Latest news with #Origin
The Age
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Their season is in the balance. Inequities of NRL draw could tip Panthers over the edge
As well as the travel, there are also the short turnarounds to factor in. As Knights coach Adam O'Brien said after his team's recent loss to St George Illawarra, when he begrudgingly rested Kalyn Ponga so that the Queensland Origin star wasn't playing three games in eight days: 'In this battle, we lost to the scheduling and the draw. Whoever does the draws either hasn't lived it or doesn't care, so I don't know which one it is.' Some may have felt O'Brien's comments were a bit rich, given that a week earlier, the Knights had enjoyed the rub of the green, beating a Penrith side minus their five-man Origin contingent. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary copped that loss on the chin and was disappointed that his depleted team had been unable to give a better account of themselves. It's not in Cleary's unflappable nature to complain publicly or to create controversy but, after Penrith's 18-14 win against Wests Tigers two weeks ago, he made an exception. Cleary's concern was not the game the Panthers had just played, but the double whammy looming on the horizon, after his team's round 15 bye. First Penrith face the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday, barely 72 hours after their Origin stars – Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin – were on duty with NSW in Perth. It's basically a day in transit from Western Australia to New Zealand, once time zones, connecting flights and layovers at airports are factored in. Not long enough, the coach said, to risk taking his NSW reps across the ditch. 'The Origin players won't be playing, because they can't,' he said. 'That's another story. I don't think it's fair. We should be able to make that decision. And just through flights, we can't get them there.' Front-rower Lindsay Smith, who was a stand-by player for NSW in Perth, is nonetheless expected to rack up some frequent flyer points and suit up for the Panthers on Saturday. Cleary found an unexpected ally in Phil Gould, formerly his mentor at Penrith before a well-documented falling-out. 'What about the ridiculous scheduling for the poor old Panthers this week?' Gould said on his Six Tackles With Gus podcast. 'They are playing on Wednesday night in Perth, all these Origin players … how would they expect those players to back up? It's terrible. If I was the Panthers club, I would be blowing up deluxe.' Gould may have been thinking two moves ahead, given the Panthers' next assignment after Auckland is the Canterbury club he oversees, on Thursday next week. Penrith's Origin quintet should be nicely freshened up for their clash with the table-topping Bulldogs, although Cleary was again disappointed with the scheduling, saying the rest of his players faced a five-day turnaround, which included the trip home from New Zealand. In recent seasons, Cleary has happily rested his Origin players during this phase of the season. In 2022, he gave seven state representatives the weekend off and their back-ups were too good for cellar-dwellers the Wests Tigers. A year later, Penrith beat the Knights with their five NSW players watching from the stand. This season, he doesn't have the same luxury as the reigning four-time champions face a dogfight to make the finals. And perhaps that is the crux of the issue. Loading We all realise the draw has flaws in it. NRL officials understand that, even though they are loath to publicly admit it. Instead, they try their best to juggle myriad complex issues and requests while keeping any inequities to a minimum. Impartial observers might form the view that it's all swings and roundabouts and that it usually evens itself out in the long run. That's all well and good until you're in Cleary's shoes, preparing for two tough games, five days apart in different countries, with your whole season potentially hanging on the outcome. Dynasties don't last forever. In Penrith's case, they can only hope the next two games don't prove to be the draw that broke the camel's back.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Their season is in the balance. Inequities of NRL draw could tip Panthers over the edge
As well as the travel, there are also the short turnarounds to factor in. As Knights coach Adam O'Brien said after his team's recent loss to St George Illawarra, when he begrudgingly rested Kalyn Ponga so that the Queensland Origin star wasn't playing three games in eight days: 'In this battle, we lost to the scheduling and the draw. Whoever does the draws either hasn't lived it or doesn't care, so I don't know which one it is.' Some may have felt O'Brien's comments were a bit rich, given that a week earlier, the Knights had enjoyed the rub of the green, beating a Penrith side minus their five-man Origin contingent. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary copped that loss on the chin and was disappointed that his depleted team had been unable to give a better account of themselves. It's not in Cleary's unflappable nature to complain publicly or to create controversy but, after Penrith's 18-14 win against Wests Tigers two weeks ago, he made an exception. Cleary's concern was not the game the Panthers had just played, but the double whammy looming on the horizon, after his team's round 15 bye. First Penrith face the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday, barely 72 hours after their Origin stars – Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin – were on duty with NSW in Perth. It's basically a day in transit from Western Australia to New Zealand, once time zones, connecting flights and layovers at airports are factored in. Not long enough, the coach said, to risk taking his NSW reps across the ditch. 'The Origin players won't be playing, because they can't,' he said. 'That's another story. I don't think it's fair. We should be able to make that decision. And just through flights, we can't get them there.' Front-rower Lindsay Smith, who was a stand-by player for NSW in Perth, is nonetheless expected to rack up some frequent flyer points and suit up for the Panthers on Saturday. Cleary found an unexpected ally in Phil Gould, formerly his mentor at Penrith before a well-documented falling-out. 'What about the ridiculous scheduling for the poor old Panthers this week?' Gould said on his Six Tackles With Gus podcast. 'They are playing on Wednesday night in Perth, all these Origin players … how would they expect those players to back up? It's terrible. If I was the Panthers club, I would be blowing up deluxe.' Gould may have been thinking two moves ahead, given the Panthers' next assignment after Auckland is the Canterbury club he oversees, on Thursday next week. Penrith's Origin quintet should be nicely freshened up for their clash with the table-topping Bulldogs, although Cleary was again disappointed with the scheduling, saying the rest of his players faced a five-day turnaround, which included the trip home from New Zealand. In recent seasons, Cleary has happily rested his Origin players during this phase of the season. In 2022, he gave seven state representatives the weekend off and their back-ups were too good for cellar-dwellers the Wests Tigers. A year later, Penrith beat the Knights with their five NSW players watching from the stand. This season, he doesn't have the same luxury as the reigning four-time champions face a dogfight to make the finals. And perhaps that is the crux of the issue. Loading We all realise the draw has flaws in it. NRL officials understand that, even though they are loath to publicly admit it. Instead, they try their best to juggle myriad complex issues and requests while keeping any inequities to a minimum. Impartial observers might form the view that it's all swings and roundabouts and that it usually evens itself out in the long run. That's all well and good until you're in Cleary's shoes, preparing for two tough games, five days apart in different countries, with your whole season potentially hanging on the outcome. Dynasties don't last forever. In Penrith's case, they can only hope the next two games don't prove to be the draw that broke the camel's back.
Courier-Mail
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
‘Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss, Cameron Munster, Billy Slater
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. COMMENT Let history show there was only one fraud responsible for ensuring an Origin decider in 2025 - and it wasn't Ashley Klein. Cameron Munster's infectious performance in game two will not only be remembered as one of the great playmaker's knocks, but also the biggest scam in Origin history. Why? Not because the Maroons barely eked home on sloppy Blues goalkicking, nor because Klein blew the whistle so often he was mistaken for a car alarm. Nope, it's because Munster did the Blues dirty with a shock new routine - the ability to dominate in Priest Mode. In horrific news for NSW, the captain's role has unlocked a new aspect of Munster that's as level-headed as it is two-faced. Announced as the state's new leader last week, Munster as a Maroons father figure was always bound to conflict with the bottle blonde tomcat we've come to know in so many larrikin grabs and grainy viral videos. Cameron Munster led the Maroons to victory with a dominant display. Cameron Munster led out a team of leaders for the Queensland. (Photo by) But when he presented with a chill steeliness and clean shaven face at his unveiling, we were witnessing the beginning of the transition in real time. Then when he fronted multiple media calls throughout the week in full dad mode and team uniform - and not just to crack zingers or issue a public apology - he was truly unrecognisable. But once Munster lead by example on the paddock in a man of the match performance, not only had he fully transformed in to one of those testimonials on a Tony Robbins self help manual, he'd also confirmed his appointment a rousing success. Sure, it's too early to elevate the new skipper to the bar alongside esteemed types like Baron Cameron Smith, especially after he confirmed his latent larrikinism by slipping a cheeky F-bomb in the post-match interview like a verbal wink in a hostage video. However, the 30 year old proved Wednesday night that the weight of responsibility won't hamper the spring in his step. Billy Slater nailed the captaincy call on Cameron Munster. (Photo by) Cameron Munster was all heart on Wednesday night. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) Just because he was Danny Tanner all week and held a stridently earnest pre-match interview with Johnathan Thurston on the team bus didn't mean he'd also play his footy like a sitcom dad. And just because he openly professed his love for the coach in the post-match press conference without being six beers deep doesn't mean he'll lose his playful edge either. Credit where it's due, Billy Slater has made his fair share of boofheaded decisions this series but he's absolutely nailed this one to the wall. With the series on the line, the coach was under stifling pressure to pull the right rein on Daly Cherry-Evans' replacement at skipper, lest be underlined as the first Queensland coach sunk by Aaron Woods. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY But when he ignored a raft of club captains to anoint Munster as captain, many believed he'd confused the state role with the social club. For all his mercurial brilliance, the Storm talisman has been widely celebrated as the Dally Messenger of good times, a free spirit whose rhinocerene appetite for a beer is matched only by his love of a poor decision. Who could forget when he was sin binned in the 2018 grand final for kicking? Or when he was banned for 12 months by the QRL in 2016 for breaking curfew at an Emerging Origin camp? X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Conversely, what about playing a leading hand in the 2020 series victory after fronting the team photo looking like he'd just served a 12 week sentence in the Milton brewery? Munster has always saddled the line between professional and playboy, a position that reached a crossroads in 2021 when he was sprung on film mucking up on the Gold Coast with Brandon Smith. When it comes to selecting a new skipper, there's no scarier trio of terms on a CV than 'unidentified white powder', 'Gold Coast' and 'The Cheese' - but Slater still bravely gambled on his five-eighth and its come up trumps. Sure, we've all seen similar glimpses of Reverend Munster in recent times as he abandoned the bottle and the extra pounds, albeit the latter only because his wife jibed him about his muffin top. But his performance to save the series proves this captaincy caper could catapult his influence in Origin further towards Wally-esque areas. And all they had to do was shave him down and let him flip the coin. - Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He's never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt. Originally published as 'Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Munster matches the King, says coaching great
After being hailed for delivering a "Wally Lewis-type performance" in State of Origin, Cameron Munster may have earned a rest from Melbourne's NRL clash with South Sydney. While most of the Storm's Origin contingent headed straight from Perth to Sydney ahead of Saturday night's match, Munster flew home to Melbourne. In his first game as Queensland captain, the 30-year-old delivered a man-of-the-match performance as he guided the Maroons to a 26-24 victory to level the series. He scored a try and recorded a team-high 112 metres, with four tackle busts in one of his best Origin showings. Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett compared Munster to Queensland great Wally Lewis, who dominated the interstate arena in his 31 appearances. Bennett was Queensland coach for three years during the "King's" reign. "It was a Wally Lewis-type performance," said the veteran coach, who will meet Storm coach Craig Bellamy for a record 44th time. "Wally won, I think, eight man of the matches in State of Origin ... I thought Cam was outstanding." Melbourne coach Bellamy has a role as a coaching advisor with the NSW side and while he was disappointed with the result, said he was "proud" of Munster. "For him to captain his state was a really proud moment for him, his family and for the Storm and he led them with a lot of energy and really stuck to doing what he does well," Bellamy said. "I'm really proud of him, I'm not real happy for him, but real proud of him but hopefully the Blues can get them next time." Bellamy said his five-eighth's return to Melbourne was for family reasons and was still hopeful he would play at Accor Stadium. However it seems unlikely they would put him on another plane with the team on Friday afternoon. Munster has carried a big workload this season, coming after double hip surgery in the off-season to relieve pressure on his groin. "Munster's come back obviously to see his kids, he missed them," Bellamy said. "He's not trained today, I'm pretty sure he'll play so we'll just see how they (Origin contingent) come up and go from there." As Jonah Pezet makes his return from an ACL with their feeder team in Queensland, youngster Keagan Russell-Smith is a chance to play his first NRL game of the year and only second overall. The highly rated 21-year-old made his debut in round 26 last year and has been included in the reserves. Bellamy said he was yet to make a call, with gun utility Tyran Wishart also an option at No.6. Queensland winger Xavier Coates has already been ruled out as the Storm manage his troublesome hamstrings while NSW prop Stefano Utoikamanu also flew to Melbourne rather than Sydney putting him in major doubt. After being hailed for delivering a "Wally Lewis-type performance" in State of Origin, Cameron Munster may have earned a rest from Melbourne's NRL clash with South Sydney. While most of the Storm's Origin contingent headed straight from Perth to Sydney ahead of Saturday night's match, Munster flew home to Melbourne. In his first game as Queensland captain, the 30-year-old delivered a man-of-the-match performance as he guided the Maroons to a 26-24 victory to level the series. He scored a try and recorded a team-high 112 metres, with four tackle busts in one of his best Origin showings. Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett compared Munster to Queensland great Wally Lewis, who dominated the interstate arena in his 31 appearances. Bennett was Queensland coach for three years during the "King's" reign. "It was a Wally Lewis-type performance," said the veteran coach, who will meet Storm coach Craig Bellamy for a record 44th time. "Wally won, I think, eight man of the matches in State of Origin ... I thought Cam was outstanding." Melbourne coach Bellamy has a role as a coaching advisor with the NSW side and while he was disappointed with the result, said he was "proud" of Munster. "For him to captain his state was a really proud moment for him, his family and for the Storm and he led them with a lot of energy and really stuck to doing what he does well," Bellamy said. "I'm really proud of him, I'm not real happy for him, but real proud of him but hopefully the Blues can get them next time." Bellamy said his five-eighth's return to Melbourne was for family reasons and was still hopeful he would play at Accor Stadium. However it seems unlikely they would put him on another plane with the team on Friday afternoon. Munster has carried a big workload this season, coming after double hip surgery in the off-season to relieve pressure on his groin. "Munster's come back obviously to see his kids, he missed them," Bellamy said. "He's not trained today, I'm pretty sure he'll play so we'll just see how they (Origin contingent) come up and go from there." As Jonah Pezet makes his return from an ACL with their feeder team in Queensland, youngster Keagan Russell-Smith is a chance to play his first NRL game of the year and only second overall. The highly rated 21-year-old made his debut in round 26 last year and has been included in the reserves. Bellamy said he was yet to make a call, with gun utility Tyran Wishart also an option at No.6. Queensland winger Xavier Coates has already been ruled out as the Storm manage his troublesome hamstrings while NSW prop Stefano Utoikamanu also flew to Melbourne rather than Sydney putting him in major doubt. After being hailed for delivering a "Wally Lewis-type performance" in State of Origin, Cameron Munster may have earned a rest from Melbourne's NRL clash with South Sydney. While most of the Storm's Origin contingent headed straight from Perth to Sydney ahead of Saturday night's match, Munster flew home to Melbourne. In his first game as Queensland captain, the 30-year-old delivered a man-of-the-match performance as he guided the Maroons to a 26-24 victory to level the series. He scored a try and recorded a team-high 112 metres, with four tackle busts in one of his best Origin showings. Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett compared Munster to Queensland great Wally Lewis, who dominated the interstate arena in his 31 appearances. Bennett was Queensland coach for three years during the "King's" reign. "It was a Wally Lewis-type performance," said the veteran coach, who will meet Storm coach Craig Bellamy for a record 44th time. "Wally won, I think, eight man of the matches in State of Origin ... I thought Cam was outstanding." Melbourne coach Bellamy has a role as a coaching advisor with the NSW side and while he was disappointed with the result, said he was "proud" of Munster. "For him to captain his state was a really proud moment for him, his family and for the Storm and he led them with a lot of energy and really stuck to doing what he does well," Bellamy said. "I'm really proud of him, I'm not real happy for him, but real proud of him but hopefully the Blues can get them next time." Bellamy said his five-eighth's return to Melbourne was for family reasons and was still hopeful he would play at Accor Stadium. However it seems unlikely they would put him on another plane with the team on Friday afternoon. Munster has carried a big workload this season, coming after double hip surgery in the off-season to relieve pressure on his groin. "Munster's come back obviously to see his kids, he missed them," Bellamy said. "He's not trained today, I'm pretty sure he'll play so we'll just see how they (Origin contingent) come up and go from there." As Jonah Pezet makes his return from an ACL with their feeder team in Queensland, youngster Keagan Russell-Smith is a chance to play his first NRL game of the year and only second overall. The highly rated 21-year-old made his debut in round 26 last year and has been included in the reserves. Bellamy said he was yet to make a call, with gun utility Tyran Wishart also an option at No.6. Queensland winger Xavier Coates has already been ruled out as the Storm manage his troublesome hamstrings while NSW prop Stefano Utoikamanu also flew to Melbourne rather than Sydney putting him in major doubt.
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Souths beast to play days after fracturing eye socket
Wayne Bennett has hailed Keaon Koloamatangi's toughness as he prepares to line up for South Sydney less than a week after fracturing his eye socket. The rapid-fire return gives Koloamatangi two games to reassert his State of Origin credentials, after missing NSW's trip to Perth for game two with the game-ending injury suffered against Canterbury on Sunday. Koloamatangi had originally been a member of NSW's extended squad for Origin II and appears the next cab off the rank if Laurie Daley wants to tweak his 17 for the decider on July 9. Koloamatangi comes in from the extended squad to face Melbourne on Saturday and will be joined in the team by star fullback Latrell Mitchell, who is backing up from NSW's two-point loss. The Storm have ruled Xavier Coates out of the game at Accor Stadium but are likely to have his Queensland teammates Harry Grant and Trent Loiero on deck after they flew direct to Sydney from Perth after Origin. Fellow Origin representatives Stefano Utoikamanu and Cam Munster flew back to Melbourne and are at longer odds to make the trip to Sydney to face Koloamatangi and the Rabbitohs. "(Koloamatangi) didn't need any surgery and the doctor's quite confident (the injury) won't be a problem to him. He's confident and he's happy so we'll go ahead and let him play," said Souths coach Bennett. "He's a bit like Jye Gray the other night with a broken thumb, played the whole second half. You can't question the toughness and the wanting to play for the club as well. "The club's in a good place if players want to play and they've got injuries or getting back a little bit earlier. They work really hard." The news is not so good for recruit Lewis Dodd, who had been named to come in from reserve grade for the injured Jayden Sullivan but will be replaced at five-eighth by Jack Wighton. The axing raises further questions as to Dodd's future at the Rabbitohs, who have only started him in the halves once since he was lured from England on a salary of more than $600,000. Dodd's selection chances will only diminish further when Cody Walker returns from his groin injury next weekend, having almost recovered in time to face the Storm. "I haven't really had a conversation with (Dodd) because I told him on Tuesday he probably wasn't in the team anyway," Bennett said. "I didn't know what was going on with Origin, I didn't know the other guys' injuries. I only really announced the team this morning to the players." Saturday's game will be the 44th time Bennett has coached against Storm mentor Craig Bellamy, breaking the record for most match-ups for two coaches since the grand final era began in 1954. To keep their top-eight tilt on track, the 14th-placed Rabbitohs must snap Bellamy's 14-game winning streak against Bennett-coached sides. "(Bellamy's teams) all do their jobs, they're really good at that. Whatever role you've got in the team, they do it," Bennett said. Wayne Bennett has hailed Keaon Koloamatangi's toughness as he prepares to line up for South Sydney less than a week after fracturing his eye socket. The rapid-fire return gives Koloamatangi two games to reassert his State of Origin credentials, after missing NSW's trip to Perth for game two with the game-ending injury suffered against Canterbury on Sunday. Koloamatangi had originally been a member of NSW's extended squad for Origin II and appears the next cab off the rank if Laurie Daley wants to tweak his 17 for the decider on July 9. Koloamatangi comes in from the extended squad to face Melbourne on Saturday and will be joined in the team by star fullback Latrell Mitchell, who is backing up from NSW's two-point loss. The Storm have ruled Xavier Coates out of the game at Accor Stadium but are likely to have his Queensland teammates Harry Grant and Trent Loiero on deck after they flew direct to Sydney from Perth after Origin. Fellow Origin representatives Stefano Utoikamanu and Cam Munster flew back to Melbourne and are at longer odds to make the trip to Sydney to face Koloamatangi and the Rabbitohs. "(Koloamatangi) didn't need any surgery and the doctor's quite confident (the injury) won't be a problem to him. He's confident and he's happy so we'll go ahead and let him play," said Souths coach Bennett. "He's a bit like Jye Gray the other night with a broken thumb, played the whole second half. You can't question the toughness and the wanting to play for the club as well. "The club's in a good place if players want to play and they've got injuries or getting back a little bit earlier. They work really hard." The news is not so good for recruit Lewis Dodd, who had been named to come in from reserve grade for the injured Jayden Sullivan but will be replaced at five-eighth by Jack Wighton. The axing raises further questions as to Dodd's future at the Rabbitohs, who have only started him in the halves once since he was lured from England on a salary of more than $600,000. Dodd's selection chances will only diminish further when Cody Walker returns from his groin injury next weekend, having almost recovered in time to face the Storm. "I haven't really had a conversation with (Dodd) because I told him on Tuesday he probably wasn't in the team anyway," Bennett said. "I didn't know what was going on with Origin, I didn't know the other guys' injuries. I only really announced the team this morning to the players." Saturday's game will be the 44th time Bennett has coached against Storm mentor Craig Bellamy, breaking the record for most match-ups for two coaches since the grand final era began in 1954. To keep their top-eight tilt on track, the 14th-placed Rabbitohs must snap Bellamy's 14-game winning streak against Bennett-coached sides. "(Bellamy's teams) all do their jobs, they're really good at that. Whatever role you've got in the team, they do it," Bennett said. Wayne Bennett has hailed Keaon Koloamatangi's toughness as he prepares to line up for South Sydney less than a week after fracturing his eye socket. The rapid-fire return gives Koloamatangi two games to reassert his State of Origin credentials, after missing NSW's trip to Perth for game two with the game-ending injury suffered against Canterbury on Sunday. Koloamatangi had originally been a member of NSW's extended squad for Origin II and appears the next cab off the rank if Laurie Daley wants to tweak his 17 for the decider on July 9. Koloamatangi comes in from the extended squad to face Melbourne on Saturday and will be joined in the team by star fullback Latrell Mitchell, who is backing up from NSW's two-point loss. The Storm have ruled Xavier Coates out of the game at Accor Stadium but are likely to have his Queensland teammates Harry Grant and Trent Loiero on deck after they flew direct to Sydney from Perth after Origin. Fellow Origin representatives Stefano Utoikamanu and Cam Munster flew back to Melbourne and are at longer odds to make the trip to Sydney to face Koloamatangi and the Rabbitohs. "(Koloamatangi) didn't need any surgery and the doctor's quite confident (the injury) won't be a problem to him. He's confident and he's happy so we'll go ahead and let him play," said Souths coach Bennett. "He's a bit like Jye Gray the other night with a broken thumb, played the whole second half. You can't question the toughness and the wanting to play for the club as well. "The club's in a good place if players want to play and they've got injuries or getting back a little bit earlier. They work really hard." The news is not so good for recruit Lewis Dodd, who had been named to come in from reserve grade for the injured Jayden Sullivan but will be replaced at five-eighth by Jack Wighton. The axing raises further questions as to Dodd's future at the Rabbitohs, who have only started him in the halves once since he was lured from England on a salary of more than $600,000. Dodd's selection chances will only diminish further when Cody Walker returns from his groin injury next weekend, having almost recovered in time to face the Storm. "I haven't really had a conversation with (Dodd) because I told him on Tuesday he probably wasn't in the team anyway," Bennett said. "I didn't know what was going on with Origin, I didn't know the other guys' injuries. I only really announced the team this morning to the players." Saturday's game will be the 44th time Bennett has coached against Storm mentor Craig Bellamy, breaking the record for most match-ups for two coaches since the grand final era began in 1954. To keep their top-eight tilt on track, the 14th-placed Rabbitohs must snap Bellamy's 14-game winning streak against Bennett-coached sides. "(Bellamy's teams) all do their jobs, they're really good at that. Whatever role you've got in the team, they do it," Bennett said.
