NRL great Corey Parker has provided a brutal assessment of the state of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, after the under-pressure side slumped to their worst loss of the season on ANZAC Day.
Coming off a bye, the Rabbitohs faced the challenge of playing the Storm in Melbourne and were comprehensively defeated 54-20.
The loss is South Sydney’s sixth of the season and places them back on the bottom of the ladder after eight weeks.
Parker believes, to fix their problems, Bunnies coach Jason Demetriou needs to face the reality of his team’s problems.
“I think they can locate the breakages they just have to have the tough conversations with those players,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast.
“They go to Melbourne… Cody Walker hasn’t fired a shot. Jack Wighton tries hard, tries his absolute best but not enough of his teammates are doing the same.
“They were walloped, their worst loss of the season, coming off a bye, I think it ends in tears.
“The fact that the board said they’d give Jason the time that he needs, I don’t know what that means.”
The Rabbitohs have changed player selections and positions around but have resisted making any major personnel changes.
With the suspended Latrell Mitchell returning in two weeks, decisions must also be made about where he returns and if Jye Gray remains in the 17.
Ian Healy suggested that Demetriou may have to relegate some of his higher paid players to reserve grade, should they not begin to perform.
“How does he (Demetriou) satisfy his needs?” said Healy.
“Does he just not play some players that are superstars and are super well paid and the board has a tear or two knowing how much money they’re wasting?”
Demetriou will need to decide quickly, with South Sydney playing a firing Penrith Panthers next Thursday.