The late Paul Green is banging on the glass of the Accor Stadium coaching box, and everyone knows why.
His Cowboys have just finished with a most improbable premiership, the first in the club’s history. It was a grand final many people argue was the greatest in the NRL era.
Michael Morgan’s last-second flick pass. Johnathan Thurston’s conversion after the siren, arrowing into the upright, and his primal scream of disbelief. Ben Hunt’s dropsies. Thurston’s glorious field goal, a moment where time almost stood still. The blood pouring from his face, not because of a skirmish in play, but because he was mobbed during the celebrations.
That’s how North Queensland finished the 2015 season.
But do you remember how they started it? Of course, you don’t. Here’s a reminder: decidedly badly.
Three games, three losses. If it wasn’t for a late try and Thurston’s field goal with 40 seconds left of normal time against Melbourne, then another one-pointer to win the game in golden point, they would have lost in round four too.
Johnathan Thurston holds the 2015 premiership trophy aloft.Credit: Getty
Riding the rollercoaster with Green was a young assistant coach who had just joined the Cowboys after winning the Queensland Cup. His name was Jason Demetriou. As Green went to town on the panes of glass in front of him on grand final night, Demetriou was jubilant beside him.
On Good Friday, the young Cowboys assistant of nine years ago will again walk into the Accor Stadium coaching box, staring down the highest profile 0-3 start to the season since North Queensland stumbled out of the blocks.
His South Sydney team is fighting to save their season - and possibly Demetriou’s coaching career - when the Rabbitohs clash with the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium. Not only have they failed to win this season, the Rabbitohs have won just four of their past 16 games stretching back to the middle of last year.
If anyone knows what’s possible from being rooted to the bottom of the ladder in the opening month, then it should be Demetriou.
The 2015 Cowboys are the only team to win a competition after losing their first three matches of that season, according to Champion Data. The Warriors (2011), were beaten grand finalists.
“We took the view it was still only three games in and there were plenty of [competition] points out there,” former Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said of the 2015 resurgence. “All the commentary was we would go zip and six because of the games we had coming up, but we won our next 11.
“I don’t think you should be writing anybody off after round three. It can go north as quick as it can south in this competition. It’s not like JD [Demetriou] hasn’t been in this position before.”
In more recent times, the Sharks (2015 and 2020) and Sea Eagles (2021) have surged into the finals despite not winning in the first three rounds.
South Sydney need a win against Canterbury on Good Friday.Credit: NRL Photos
So, what’s wrong with South Sydney?
“Last week they were so far off the pace,” rugby league legend Andrew Johns said of the humiliating defeat to the Roosters.
“Their ruck defence wasn’t up to scratch. Davvy Moale is going to be a good player in the front row, but he’s a baby. Twenty-one in the modern game is young, let alone in the front row. Then you’ve got Tom Burgess leaving the NRL this year. Jai Arrow is out. Cameron Murray is going to work himself to a standstill. I don’t know how they get out of it.”
Johns has a theory the Rabbitohs are struggling to penetrate coming out of their own end. Latrell Mitchell is not a massive kick returner, Alex Johnston is a smaller ball carrier and Taane Milne hasn’t been prolific in that area.
“Jack Wighton was outstanding coming out of trouble [last week], but when you’ve got a class player like him, do you want him doing hit-ups? They’ve got to scrap and fight for every 50-50 and just try to jag a win,” Johns said.
And couldn’t Demetriou take one of those at the moment.
“I think there’s a real care and desire not to be where we are, but we’re probably looking at it the wrong way,” he said. “We need to get back to the effort areas we know work for us and if we have to, grind out a win.
“Any team that’s 0-3 is going to want to win. There’s no one who is 0-3 going out there thinking it’s not a big game. Of course, it is.
“We want to get our season started. For us, it’s about focusing on the areas we can control. It’s all about effort for us.”
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