Predicted Finish: 4th
Actual Finish: 6th
I'm going to claim this as Souths proved in the finals that they're the third/fourth best team in the NRL. Another year as we have come to expect from the powerhouse in red and green.
A third straight Prelim exit though has to frustrate many.
- Points, points points: Top point scorer? Check. Adam Reynolds with 221. Top goal scorer? Check! Adam Reynolds again with 98. Hmm, top try sorer? You bet! Alex Johnston with 23, including FIVE against old rivals the Roosters in the final game of the regular season. 521 points across the regular season, and a points differential of + 169. Makes for some incredible reading and some genuine highlights. Souths were the fourth highest points scorers this year in the regular season and added 100 more across three finals games. Fair to say crossing the line wasn't never an issue here.
- ANOTHER Prelim: The Bunnies, for the third year in a row, came within minutes of a Grand Final. They would ultimately fall to the Panthers this season but they were right in that game until the final bell. For a team to finish sixth and make a Prelim is very difficult in this day and final's system. A third straight Prelim shows remarkable consistency only matched (and bettered) by the Storm. Having held onto the large majority of their 2020 squad moving forward, and with Latrell Mitchell returning, it's hard to bet against a fourth straight Prelim appearance. Hopefully for Bunnies fans the season goes one more week in 2021.
- Fullback Masters: I was a little worried when Latrell started slowly in his new role. Arguably the world's best centre risked wasting his 2020 season at fullback. I needn't have worried as he took on the role with great ability and was looking brilliant prior to his injury. Most clubs lose out massively with their top number one on the sidelines, although not the Bunnies who saw Corey Allan rise to become a genuine star. His performances at the back were so good he stepped in for QLD at Origin level. Throw in a more than decent Alex Johnston and the fullbacks for the Bunnies ran riot this year.
- 60-8 win over the Roosters in Round 20: WHAT .. A ... WIN!!! Nooooooone saw this coming, surely!? The Bunnies absolutely monstered their most bitter of rivals on the final day of the regular season to the tune of 10 tries to two. Alex Johnston scored five tries and had an absolute field day out wide. Cody Walker was almost on literal fire, while the Bunnies big men threw their opponents around like ragdolls. This was total and utter destruction that the Roosters never recovered from. Must have been oh so sweet.
Watch Zero Tackle's own Dan Nichols over at Rugby League Outlaws
- Awful start: The Bunnies were expected to be an early pace setter in 2020 but nothing could be further from the truth. They scraped through against the Sharks thanks to a blown pass from an out of position centre, before dropping three straight games to the Broncos, Roosters and Storm. The Broncs (although they were 2-0 after that win) aside, those are hardly embarrassing losses but certainly not what the Rabbitohs expected. They should have been 0-4 if not for the aforementioned pass going forward with the game on the line. They would ultimately turn it around but in a shortened season, starting 1-3 really should have been more of a worry.
- Another Prelim Loss: Another Prelim made, another Prelim lost. At a point there has to be questions asked as to what is going on. They had the players in all three seasons. For the past two they've had the man generally accepted as the best coach of the modern era, if not ever. They had a few injuries but nothing season-defining. Could just be that they were outplayed each time? Or it could be that they just can't get over that hump of expectation? If any coach can turn it around it's Wayne Bennett. I know most sides would kill to make a Prelim every year, but ultimately you want to win said Prelim. Maybe 2021.
Cody Walker
There were a few standout players for the Rabbits in 2020 but none stood higher than their magnificent number six in Cody Walker.
Check these for stats across 21 games: 10 tries, 21 try assists, 17 line break assists, almost 100 running metres per game, and a tackling percentage of almost 85%. Throw in almost 100 kicking metres per game as a secondary kicker and you have an all around threat.
Walker represented the Blues in the six in all three Origin games, including two starts in must win games. His Game Two performance was a thing of beauty.
An incredible season for the man now at the peak of his powers. I'd argue he was the best player in the competition across the second half of the season.
B+
Despite the frustration of falling short of a Grand Final appearance, I can't see 2020 as anything other than a success for those in the Burrow.
Dane Gagai played his best club footy in years and added yet another danger out wide to one of the competition's most lethal sides.
Boasting one of the elite NRL rosters, much was expected heading into the season. So much so that I would say finishing sixth was probably below par. That said, their finals run was incredible and they went a week further than most in a similar situation.
They could have beaten the Panthers on the night. I know that's easy to say but the four-point loss wasn't one of those games where a team bashes the other for 70 minutes, eases up and score line finishes closer than it had any right to.
Ultimately there won't be any celebrations in Redfern given they didn't achieve the ultimate goal of a title, but given the side pretty much rolls over into next season, and the fact Latrell has a second pre-season at fullback, they're set up well for a shot next year.