The impressive performances of Keaon Koloamatangi in the early stages of the season have certainly caught attention.
The South Sydney edge forward played a crucial role in securing an unexpected 28-18 victory over Penrith on Thursday night.
Koloamatangi not only scored two tries but also recorded six tackle busts against the reigning champions, with his leaner physique indicating he has been putting in significant effort during the off-season.
Coach Wayne Bennett acknowledged this in the post-match press conference when a reporter inquired with Souths captain Cody Walker about Koloamatangi’s trimmed down appearance.
“What are your thoughts on Keaon’s start to the season? It looks like he’s made some sacrifices in the off-season,” the reporter queried.
Bennett swiftly chimed in before Walker could respond.
“Like food,” the veteran coach joked.
With a cheeky smile, Bennett, 75, added: “He gave up a lot of food. Get to the point, mate.”
Wayne Bennett during his post-match presser on Thursday night. NRL.com
Walker responded: “I believe his transformation reflects how much this team means to him. When players make those kinds of sacrifices, it demonstrates commitment and a desire to contribute to the group.
“He’s been outstanding throughout the pre-season and has started the season exceptionally well.”
Koloamatangi has shed 10kg in the off-season, now weighing in at 108kg as March approached.
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So far this season, he has played the full 80 minutes in each game, an increase from 74 minutes last season.
This has led to a noticeable increase in his attacking statistics.
“I definitely had a weakness for desserts, so I cut that out and pushed to see how long I could manage without them,” the Souths forward disclosed earlier this month.
“It turned out to be two or three months, and I slimmed down quite quickly. There wasn’t a tremendous change in my diet overall.
“Instead of playing well for 20 minutes and then fading for 10 minutes, I can now maintain that effort consistently.”
The Souths currently hold a 3-1 record this season, even without Latrell Mitchell, who is expected to return in the upcoming weeks, while Cameron Murray may miss the entire season.
Bennett reflected on a lacklustre second half that allowed Penrith to start a comeback, serving as a humbling lesson for his side.
“We’re not getting too ahead of ourselves, as the second half didn’t meet our expectations,” he noted.
“Throughout my coaching career, I’ve seen trends in the game, and right now, it’s crucial to start well.
“We didn’t start well last week and paid the price, but we came out strong tonight.”
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