The same can be said for captain Murray, who was restricted to one game last year – the final match of the season – because of a ruptured Achilles.
Murray is even more vital than Mitchell because of his work-rate in the middle, speed and physicality.
He was in everything in the first half against the Dolphins. Souths look a different side when he is heavily involved.
Cameron Murray looked sharp as the Rabbitohs got some of their big names back.Credit: Getty Images
The Bunnies raced to a 28-10 lead at half-time when Alex Johnston scored in the left corner. He only needs one try to draw level with Ken Irvine’s long-standing record of 212 first-grade tries. He is every chance to do that – and possible set a new mark – against the Roosters on Friday.
Johnston joked after the game he would love to see fans flood the pitch if he could create history, similar to the way Sydney Swans’ supporters rushed the pitch to celebrate Buddy Franklin kicking 1000 AFL goals, but Bennett was dead against it.
“I don’t accept it will probably happen – I don’t see why it should happen,” Bennett said about the possible chaotic on-field scenes with Johnston.
“We play for 80 minutes, you stay off the field … I believe in that. At the end of the game, I’ve got no problems [with fans flooding the field].
“Let’s not encourage it, let’s make sure it doesn’t happen, and be respectful for the game, him and all the guys who play the game.”
Campbell Graham, another Souths representative player who has had a shocking run with injuries, bagged a double on the right wing against the Dolphins. David Fifita was solid in his first NRL match in the red and green, despite being sin binned for a run-in with Tom Gilbert late in the game, while evergreen playmaker Cody Walker kicked a vital 40/20 in the second half when the Dolphins looked to be mounting an unlikely comeback.
The only bad news for the Bunnies was the sight of featherweight playmaker Ashton Ward on the sidelines in a moon boot, who Bennett said was facing up to two or three weeks out. The one position Souths lack depth is in the halves with Jonah Glover already out with a broken jaw and Jamie Humphreys still one more game away from returning from suspension.
Loading
While Bennett would have boarded the flight back to Sydney a happy man, the same could not be said for Dolphins mentor – and Bennett’s one-time deputy – Kristian Woolf.
After welcoming back some of his own heavyweight personnel in Gilbert and Tom Flegler, Woolf was entitled to feel confident about his side’s hopes of making the finals.
Based on what they dished up in their own backyard – the Dolphins completed only 25 of 37 sets –they will not come anywhere near September if they produce similar limp performances.