thurs- dropouts. either. “They also haven’t had ton said. “To change your Thurston, arguably the a lot of time to gel, especially spine that close to the finals … game’s greatest No. 7, believes after Munster was rested from massive.’’ Bellamy made the halves the Cowboys game.” But statistics show former switch to ensure Cameron Thurston said the switch fullback Hughes has outper- Munster received more ball. could have been made with a formed Croft in several key “I reckon that was the Roosters showdown in mind areas, including runs, tackle thinking,’’ Thurston said. “And after Munster was shut out of busts, missed tackles and er- Hughes’s possessions com- last year’s grand final. rors. pared to Croft’s would tell you “The Roosters’ game plan And since the halfback it is working, with Smith going last year was to kick down switch following the Storm’s to Munster a lot more. Munster’s side to take him loss to Canberra in Round 22 “I am sure it is a ploy to get out,’’ Thurston said. last month, the Storm have more out of Munster. He is “He was always on the short won four out of their five their X-factor. Things happen side and out of play. By doing matches. They had lost two of around him. You want him in that they knew Croft wouldn’t their past five when Bellamy the game as much as possible.’’ demand the ball and try and decided to roll the dice. However, Thurston said take on that left edge of the While averaging less pos- there were two reasons why Roosters.’’ Injured Roberts ruled out Papalii has brothers in sights move pays off

SOUTH Sydney has suffered a “His body language (told CANBERRA are set says they’ll need their WHEN NRL stars James Te- make the Green Machine blow ahead of tonight’s sudden us). He knows he can’t play.” to start Josh Papalii to star prop from the desco, Kevin Proctor and Josh three-time premiers between death preliminary final against Bennett said Campbell Gra- combat South Syd- opening minute Mansour snubbed Canberra in 1989 and 1994. Canberra with strike centre ham would move into the ney’s Burgess brothers against Souths. the same week in 2014, first- One thing that stood out James Roberts ruled out. centres with young gun Corey in their sold-out NRL The Green Ma- year Raiders coach Ricky Stu- was that a number of players Coach Wayne Bennett has Allan coming on to the wing. preliminary final to- chine are expecting an art knew he had to think weren’t from Sydney. This year confirmed that Roberts has not With Braidon Burns al- night. emotionally-charged outside the square to pull to- the Raiders have been praised sufficiently recovered from a ready sidelined through injury, Papalii, pictured, performance from gether the kind of squad he for the success of their four- dislocated thumb and he was it leaves the Rabbitohs lacking came off the bench in the Raid- Sam, Tom and George Burgess wanted. man English contingent after in too much pain to play. experience. ers’ qualifying final victory because it’s possible they could So the club legend thought they revitalised the club and “He is too sore,” Bennett Bennett said the team must against Melbourne but Can- be playing their final NRL back to his playing days and helped moved them to within told News Corp Australia. move on. berra co-captain game together. the ingredients that helped to one win of the grand final. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA