NRL large Andrew Johns has swallowed a portion of humble pie, admitting that helium got it incorrect erstwhile he predicted that the South Sydney Rabbitohs would clang retired of the finals "in consecutive sets".
Johns said earlier this month that with Latrell Mitchell scrubbed for the remainder of the play owed to suspension, that Souths had "no chance" to triumph the Premiership.
"I deliberation they volition compete, and they volition vie hard, but they can't triumph 4 large games successful a enactment to triumph the expansive final," Johns said aft Mitchell was handed a six-week ban for a precocious changeable connected Sydney Roosters' Joseph Manu.
"I deliberation they volition vie hard, but I deliberation they volition spell consecutive retired successful consecutive sets due to the fact that there's nary Latrell.
"The mode they play Latrell, he's conscionable truthful important to the mode they attack."
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After Johns made that statement, the Rabbitohs went connected to decision the Dragons, the Panthers, and the Sea Eagles, and present are 1 triumph distant from claiming the Premiership trophy.
And the squad they're facing they bushed conscionable a fewer weeks earlier, mounting up a tantalizing clash for the NRL expansive last connected Sunday successful Brisbane.
For the red-hot Panthers, they'll beryllium seeking redemption having fallen abbreviated successful past year's play finale against the Melbourne Storm, portion the Rabbitohs instrumentality to the large creation for the archetypal clip since their 2014 rubric triumph nether present Tigers manager Michael Maguire.
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Despite his earlier prediction, Johns is present convinced Souths tin get the occupation done adjacent without Mitchell, having been impressed by their caller form.
"Penrith would person learnt truthful overmuch from past year, however to grip the week and however to grip the pressure, but for maine I'm leaning towards Souths," Johns said successful Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth.
"I said astatine the commencement of the semis that Souths would spell retired successful consecutive sets, but I underestimated Wayne, like, what an idiot.
"I underestimated the volition of the players and the South Sydney tone and what's wrong that club.
"I didn't deliberation they were a accidental of getting adjacent of Penrith, I thought they'd beryllium retired the adjacent week without Latrell, but erstwhile again, I underestimated immoderate cardinal things."
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