South Sydney co-captain Matt King has urged the club’s long-suffering fans to keep getting excited about the Rabbitohs’ brilliant run of form and the potential of winning a first NRL premiership in 41 years.
King, who tasted success with Melbourne in 2008, before the club were found guilty of salary cap rorting two years later and stripped of their prize, knows all about the culture of success, having enjoyed five years at the Storm.
However, while the 31-year-old is happy to see Rabbitohs supporters basking in the prospect of finals football for the first time since 2007, he said the players cannot afford to get carried away with them.
“It’s the fans’ job to get excited, it’s the media’s job to build us up but it’s our job to keep a lid on it,” King said.
“We’ve got a great boss who’s keeping our feet squarely on the ground and if we keep listening to him we’ll be OK.”
King can see similarities between Melbourne and the current set-up at Souths and said that experience will stand him in good stead if he needs to bring some of the side’s young guns back down to earth.
“Melbourne was a really happy place and that is what we have here,” he said.
“It’s a really happy environment and coming to training every day is a pleasure.
“But I know how easy things can go wrong. Having said that, you have to enjoy the way things are going here at the moment.
“But if one of the younger players does get a bit too big for his boots, there are a lot of senior players here that will knock him back to size. I see that as my job.”