Keary beats Souths and their mental demons

Mar 23, 2017 - 4:33 PM Luke Keary insists he has moved on from his bitter fallout with South Sydney, after burying his former club for their arch-rivals at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night.

Keary was instrumental in the Sydney Roosters' 20-6 NRL win over the Rabbitohs, setting up two tries as he continued his game-breaking streak to start the season.

And while he was on the outer at the Bunnies last year following his high-profile fallout with owner Russell Crowe, Keary insisted on Thursday night he had no hard feeling against his former team.

"Obviously stuff happened there but I don't have any resentment or bitterness towards the club in any way," Keary said.

"Winning tonight doesn't really mean anything in the end.

"I'm here to do a job with this club and beating your old team is neither here nor there.

"I don't really have any inner satisfaction, more than I would for a normal win. I'm obviously satisfied but it didn't motivate me."

In a largely physical match, Keary copped surprisingly little chat from the Rabbitohs players.

The 25-year-old joked after the match that Souths players must have been told to ignore him.

Perhaps the same edict was followed by their fans.

While those at ANZ Stadium offered a small jeer with his first touch of the ball, just 10,479 fans turned up for the match - the lowest for the derby since 1998.

But those who stayed at home missed a lesson in attacking football early from Keary and halves partner Mitchell Pearce.

They combined directly in the lead up to two of the Roosters' three tries, as the free-flowing football which sees them playing both side of the park continued.

"That's the way footy is meant to be played," Keary said.

"I just think it's a bit of a blight that halves don't get to play with each other in different structures.

"Someone is meant to be there running a team and he's got to have his kind of men around him that help him out a bit."

Source: AAP