Keary plays pivotal role in rare title feat plans

SOUTH Sydney five-eighth Luke Keary knows he will never possess the skills or talent of the game’s greatest playmakers but he can more than make up for it with toughness.

The Ipswich-born 23-yearold has been the glue that has held the Rabbitohs together this season, often playing with painkilling injections in a foot injury and shifting to halfback as South Sydney waded through an injury crisis yet still emerged as a top four outfit.

Now with their full team back for today’s clash with Newcastle at ANZ Stadium, Keary is excited to see how the Rabbitohs build their momentum for a premiership defence that could stamp this playmaker among the few halves ever to win back-to-back titles.

It would be a rare feat that some of his idols – Kieran Foran, Karmichael Hunt, Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston – have never achieved not that Keary puts himself anywhere near their category.

“When I was really young I used to watch blokes like Karmichael Hunt and Lockyer who played really tough. That is what I admire in footy players and Thurston is the same,” Keary said.

“I don’t have the skill of a Johnathan Thurston or a Cherry-Evans or someone like that, but I’d like to think I try to play as tough as Kieran and Johnno and those blokes.

“I’ve been pretty happy (with my 2015 season), I’ve played every game and I haven’t had any injuries, I’ve looked after my body.

“Obviously with Reyno (Adam Reynolds) gone I’ve had to take on more responsibility at the start of the year and I think that’s improved me as a player. I think I’ve been pretty consistent this year with my footy and I’ve learnt a hell of a lot.”

With seven weeks to go the Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters are lurking ominously on the shoulder of ladders leaders Brisbane and the Cowboys.