Wayne Bennett was happy to put the worst year of his career in terms of injuries behind him after Souths’ finished a disappointing campaign with a 36-6 loss to arch rivals the Roosters.
The only good things about Souths’ miserable campaign were that they avoided the wooden spoon and unearthed some young talent, whose development was fast-tracked in the wake of a shocking casualty ward.
“It is unprecedented, I’ve certainly not experienced it anywhere else,” Bennett said.
“In the past I’ve had my moments and lots of players missing and that, but not as severe as here and for such a long period of time.
“Probably tonight was the closest we’ve got to getting a full team. We’ve still got six or seven top players not playing, but for the last couple of months we were at 10 plus for players that have played in the NRL this year weren’t available for selection.
“Anyway, I’m looking forward. We’ve got everybody kind of cleaned up that we have to with injuries and that and I’m hoping that we can all start the pre-season together and not have a whole lot of players on bikes and sitting watching everyone else train.”
Despite the disappointing season and not making the finals, Bennett was proud of his side’s fighting spirit in the face of adversity.
“We kept fighting all year I don’t think it was just the last five or six weeks,” Bennett said. “We just weren’t playing top eight teams. That was the difference. There’s a lot of things that we’ll benefit from.
“The Jye Gray’s, the Wards, the Humphreys all got a lot of experience that they wouldn’t probably have got in a normal year and that’ll hold us in good stead going forward and there’s a few other young players in that category as well.
“When you look at your depth, there will always be players injured, so it is what your back-up is and they’ve got some really good experiences here, the back-up players.
“I think the ward was a classic example of that he has been tremendous and was good out there again tonight.”
Bennett paid tribute to fullback Jye Gray, who ran for 171 run metres and had a linebreak and try assist despite battling the flu all week.
“He was sick all week and was still sick tonight with the flu and a virus,” Bennett said.
“I’m amazed at what he could do. I thought I’d have to replace him at half time, but he just said, he’d be right.
“He said I can’t breathe sometimes out there, Coach, but I’m going to be okay. I said, fine, just to get a breath every now and again.
“We can see that every week with him. He’s a very courageous player. Him and Young Ward the pair of them are just young men. All under 75 kilograms and they play like they play. Very brave.”
Souths skipper Jack Wighton called the last two years the toughest stint of his career, but believes it can be the making of the Souths team.
“I think it’s a footy world, you never know what you’re going to get, it comes with a mixed bag of tricks,” Wighton said.
“We’ve had some great young talent come through. Tallis Duncan, he’s been amazing. There’s been heaps of experience had.
“It’s one of those things you just got to get through and hopefully we’ll change our ways next year. There’s no use looking back on it and feeling sorry for yourself.
“It’s done and it’s been a tough stint. One of the toughest stints of my career to be fair the last two years, but it is what it is and we go forward and we go again.”
In a positive Souths’ captain Cameron Murray made a successful return from a long-term injury to finish a tough season on a good note.
“It was very important to him and to us going forward to realise and recognise what he brings to the team,” Bennett said.
“We all look forward to starting the season with everybody else next year.”
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