Souths all smiles heading to NQ fortress

South Sydney coach Michael Maguire denies North Queensland is an intimidating place to play despite the NRL premiers' dynamic record at home this year.

South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire

South Sydney coach Michael Maguire wants a more disciplined attack after their loss to the Roosters. (AAP)

Despite 'fortress' North Queensland proving near impregnable this year, South Sydney are harbouring no fear ahead of an intimidating trip to Townsville.

Michael Maguire's side head to 1300 Smiles Stadium on Friday night in one of the toughest road trips in the NRL against the premiers who have been in dynamic form this year at home.

In the first three rounds, the Cowboys conceded just 14 points and kept St George Illawarra and the Sydney Roosters scoreless in their past two wins.

They have also conceded no points in their past three hours of football at 1300 Smiles Stadium, with prop James Tamou this week saying some sides were so put off by the visit to the far north, that they were beaten before they set foot on the field.

However, Maguire described it as just another away game and his side were embracing the challenge of upsetting one of the competition benchmarks.

"Going up there and playing is like any ground," Maguire said.

"At the end of the day, two teams are walking out onto the same ground and you've got to perform."

The Rabbitohs have been patchy during their 3-3 start to the season but shape as a different team with the return of chief playmaker Adam Reynolds from a broken jaw.

While Maguire says the No.7's comeback will not prove a fix-all for their problems, statistics show they are a far more-dangerous side with him on the pitch.

With Reynolds, the Rabbitohs win at 66 per cent, however their success ratio almost halves to 38 per cent when he's missing, according to Fox Sports Stats.

Halves Luke Keary and Cody Walker were routinely criticised for their fifth-tackle options, poor kicking and inability to apply pressure during Reynolds' five-week stint on the sidelines.

Reynolds' kicking and game management are his hallmarks and should provide them with the direction they've been missing over the past month during which they've lost three of four.

"Adam's got a quality with his kicking game that adds a lot to us," Maguire said.

"We've got to make sure we get a platform there for him so he can get those kicks in and we're going up against a forward pack that's well known for what they've been doing over the last couple of months."


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Source: AAP



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