The Rabbitohs will finally unleash prized recruit Jack Wighton this weekend, with the former Raider to return from suspension in Souths’ blockbuster grudge match against the Roosters.
Wighton’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Rabbitohs, who well and truly have the blowtorch applied after they dropped starting halfback Lachlan Ilias amid a winless start to the season.
As was the plan all pre-season, Wighton will play in the centres against the Roosters with reigning NSW Cup player of the year Dean Hawkins to replace Ilias at halfback.
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However, two experts believe the Rabbitohs are pulling the wrong rein by not starting Wighton in the halves alongside Cody Walker.
Wighton played a few games in the centres for the Green Machine last year, but has mostly plied his trade at five-eighth, where he’s won a Dally M and a Clive Churchill medal.
Matty Johns is of the belief the Rabbitohs needs to adapt a “run-centric” game plan, and that will be much more effective with Wighton and Walker in the halves.
“When I say they need a change of system, the reason that I might have gone is to push Jack into 6 and Cody into 7,” Johns said on the Matty Johns podcast.
“At the moment Souhts are very much pass first, pass second, pass third and looking to play around an opposition. I think they need to make a switch and become a little more run-centric.
“The two tries after half time (against the Broncos) were playing through the opposition and I think putting Wighton into the halves would really straighten them up and simplify their game.
“I just think if they simplify their game and become a little bit more run-first, I know it will reduce their errors which has been a big problem and if you are reducing your errors, it’s putting less pressure on your defence.”
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Fox League’s James Graham went a step further than Johns, predicting that despite Hawkins being named, Wighton will be seen at five-eighth against the Roosters.
While Graham shared the same opinion as Johns regarding what South Sydney’s halves pairing should be, his reasoning why was focused on the club’s “defensive issues”.
“Watching South Sydney and how they’ve started the season, their issues are defensive. It’s nothing to do with attack. We know they have points in them,” Graham said on Tuesday night’s episode of NRL 360.
“Talk of Ilias demanding the football and pulling Latrell and Cody into line, I don’t think that’s the issue. For me, South Sydney conceding too many points (is the issue).
“For Hawkins to come in, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“I think we’ll see Wighton go into six and Walker into seven. That will shape them up stronger defensively because I don’t understand what Hawkins brings defensively.”
Graham implied that for this reason, Ilias has a right to feel a little hard done by.
“Ilias, I mean this when I say this. He came up with one of the best defensive plays I’ve ever seen in Las Vegas when he chased down Jason Saab,” Graham said.
“Is that not a commitment to your tryline and your defence? That’s Souths problem.
“I don’t understand what this change will address defensively.”
Over the first two games, Souths have conceded 64 points, which is easily the highest figure in the comp. The Bulldogs (51) and Knights (49) are next.
Conversely, the 42 points scored is good for sixth.
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