Sam Burgess has revealed how South Sydney's pack took their run of three losses as a personal affront and inspired them to turn it around with the finals on the horizon.
As the calendar turns over to September, the Rabbitohs do so with the wind firmly at their backs following their 51-10 thrashing of the Wests Tigers on Thursday.
After three straight losses, questions were being raised about the Rabbitohs' title bona fides and whether they'd peaked too early.
Successive defeats to the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane and Canberra stung the Rabbitohs pack ands they responded emphatically against the Tigers.
Tom Burgess was the only starting forward not to run for 100 metres or more, while Cam Murray chipped in with 160m off the bench.
Asked how the forward pack took their three consecutive losses, Burgess replied: "A little bit personally.
"It came down to a few things. Ball control cost us a little bit and against the Wests Tigers we controlled the ball and controlled possession.
"We played a bit more direct and I think it works for us, we've just got to stick to that."
The Rabbitohs looked like a side revitalised as their big men dominated and the likes of Damien Cook, Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker ran rampant off the back of that go-forward.
Burgess said if they stick to what they do best, they hold their destiny in their own hands.
"The competition is tighter than I've ever seen, each team on their day can beat every other team," he said.
"It's really down to us now. It really is, the way we prepare, the way we can approach the game.
"Every team in the top eight has a genuine shot and we're in that boat."
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