Former Rabbitohs captain Roy Asotasi is backing the boys in Red and Green to come out firing in 2018 after being revitalised by a fresh start at Redfern Oval.
Change can be a daunting challenge but also one that fills you with both hope and optimism and Asotasi has faith in the team’s potential and knows that the players will be eager to go the distance this coming season.
“I think the boys would have been a little disappointed with the results last year,” said Asotasi.
“I think over the last three to four years everyone would probably agree that it has been pretty much straight up-and-down football that Souths have been playing.
“That style worked really well right up to when the boys won the Grand Final in 2014 but one thing is for sure - Rugby League is a game that constantly changes and you have to change with it, otherwise you’ll get left behind.
“There has been a lot of changes at Souths for next season with a new coach and new training staff and I know, as a former player, that the boys will be looking forward to the season.”
Asotasi is also pleased to see so many young players blooded into the squad and is particularly delighted with the development of last year’s rookies.
“One good thing about not having such a successful season last year is it gave Souths the chance to blood some young guys,” said Asotasi.
“I thought Cameron Murray and Tyrell Fuimaono were outstanding last year and Angus Crichton who has been one of biggest finds for the Club.
“Those boys can only get better as they head into the new off season and with their second year in the NRL.”
With a collection of young players raring to go and a host of senior players at the peak of their game, Asotasi senses the Club can achieve its goals in 2018 and feels that the future at Redfern is very bright.
“Change is always good and the boys will be ripping into training. I know that they will be putting in a little bit extra work now that there is an unexpected element to what the new season will bring,” said Asotasi.
With the new season just around the corner, the team and the coaching staff are well aware that time is the enemy as they put in the hard yards ahead of the NRL opener.
However, with new systems in place, Asotasi is confident in the team’s ability to move forward.
“I know that playing under the same coach and working to the same regime can get quite monotonous and you can lose a bit of motivation and it drip feeds into the season,” said Asotasi.
“I’m hoping that 2018 will be a different looking side with a different style of play.”
