Once again the Rabbitohs’ season came to a close after a defeat at the hands of the Panthers.
Jason Demetriou’s side were beaten convincingly in a grand final rematch and after — reaching the preliminary finals in the last five years — have only progressed once in that period.
Despite Souths’ premiership curtain closing this season, many positives can be taken out of their 2022 campaign.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
MORE NRL NEWS
CUT-THROAT: Why Brad Arthur should make the hardest call of all and drop his son
‘GET RID OF THEM’: Calls for Penrith trainers to be banned for GF amid ‘form’
FAST LANE: Inside Parra hero’s transformation as Eels’ waiting game pays off
SHOCK TWIST: Trainer saga turns as Panthers claim audio proves what was really said
Rookie coach Jason Demetriou broke the Wayne Bennett curse which previously saw a number of high profile coaches lose their jobs following him at the Dragons, Knights and Broncos.
After succeeding the master coach, Demetriou is set to remain at the helm for years to come — shirking off early-season troubles to make a late finals charge.
At the end of Round 4, Souths sat in 13th place, but after finishing seventh in the regular season were the only team outside of the top four to appear in the final four.
Throw in a rookie halfback finding his fee in Lachlan Ilias and a major hamstring injury for Latrell Mitchell — and Souths season is even more impressive.
Read on for the Rabbitohs’ end of season review.
2022 Record: 16W 11L – 59.3% win record, knocked out in preliminary final
Grading: A
What went right: Rookie coach Jason Demetriou always had a huge job on his hands after Bennett guided the Rabbitohs to the grand final in 2021.
Expectations were high and Rabbitohs fans were hoping they would go one better in 2022. But after four rounds, Souths had only recorded a single win.
To add to their troubles, Latrell Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out for twelve weeks.
Demetriou’s side failed to produce the attacking football they were known for early in the season and it all came to a head against the Dragons in Round 15, when Demetriou made the biggest decision of his coaching career.
After only 29 minutes, trailing 32-0, he pulled young halfback Lachlan Ilias from the field — which later proved a masterstroke.
Pressure was heaped on Ilias to deliver in the absence of veteran playmaker Adam Reynolds.
But after that moment, the 22-year-old turned his season around and eventually earned the club’s John Sattler Rookie of the Year award.
Much was made of Souths officials’ decision to allow Reynolds, who played 231 games for the Redfern club, to walk.
However, Fox League’s Braith Anasta, who is Ilias’ player agent, believes Souths have been vindicated for making the tough call.
“Many said after eight weeks when Reynolds was flying in Brisbane, many said it was the worst decision Souths have made in the history of their club when Reynolds moved on,” Anasta said.
“Many said Souths were just going to fall away, they weren’t going to make the finals and if they did they’d be useless.
“This was the criticism, they called for the heads of the officials at Souths, Jason Demetriou was under pressure, they had that Dragons game where he pulled Lachlan Ilias off.
“He was criticised for that, now they have proven everyone wrong.”
Latrell Mitchell’s form must also be seen as a success, regardless of a disappointing performance in the preliminary final (see below).
The fullback took the drastic step of flying to the USA to rehab his injured hamstring with renowned specialist Bill Knowles before returning to light up the competition.
Fox League’s Michael Ennis said Mitchell’s influence on the players around him was one of his biggest strengths in 2022.
“I have never played with Latrell, but I have played with guys that just have that aura about them, Latrell seems to have that at Souths,” Ennis said.
“While you look at his numbers statically, it is not so much about that, it is more about those moments in the sheds before you run out knowing Latrell Mitchell is in your side and the confidence that brings.
“It’s no surprise when he came back to see the impact it had on others, Cody Walker in particular is back playing his best footy, there’s no doubt about that.”
Throw in the mix the impressive seasons Campbell Graha, Tevita Tatola, Cameron Murray and Keaon Koloamatangi had — and Souths have a recipe for success.
What went wrong: The preliminary final.
Billed as the Rabbitohs chance at a huge grand final redemption against the Panthers.
However, against the NRL’s premier outfit, they just couldn’t cut it — and their big names players failed to stand up when they needed them the most.
Fox League’s Corey Parker questioned Latrell Mitchell’s fitness when hanging in the balance.
As the Panthers held a six-point lead after halftime, Mitchell and Walker needed to inject themselves in the game, but instead “did not touch the ball”.
“He wasn’t able to put himself, where he needed to put himself, if he was fit enough, he would be there,” Parker said.
“There was a period in that second half when Latrell Mitchell did not touch the ball, was not seen, did not touch the ball for three sets of six.
“You are playing in a preliminary final, you need your big stars touching the ball, there is not next week, it is a grand final if you want to go and take it.”
It prompted questions over whether Mitchell should play fullback on in the centres next season.
“When he first joined from the Roosters I kept saying he is a centre,” Phil Rothfield said on BSB Radio.
“He doesn’t use as much petrol. He can be more explosive getting the ball.
“And they can design plays around Cody Walker to get him the ball more than the regular centre does.”
Meanwhile, coach Jason Demetriou said their demise came after his side “ran out of troops”.
The Redfern-based club took the hard route to the preliminary final and were left battered and bruised in an elimination final dubbed ‘sin bin Sunday’.
Coming through that game, they lost Tom Burgess to suspension, while the remainder of the squad were left exhausted, such was the intensity of the contest.
“It is probably the story of our year we just ran out of troops in the end,” Demetriou said.
“To get these guys in a prelim you need to be fit and healthy and have your best 17 available.
“It is not an excuse, it is just the reality of how hard they are to beat. We came here with optimism and we were 12-0 up and I was optimistic.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
What they need: Consistency. When firing, the Rabbitohs are one of the best teams in the competition and their lethal left edge can pile on points.
But, Souths can be equally fragile and fans never know what they are in for when watching their team.
To begin their 2022 campaign, the Rabbitohs were in the process of forging a new halves pairing and can be excused for clunky attack.
Despite the obvious excuses, hooker Damien Cook went as far as saying the team had let coach Jason Demetriou down after being battered by the Dragons in Round 15.
“It’s no surprise when he came back to see the impact it had on others, Cody Walker in particular is back playing his best footy, there’s no doubt about that,” Cook said on the Fox League podcast.
“We’re probably stressing him and are forcing him to have some grey hairs earlier than he thought.”
The Rabbitohs also will be looking to bolster their options in the outside backs.
While Alex Johnston and Campbell Graham are automatic selections, and Isaiah Tass was strong to finish the season, Souths right wing spot is up for grabs.
Jaxson Paulo was the man tasked with filling the void left by Dane Gagai at the start of 2022, but by the year’s end he was replaced by Taane Milne.
He himself endured a torrid finals series, sin binned twice and being sent off for an ugly swinging arm tackle on Spencer Leniu.
Richard Kennar, who replaced Johnston in the preliminary final, is an option, while Izaac Thompson also featured for two games.
Jason Demetriou may look for a regular winger with Josh Mansour, Kennar and Paulo currently without a contract for the 2023 season.
Coming: N/A
Going: Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima (both Dolphins)
Unsigned: Zane Bijorac, Richard Kennar, Josh Mansour, Jaxson Paulo
