South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou says his players will “get in the trenches” in their Anzac Day showdown against Melbourne Storm that provides another opportunity for the embattled Rabbitohs to show a united front for their mentor.
A gritty last-start loss to Cronulla kept the circling wolves at bay, for now, with several players this week declaring their support for Demetriou who is under pressure to keep his job with South Sydney second last on the ladder with just a single victory from seven games.
Embracing the Anzac spirit, which included a jersey presentation form Commodore Raymond Leggatt AM, CSC, the Deputy Fleet Commander of the Royal Australian Navy, Demetriou said the “external noise” continued to be blocked out by players keen to “represent the jersey the way we can”.
“For us, it’s in the trenches sort of attitude we took into our last game against Cronulla and Anzac Day represents an opportunity to do that again,” he said.
“To get down there, answer that call and represent the jersey the way we can and more importantly improve from our last game
“It’s special when you play these games. You are putting that jersey on, there is a different feel. Playing on Anzac Day is really special.”
Demetriou has recalled hooker Damien Cook after an “honest” conversation when he was dropped back to the NSW Cup for just a single game, hopeful that stint provided a spark for the veteran.
The coach made the point no one was safe when the team was struggling.
“There was just some things we needed to work on. Conversations will stay between Damien and myself,” Demetriou said.
“He was really honest in how he handled going back to NSW Cup. We’ve got an opportunity now to have a two-hooker system … using that as an asset for us.
“Seventeen blokes get picked every week, there are 36 players in a squad … you should be hurt if you are not getting picked.
“Cooky is an experienced player, we need him at his best.”
Demetriou said forward Jai Arrow, back from a shoulder injury, was ready to go although he conceded the former representative star would need a an operation at the end of the season.
“He’s been full on in to contact since last week. He’s itching to go,” he said.
“It’s one of those things he will get fixed at the end of the season, but hopefully he gets through the season.”
South Sydney has never won in Melbourne and has only beaten Storm seven times since it entered the competition in 1998.
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