Although not in a position to challenge for a place in the NRL Finals, South Sydney Coach Michael Maguire believes his side still has plenty to play for, when fronting the Sharks at ANZ Stadium tonight.
Sitting 14th on the NRL ladder with just six wins from 21 starts this season, the ‘Pride of the League’ will be playing for exactly that, as they did in fine fashion last Saturday in Auckland versus the Warriors.
Running out commanding 41 points to 22 victors across the ditch in Round 23, Maguire said his side has found a new spark – and it all stems from within.
"I think the boys are just really enjoying playing together," Maguire said.
"We've obviously had some periods throughout the season where our performances would've liked to have been on a different path.
“We just want to make sure we can build on (Round 23) … We’re playing a team that has been up the top of the ladder for a long time, a team that had won many games consecutively.
“We know that we’re going in to a (tough) game.”
Confident in his line-up following the return of several ‘key’ players in recent times - not least Fullback and Captain Greg Inglis – Maguire said his men aren’t looking ahead to the 2017 season, but focussed solely on the task that awaits them tonight.
“We’re pretty focussed on ‘now’,” he said.
“We’ve got a big game on Monday, we’re playing a strong team. They’ve got some strong characters in their team.
“We know that they’ve got a lot of power through the middle, and a lot of speed on their edges. We’ll need to be well and truly on our game.”
