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Under new coach Todd Louden, a young and new look Southern Districts started the 2020 season in style, stunning eventual grand finalists Eastwood in round one.

The Rebels were in the mix for most of the season, but a horrific injury toll eventually caught up with them. While 2020 didn’t quite pan out as first planned at Forshaw, Souths are already looking ahead excitedly to 2021.

Overview with Todd Louden:

“It’s a great club with a lot of really great people but unfortunately this year we just didn’t have enough critical depth in key positions. By the end of the year, we were still able to field all teams, but as a very young group we struggled with the intensity of the competition,” Louden told Rugby News. 

“When we started our preseason before COVID, there was quite a bit we needed to evolve in terms of how the group trained and in some of the performance habits. We very much changed the way we looked, how we prepared and how we played and I think the players just naturally ripped in and really enjoyed that experience. 

“We were in a really good position before COVID but then turning around and getting ready to play with only 2-3 weeks of contact work, that was a challenge for all teams but particularly for our young group. 

“We started the season pretty well but by the end we had literally run out of bodies. By the end of the year, we had 32 season ending injuries and three career ending injuries. 

“Those career ending injuries were local juniors and really important and vocal members of the group – our captain Marcus Carbone, Harry McClennan and Sam Harris. 

“Despite all of that, I thought the boys showed a great deal of resilience when the odds were stacked against them in many ways. We had a core group of players who just kept turning up, trying their guts out and competing all the way. 

“We were really at our lowest point against Norths, who were coming second at the time, and our guys just really dug in and gave it to them. We played with 14 men for the last 10 minutes because we’d had so many injuries in that game alone but the boys didn’t give in, which was really pleasing to see. 

“The flip side is that we have now exposed a big number of young players at the club to first grade rugby and that’s why there is such a quiet confidence at the moment that we have built a very strong foundation for 2021 and beyond.”

What needs to happen between now and round one next year? 

“We have to ensure that all of our young players continue to evolve their game. They all understand what it takes to compete in first grade now, but we still need to take that next step and continue to get better. 

“We’ll need to recruit to replace some of the senior guys that we lost to injury, there’s no denying that. 

“But we’ll also get our big lock Isoa Nasilasila back, he’ll add size to what should be a pretty big forward pack. Then we really just need to add some older heads to help with game management and to work with the young guys coming through.”

Which player(s) do you expect to go on to bigger and better things from next year? 

“Definitely Nathan Lawson. He transitioned from a No.7 to play No.13 this year and I know a lot of people were scratching their heads when they saw that. 

“His athletic and rugby skill set is just perfect to play that key position though. 

“There aren’t many big, strong No.13’s that can do what he does running around in Australian rugby and he’s a young guy with a huge amount of talent. 

“When we asked him at the end of the season where he’d prefer to play, he was set on staying in the backs because he saw how much he improved in his first season and I think he realises how much better he can and hopefully will get.”

Bold prediction for 2021: 

“I think the competition will be even closer next year, if that’s even possible. We’ve seen a bit of a changing of the guard with Gordon this year but they won’t get the jump on teams like they did this season. They’ll be in everyone’s sights. 

“It’s renowned for being a tight competition and I think that’s going to continue. 

“In terms of Souths, I’m confident that we’ll make the finals.”

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