A night in Arizona puts Souths off track

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A NIGHT out in Arizona goes pear-shaped and John Sutton and Luke Burgess find themselves locked up and charged for disorderly behaviour.

Sutton is dumped as captain while Burgess moves on to Manly.

And while Michael Maguire on Sunday night maintained the drunken drama in Arizona, reportedly a bar fight, at the end of a pre-season training camp in November wasn't the only reason Sutton was "replaced" as captain, Rabbitohs fans are today entitled to ask if their team has some dramas they are not admitting to.

Yes, the Rabbitohs have since added two more trophies to their cabinet after taking out the Auckland Nines and retaining the Charity Shield with Saturday night's 12-all draw against the Dragons.

But the thing many believe has separated Souths from most of their rivals since Maguire took charge, as well as having a wonderful footy team, was their outstanding discipline.

On and off the field.

Now that has to be seriously questioned.

For several reasons.

John Sutton and Michael Maguire celebrate the Rabbitohs' drought breaking premiership. Source: News Corp Australia

For weeks Maguire told us there was nothing more to Greg Inglis taking over for 2015 than both Sutton and Maguire deciding it was time for the squad to move forward.

But on Sunday Maguire was finally forced to admit: "There are obviously reasons from a behaviour standard. We have standards in the club and that is definitely a part of it but it is not wholly and solely the reason why.

"John and myself had a lot of discussions right up until Christmas about the leadership and where we wanted to go with it and Sutto was pretty keen to focus really on his footy."

Asked how serious the incident in Arizona was, Maguire said: "I am not going to delve into that. Only because it is something that we dealt with way back when it happened and we are now moving forward.

MYSTERY INCIDENT EXPLAINS BUNNY SHUFFLE

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"That is where I'm going to leave it."

It all started when the Rabbitohs were finishing up their camp in Flagstaff and the boys were cut loose on the town.

And "boys being boys" eventually led to Sutton and Burgess being arrested and charged.

Exactly what happened Maguire won't say.

But you don't get arrested without good reason.

Sutton and Burgess reportedly spent several hours locked up but Souths claim the charges have since been withdrawn, while the players were financially punished.

Again, the amount of the fines weren't disclosed but it is believed to be in the vicinity of several thousand dollars, and the NRL says it is content to let the club hand out the punishment because the charges were "withdrawn".

Luke Burgess will play for Manly this year after he was released by the Rabbitohs. Source: News Corp Australia

Former Souths boss Shane Richardson, who recently took on the position as the NRL's new head of game strategy and development, was unavailable on Sunday night for comment because he is on a fact finding mission in New York.

As well, Sutton has to now live with becoming the first premiership winning captain to ever be dumped for the following season.

Throw in the punishment dished out to centre Kirisome Auva'a who was suspended indefinitely after being found guilty of domestic violence, while young half Cody Walker is also fighting domestic violence charges with his case to be heard in court later this month, and you ask again, are Souths focused on their premiership defence?

Sam Burgess is also gone, and so is Ben Te'o.

Asked if he was concerned that the players had lost some of their focus in the aftermath of their drought breaking premiership success last year, Maguire said: "I think some big lessons were learned through that period (in Arizona)."

Maguire also said it wasn't a cover-up on South Sydney's part that this incident wasn't disclosed before now.

"Everything we did was completely along the lines with the NRL and the process was definitely followed through."

Asked how soon the NRL was notified, Maguire said: "Straight away."

But he admits he was disappointed with what led to all this.

"Anytime players are breaking the things that you set," he continued, "the players themselves are disappointed too.

"It is one of those things that unfortunately we had to go through and as I said the two boys have definitely learnt some lessons."

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Maguire was also certain Burgess' involvement wasn't the reason he left the club to join Manly.

"No. Luke obviously had an opportunity to further his career and longevity and he thought of his family at the time and they are the reasons why he made the decision to move to Manly," Maguire said.

But just how this will ultimately pan out for Sutton, Souths' most capped player, is an open argument.

This year he also has to play a new position in the backrow and fight for two starting jobs with Glenn Stewart, Chris McQueen, Kyle Turner and Jason Clark.

That won't be easy, and neither will facing up to what led to his dumping.

Sutton missed the Charity Shield on Saturday night after having recent surgery to repair a shoulder injury but even as late as last week he was saying losing the captaincy was no big deal.

Asked if co-captaincy with Inglis was an option considered, Sutton said: "Coulda, woulda, shoulda — it was one of those ones.

"This is the way we've gone and I'm happy with the decision. It doesn't bother me one bit. I'm just all about getting the next win for Souths."

That was before Sunday.

Sutton didn't answer his phone on Sunday night.

October 5, 2014

Rabbitohs win their first premiership in 43 years, beating Canterbury 30-6.

November 13, 2014

Centre Kirisome Auva'a suspended until at least round 22 of the 2015 season after pleading guilty to charges of recklessly causing injury and assault.

November 15, 2014

Souths travel to Flagstaff, Arizona, for two-week off-season high-altitude training program.

November 23, 2014

Rising halfback Cody Walker suspended indefinitely while charges of "stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical and mental harm" and "common assault" are heard in court in February following an incident in October.

November 26, 2014

Premiership winger Lote Tuqiri's contract not extended.  

November 30, 2014

While in Arizona, John Sutton and now-former forward Luke Burgess are involved in a late-night incident. Players spent eight hours in jail.

January 20, 2015

Rabbitohs announce John Sutton will be replaced as captain by Greg Inglis. 

January 21, 2015

- Luke Burgess signs with Manly.

- CEO Shane Richardson quits to take up role with the NRL.

- John Lee appointed new CEO.

January 27, 2015

Premiership halves Luke Keary (2016) and Adam Reynolds (2017) sign contract extensions.

February 1, 2015

Rabbitohs win Auckland Nines tournament with 18-14 victory over Cronulla.

February 7, 2015

South Sydney retain Charity Shield after 12-12 draw with St George Illawarra.

February 8, 2015

Rabbitohs say charges were laid and then dropped against Sutton and Burgess in Arizonain November. The club added that both players were disciplined for breaching the club's code of conduct.

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