Cameron Murray is backing himself to plough through 80 minutes if required on Good Friday, and says he has only been spared spells in recent weeks because of the forwards injury crisis at South Sydney.
Murray looked exhausted well before full-time against Melbourne and Manly the week before that, which led to some commentators, including Andrew Johns, questioning if the Rabbitohs would be better served giving their skipper a brief spell.
Other lock forwards regularly play 80 minutes, but few throw their body into every tackle and hit-up like Murray.
The Souths leader said he went into every game with no set plan on how many minutes he would play, but that the impact of the loss of Jai Arrow, Hame Sele and Junior Tatola on the forwards rotation could not be underestimated.
“I’m not thinking about when I’ll have a rest, I go out and do my role the best I can for my teammates,” Murray told the Herald.
“I’m not sure if the minutes in recent weeks have reflected how light we’ve been in the forwards, especially with a few injuries. But I’m always looking to try and keep improving and reducing errors and being as impactful as I can.
Marathon Man: Cameron Murray is backing himself to play 80 minutes if required again.Credit:NRL Photos
“Rest always helps, but there have also been games where I feel good after playing 80.”
Murray played 80 minutes in the opening round against Cronulla, was then given a let-up against Penrith and the Roosters, before playing every minute against the Sea Eagles – which went to golden point – and the Storm.
Tatola has been named to return from a knee injury for the clash against Canterbury, while Arrow is tipped to return from a hamstring injury on Thursday week against the Dolphins.
Murray and the club’s leaders met early Monday to discuss their opening five-week block of games, and said while they finished games strongly, they needed “to start with more intensity”.
Souths will this week celebrate Latrell Mitchell’s 150th NRL game, with the star fullback joking a day earlier that most fans thought he was already 35 – not 25 – given he had been around so long.
Of the 17 players Mitchell played alongside in round one, 2016, when he made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters, none are still at the club except for Dylan Napa who returned this year on a train-and-trial deal.
That match finished in a 42-10 loss for the Roosters against the Rabbitohs.
“I only remember running up against Cody Walker that day,” Mitchell told the Herald.
“We didn’t really know each other, but that relationship has grown over time. We got flogged by Souths that day, but I was an 18-year-old just happy to be out there.
South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell.Credit:Getty
“I’ve still got a long way to go. I’m not patting myself on the back – I need to keep doing what I’m doing.
“I was actually a Cowboys supporter growing up, I loved Matty Bowen and Johnathan Thurston, but Souths were always my second team because of my dad. The whole of Taree were Rabbitohs fans. The world turns, and I’ve come home.”
Back-rower Keaon Koloamatangi, who joked he often had to remind himself Mitchell was only one year older than him – not 10 – was honoured to share the milestone with ‘Trell Mit’.
“I’m glad I play with him and not against him, with him running at me,” Koloamatangi said.
“It’s something I’ll brag about when I’m finished football, and how I got to play with one of the best players.”
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