Rookie coach Anthony Seibold has transformed South Sydney into the best attacking team in the NRL, according to Newcastle counterpart Nathan Brown.
Ahead of their round-nine clash on Friday, Brown also declared the heavily scrutinised Burgess brothers back to the form that pushed the Rabbitohs to their fairytale premiership in 2014.
He said their return as among the game’s best enforcers coincided with the Rabbitohs’ strong start.
“They look to me like they’re playing back where they were when they won the premiership and come first 2-3 when (Michael Maguire) had them,” Brown told reporters on Tuesday.
“They look like they’re back carrying the ball like that and very error-free.
“I think Souths would be pretty happy with their form and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Tom and George are playing really well and that the team’s going really well again either.”
However Brown lavished more praise on the Rabbitohs’ style of play this year, suggesting Seibold had unleashed the shackles on their attack with the brilliance of their indigenous players.
South Sydney had won four of their previous five matches before last week’s close loss to Brisbane, but their combined 188 points so far this year is only behind St George Illawarra and Melbourne.
And Seibold has done it with Dane Gagai as their only notable signing since taking over late last year.
“(Seibold) has freed them up. They’ve gone from playing that real bash-and-barge style of footy which worked so well for them, won them a grand final, to a bit of an opposite style of footy,” Brown said.
“With Cody Walker, (Greg Inglis), (Gagai) and Alex Johnston at fullback, you’ve got four Koori kids who are all really good instinctive players.”
“Anything that’s loose or a bit of broken field, those type of guys always end up in the best positions available to open you up. I think watching them play, they’re one of the better sides to watch.
“When you look at the stats, it suggests they are the best attacking side in the competition.”