South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has slammed the Rabbitohs following their 28-18 defeat to Brisbane Broncos at Lang Park on Thursday night.
The Rabbitohs are now winless after two matches, with Demetriou saying his side was made to pay for a lack of focus, illustrated by a completion rate of 65 per cent.
"It was a horror show of really little things that kept putting pressure on ourselves," Demetriou said.
"I said to them if we bottle that effort and desire and tidy up the effort … we will see how good this footy team is."
The Rabbitohs lost 36-24 to Manly in the Las Vegas season opener this month.
They will have big-name recruit Jack Wighton available for their round-three clash with Sydney Roosters next Friday night.
While welcoming the addition of Wighton, Demetriou said the Rabbitohs could not expect the former Canberra Raiders star to be the answer to their problems.
"It is going to be his first game of the year and we are excited to have him make his debut for the club," Demetriou said.
"He gives us experience on the edges and some physicality as well so he will be a big 'in' for us.
"But we have to tidy up the dumb things we did tonight, get rid of the dumb stuff … otherwise Jack will be doing what the rest of them were tonight and that's tackling."
Wighton, the 2020 Dally M medallist, is completing the final week of a three-match suspension carried over from last season.
He is set to line up in the centres against the Roosters.
Meanwhile, Broncos coach Kevin Walters said his side's display was far from perfect.
Walters noted the Broncos would have to find another gear when they meet Penrith in a grand final rematch in round three.
We were a long way off where we need to be and so were Souths to be fair but there were some things to like with some individual players," Walters said.
"As a team we aren't quite nailing it … yet. I am just happy we won because you need to win this time of year just to breathe."
The Broncos lost their opening match of the season in Las Vegas, going down 20-10 to the Roosters.
Story By: AAP/ABC
Original Story link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-15/nrl-south-sydney-brisbane-broncos-jason-demetriou/103590990
