South Sydney can’t make the NRL finals. But they can stop the Roosters

Three weeks ago, South Sydney were trying to avoid ten straight losses and the wooden spoon.

Come Friday week, they could notch four straight victories and the greatest consolation prize of all – the chance to deny bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters from playing finals football.

It is amazing what keeps league fans amused at this time of year.

When it comes to the Roosters, Bunnies fans are like the golfer who hits a birdie, but gets more delight seeing their rival card a triple bogey.

Souths thumped St George Illawarra 40-0 on Thursday night.

Cody Walker was nothing short of phenomenal, just as he was in his return a week earlier against the Eels.

The cavalry are finally returning, even though Souths will not feature in September.

Coach Wayne Bennett has been in the game 50 years, and regularly spoken about this year being the worst injury toll he has ever encountered.

The sight of Walker back on deck, and potentially Latrell Mitchell and skipper Cam Murray in round 27 against the Roosters, will bring a smile to Bennett’s face, but also be a cruel reminder of what could have been.

The rivalry with Easts, sorry the Roosters, is the oldest and fiercest and most genuine in the game.

The battle for Allianz Stadium – and the recent move to boot the Chooks out of Matraville High – are the latest chapters in the Book of Feuds.

Throw in Brandon Smith facing his old club for the first time, and the chance for Alex Johnston to score a double and draw even with Ken Irvine’s long-standing try-scoring record, only adds to the theatre.

At least Souths fans will ensure the Roosters draw a decent crowd on their own patch.

Yes, the Roosters are starting to hum, especially with the return of Sam Walker. Walker’s father Ben and uncle Shane both played for Souths, but Sam hated the club so much, he used to refuse to wear the red and green colours.

As Shane told this masthead last year: “Sam hated the Rabbits, only because he was such an oppositional child – everything his Dad wanted, he wanted the opposite. He was so defiant. Nothing has changed. He’s still an awful animal.”

Naufahu Whyte is leading their pack brilliantly, Hugo Savala (another Souths’ junior) has been a revelation, while James Tedesco, like all good Italians, continues to improve with age.

They face Parramatta on Saturday night. Then Melbourne. Ouch. Then the Rabbits.

The Dolphins are the main threat to the Roosters for that eighth spot. Should they upset Daly Cherry-Evans’ 350th on Saturday afternoon, they host spoon favourites the Titans, then the Raiders, who are expected to spare most of their bug guns the trip north on the eve of the finals.

But back to Souths and their chances of upsetting the Bondi locals (at least those still capable of shaping their foreheads into a frown).

When we asked Walker after the Dragons game about upsetting the Roosters, he said: “There’s no secret how big the rivalry is when we play against the Roosters, regardless of where we sit on the ladder. It’s always a tough game. We’ll look forward to it, as will they.”

We contacted Souths chairman Nick Pappas on Friday morning to get his thoughts. Pappas did not want to get into a fresh battle with his Roosters counterpart Nick Politis, especially with the tension still lingering over Souths’ sustained push to call Allianz Stadium home.

“What I will say is there could be no better way to end with a flourish, on what has been an otherwise disappointing season, than with four wins on the trot and a victory over the Roosters,” Pappas said.

“We’ve shown good form in recent weeks, and it would give our fans a great deal of joy to end the season on a high.

“It would also segue nicely into next season, which we believe holds great promise with all the young talent coming through.

“Sometimes an in jury-ridden season has a silver lining because you see all the green shoots coming through that you otherwise wouldn’t see. I think that’s been the case this year.”

Souths have made peace this won’t be their year. But they can still dud the Roosters.