Bumbling Bunnies look to NZ escape to revive NRL season

Slumping South Sydney are relishing the prospect to flee the nation and get their NRL season again on monitor with an old style bonding journey to New Zealand.

In a dramatic fall from grace, the Rabbitohs have slipped from premiership favourites barely a month in the past to clinging to eighth spot on factors differential forward of Friday night time’s conflict with the contrastingly in-form Warriors in Auckland.

Centre Campbell Graham on Tuesday admitted a disconnect between teammates was behind the facet’s alarming defensive efforts throughout Souths’ run of 4 defeats from their previous 5 video games.

“It is fairly apparent that it is defence that is letting us down. We have been leaking far too many factors for just a few weeks now,” Graham mentioned.

“We perceive that it is not a person drawback to resolve, it is as a gaggle that we have to come collectively to get again to enjoying the footy we all know we’re greater than able to.

“No excuses. We have missed just a few gamers by way of Origin and harm however we have got the depth on this squad to deal with that state of affairs and to deal with gamers being out.

“So it is extra only a mindset factor and getting again to enjoying robust footy and enjoying for 80 minutes.

“That is what we had been doing very well in the beginning of the 12 months. It is nearly sticking collectively now and getting the outcomes.

“Now’s positively the time to show that round.”

NSW Origin star Cam Murray believes escaping the glare of Sydney and getting throughout the Tasman collectively for just a few days is simply the tonic required for the Rabbitohs to emerge from their mid-season funk.

Whereas the loved-up lock is blissfully joyful to be at residence together with his fiancee after getting engaged this week, Murray mentioned the Rabbitohs had a confirmed historical past of galvanising on highway journeys.

“We had a extremely good time up there within the (Queensland) bubble in 2021 once we had been away from residence and away from household,” Murray mentioned.

“We simply do it nicely and we take pleasure in one another’s firm. Getting nearer off the sphere can enhance issues on it.

“We’re seeking to having some enjoyable and having fun with one another’s firm, and hopefully put out a greater efficiency.”

With 10 rounds remaining earlier than the finals, Murray insists there is not any have to hit the panic button.

“We have the blueprint right here on the membership to play actually good footy,” he mentioned earlier than the squad flew to New Zealand on Tuesday.

“Each recreation’s essential. If we stress an excessive amount of about how shortly we have to flip it round, we’ll begin to over-complicate it. We’re not pondering too far forward.

“It is a roller-coaster enjoying on the highest stage right here and it is by no means simple.

“We are able to take some confidence that we have been by way of some darkish moments earlier than and are available out the opposite facet.”

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