NRL - South Sydney rugby league training at Redfern Oval, Sydney before their finals game against Melbourne Storm. Greg Inglis in action. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph
SHANE Richardson knows a thing or two about windows of opportunity. The South Sydney chief executive has been an administrator for 20-odd years, has had stints at clubs in England and Australia, but still only has one premiership to show for it.
"There are a lot of things that have to align," Richardson told The Australian yesterday on the eve of the NRL season.
"You've got to have the right squad, the right age in the squad, you've got to have a good run with injuries and suspension, you've got to make sure the club stays together for the whole season.
"It's tough but in saying that you prepare for it, you get everything in place and hopefully you build to a crescendo of winning a grand final."
GRAPHIC: Premiership window watch
Richardson isn't prepared to say just yet that the crescendo is building at Redfern but he's savvy enough to know the Rabbitohs' window is well and truly open. If history is any guide, they'll only have a few years to take advantage of it before it closes again.
Since the NRL kicked off in 1998, it has become clear that clubs do not have very long to win a premiership. In the past 15 years there have been 10 winners. No club has ever managed to win back-to-back titles.
If a club is lucky enough to unearth the right formula one season, then it is only a matter of time before it pays the price and the team is ripped apart through the salary cap.
As far as Souths go, that moment hasn't arrived but it might not be too far away after its fourth-place finish last season. The only casualty from the roster is Dave Taylor, but the club has more than made up for that with the addition of Ben Te'o from Brisbane.
Michael Maguire is being touted as one of the next big coaches in the game. Star fullback Greg Inglis is tipped to be even stronger than last year. Last year's rookie halfback Adam Reynolds is now a seasoned performer. Sam Burgess is fit and firing. The stars are aligning.
"We're in a good space and hopefully we can improve on last season," Richardson said. "That's actually not just a political statement. It's true.
"The hardest part is getting there because it's very easy to tear it down. Once you get up there you've got to work very hard to stay up there because it's a long way back."
Maguire didn't want to get too carried away but acknowledged the club was in a better place than last season. He likened tonight's opening game against Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium to the start of a marathon.
"We're stronger in terms of understanding the expectation between each other," he said.
"The players are setting extra high standards. There's still a way for us to go but the players understand that as well. For us it's a big marathon now."
The Rabbitohs aren't the only club with the window open. Melbourne will always be a force as long as it has Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.
The Bulldogs are expected to be strong again after making the grand final last year -- although that could depend on when troubled fullback Ben Barba returns.
North Queensland will be tough with Australia half Johnathan Thurston calling the shots.
The window is also opening at Newcastle with master coach Wayne Bennett having recruited strongly, securing Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith. Kurt Gidley is back from injury. An eighth title beckons for Bennett.
The Sydney Roosters are also tipped to improve after adding a wealth of talent to their roster with former All Black Sonny Bill Williams the pick of the bunch.
Canberra was the surprise packet of last year and could improve with inspirational captain Terry Campese due back from injury.
Those clubs where the window is closing include Manly, which has an ageing squad.
Richardson wasn't prepared to write anyone off. Having been around for 20 years he knows the only guarantees are there are no guarantees.
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