📰 Standards the Key for Campbell as Souths Head West

Campbell Graham says South Sydney's Friday night victory was an important step forward for a team focused on continuous improvement, with the Rabbitohs now preparing for their trip to Perth to face Canberra.

Defensive Improvements on Display

Graham highlighted the importance of Friday night's performance, particularly in areas the team had identified for improvement following their match against the Tigers. The centre was pleased with how the Rabbitohs addressed their discipline with the ball and reduced their penalty count.

"Defensively, and also our discipline with the ball I thought, and discipline across the park with penalties, I thought we tidied a few things up there and some of our efforts defensively were what we wanted to work on," Graham said. "Obviously there's still improvement there but there's definitely a step in the right direction."

The 26-year-old emphasised that the team has been open about their season-long approach from the outset. South Sydney recognises they won't reach their peak performance early in the campaign, but the focus remains on building week by week. Graham described it as a work in progress, noting that as long as the team continues moving in the right direction, they'll be satisfied with their development.

Perth Challenge Against the Raiders

The Rabbitohs now turn their attention to their Perth fixture against Canberra, a trip Graham has made in previous seasons. He expressed enthusiasm about returning to Western Australia and promoting the game in a city that will soon have its own NRL team.

Graham acknowledged the challenge posed by the Raiders, describing them as a tough opponent regardless of their recent results. "I think they're a tough footy side. I think they work hard and they're pretty unpredictable to be honest with the ball, so they can come up with just about anything in attack," he said.

At this stage of the season, Graham explained that South Sydney's preparation remains heavily focused inward rather than on specific opposition threats. The priority is ensuring the Rabbitohs don't beat themselves before worrying about what other teams might bring. While the coaching staff reviews opposition footage each week, the main emphasis is on maintaining the standards South Sydney wants to play at.

Right Edge Combination Growing

While much of the attention has focused on South Sydney's left edge, Graham is pleased with the development on the right side alongside Tallis Duncan. The centre believes the combination is strengthening as the players become more familiar with each other's games.

Graham praised Duncan's attacking opportunities against the Bulldogs, while also acknowledging the contributions of centre Tallis and halfback Jamie Humphreys. He described Humphreys as a level-headed player who consistently does his job for the team.

The experience of playing alongside Alex Johnston also continues to provide confidence for the entire edge. When asked about Johnston's length-of-the-field try that took him to 215 career tries, Graham painted a vivid picture. "It's kind of one of those feelings that he's one of those blokes when you see him with just him and the try line ahead of him, you're pretty much glasses down, it's a try," he said.

Graham was unsurprised by David Fifita's immediate impact on the left edge, citing the forward's strong pre-season as an indicator of what was to come. Fifita arrived with a chip on his shoulder, dropped weight and has been building his combination with his edge partners since November. Graham noted that when those combinations pay off in matches, it's no surprise because the team has seen them work countless times at training.

Junior Representatives Impressing

Graham took time to acknowledge the strong performances of South Sydney's junior representative teams, particularly the SG Ball and Harold Matthews sides that recorded victories on Saturday ahead of their finals campaigns. The centre has worked directly with the Harold Matthews squad and has seen several players from both teams train with the NRL squad during the pre-season.

He singled out centres Dean Taua and Dane Jennings as extremely talented players who have been carving up in their age group. Both impressed during their time training with the senior squad in the pre-season, and Graham predicted their names will become much more widely known over the coming seasons.