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South Sydney were branded as semi-final imposters by rival NRL captains in an exclusive poll by The Daily Telegraph.
On the eve of Saturday night's Charity Shield against St George Illawarra at Homebush, not a single NRL skipper rated Souths a chance of reaching the September finals.
Catch all the action of Saturday night's Charity Shield Live and Exclusive on Fuel TV Channel 516 from 7:30pm (EDT). Available on Foxtel and Austar.
It was an insulting result for Souths, who have built up through the off-season by buying star players Rhys Wesser and Colin Best.
Penrith, Canberra and Newcastle also failed to attract a single vote.
"We don't care," said Souths captain Roy Asotasi.
"It might even be a good thing. We can sneak under the radar and not have people talking about us. They can all worry about the teams that are supposed to make the eight."
Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor said the votes were obviously based on last year, when Souths missed the finals.
"Everyone, not just captains, judge a team on what they did last year," Taylor said. "We had a good season for half the year and were ordinary for the other half.
"That's our rating and that's fair enough. But what happened last year doesn't mean will happen this year. This happens all the time.
"No one would have rated the Wests Tigers a chance in 2005 after what they did in 2004.
"As I said, we were ordinary for half the year last season but it will be a different story in 2009."
Souths legend Mario Fenech was shocked at the snub.
"JT and the boys aren't there for haircuts - they're there to make the top eight," Fenech said.
"This will be good motivation for them. It is only the opinion of others.
"I have been watching them train and there is certainly a very strong bond there."
Outside of their own team, the sides that drew most votes to reach the finals were Manly, Melbourne, St George Illawarra, Warriors, Cronulla, Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters.
Premiers Manly attracted 11 votes as the side most likely to play in the grand final - Melbourne did not receive a single vote.
Sea Eagles full-back Brett Stewart was a favourite to win the Dally M Medal alongside Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Cam Smith and Trent Barrett.
Other results were:
* CANBERRA (11 votes) was the team from last year's finals to miss out in 2009. The Sydney Roosters attracted three votes;
* NINE captains agreed that two referees would help eliminate the grapple tackle;
* NEW Zealand was the dark horse for this season's title;
* NEVILLE Costigan, Petero Civoniceva, Sam Thaiday and Paul Gallen were the hardest hitters;
* TONY Archer (eight votes)
was the best referee from Shayne Hayne (three);
* PENRITH'S Matt Elliott was voted the coach under most pressure; and
* BRISBANE five-eighth Darren Lockyer (nine) was the most respected rival captain from Penrith skipper Petero Civoncieva (three).
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23214,00.html
On the eve of Saturday night's Charity Shield against St George Illawarra at Homebush, not a single NRL skipper rated Souths a chance of reaching the September finals.
Catch all the action of Saturday night's Charity Shield Live and Exclusive on Fuel TV Channel 516 from 7:30pm (EDT). Available on Foxtel and Austar.
It was an insulting result for Souths, who have built up through the off-season by buying star players Rhys Wesser and Colin Best.
Penrith, Canberra and Newcastle also failed to attract a single vote.
"We don't care," said Souths captain Roy Asotasi.
"It might even be a good thing. We can sneak under the radar and not have people talking about us. They can all worry about the teams that are supposed to make the eight."
Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor said the votes were obviously based on last year, when Souths missed the finals.
"Everyone, not just captains, judge a team on what they did last year," Taylor said. "We had a good season for half the year and were ordinary for the other half.
"That's our rating and that's fair enough. But what happened last year doesn't mean will happen this year. This happens all the time.
"No one would have rated the Wests Tigers a chance in 2005 after what they did in 2004.
"As I said, we were ordinary for half the year last season but it will be a different story in 2009."
Souths legend Mario Fenech was shocked at the snub.
"JT and the boys aren't there for haircuts - they're there to make the top eight," Fenech said.
"This will be good motivation for them. It is only the opinion of others.
"I have been watching them train and there is certainly a very strong bond there."
Outside of their own team, the sides that drew most votes to reach the finals were Manly, Melbourne, St George Illawarra, Warriors, Cronulla, Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters.
Premiers Manly attracted 11 votes as the side most likely to play in the grand final - Melbourne did not receive a single vote.
Sea Eagles full-back Brett Stewart was a favourite to win the Dally M Medal alongside Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Cam Smith and Trent Barrett.
Other results were:
* CANBERRA (11 votes) was the team from last year's finals to miss out in 2009. The Sydney Roosters attracted three votes;
* NINE captains agreed that two referees would help eliminate the grapple tackle;
* NEW Zealand was the dark horse for this season's title;
* NEVILLE Costigan, Petero Civoniceva, Sam Thaiday and Paul Gallen were the hardest hitters;
* TONY Archer (eight votes)
was the best referee from Shayne Hayne (three);
* PENRITH'S Matt Elliott was voted the coach under most pressure; and
* BRISBANE five-eighth Darren Lockyer (nine) was the most respected rival captain from Penrith skipper Petero Civoncieva (three).
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23214,00.html
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