By MARK CASHMAN

When the 2021 season was called off Southern Districts were sitting in eighth spot on the Shute Shield competition table but a hosts of clubs were looking over their shoulders.

The Rebels had a tough start to there front end of the season but when the pandemic called things to a halt they looked capable of causing some serious damage.

But head coach Todd Louden reckons they took their licks from that experience and will be better in 2022. 

All the numbers

Played: Nine

Won: Four

Lost: Five

Points for: 292

Points Against: 202

Differential: +90

Bonus Points: Seven

Competition Points: 23

Position: Eighth

What was the best part of the 2021 journey?

I suppose it was what it was but we did come away from the season with some great lessons to draw on over the next couple of years and that bodes well for the future. There were some tough losses in the first couple of months of the season but I felt that we were ready to cause some chaos at the back end of the year.

What was the worst part?

I suppose everyone’s said that having another COVID-19 half season didn’t leave too many fond memories of 2021, but from Souths point of view it was a real momentum killer for the entire club not just the Shute Shield side. We’d put in a lot of work on our pathways and juniors and I just felt that we had been through the tough part of the year and were ready to reap some of the benefits of the lessons that we learnt in the first couple of months of the season.

Who was your “go to” player in the Shute Shield squad?

‘Kagsy’ (Christian Kagiassis) is the name that immediately comes to mind on that front. He was back to his very best with ball in hand and also with his kicking game both off the tee and out of hand. Then Josh Bokser really showed his class at times in our back row and to think that he has just turned 22 years is amazing. After that you’d have to mention our front row, and in saying that there’s numerous names there – Andrew Tuala had a huge year, Conor Young who I reckon is made for the next level, and guys like Blake Schoupp.

If the season played out who would have played in the grand final?

The way it was going Sydney Uni deserved to play int the grand final but as the season matured teams like Easts, Eastwood, Warringah and us. If we’d played an eight-team finals series I reckon that there was going to be some carnage at the back end of the year.

Is the appointment of Darren Coleman at the Waratahs good for the Shute Shield?

I reckon that it’s a great appointment for Australian rugby not just the Shute Shield. ‘DC’ has done the hard yards, been in the system and has shown all the aspirational coaches out there that there is a pathway to the top end.

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

In some ways this time now is easy, but then in other ways it’s hard. We’ve got to get a good pre season in and make some good gains and then from there it’s up to our coaching group to take this young group of guys at Souths to the next level.

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

Josh Bokser is on the verge of some good things while some of our young props in Conor Young and Blake Schoupp are ready to make their presence felt at Shute Shield level. Another guy who should do well is Otto-Louis Wendt, a lock who has come over from West Harbour. He’s a big lock with skills and if he works hard he’ll get rewarded.

Bold prediction for 2022: 

It’s going to be a really, really close season and there will be upsets a plenty from round one right through until finals time – and when the finals hit with eight teams involved there is sure to be plenty of carnage. Looking forward to see how it all pans out.

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON