Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has hit out at people using reports of player tiffs at South Sydney to suggest internal friction at the club.
The Rabbitohs are suddenly engulfed in drama after club legend Sam Burgess was sensationally axed as assistant coach on Wednesday.
A media storm erupted after Sunday's loss to Newcastle, with reports Burgess and fellow assistant John Morris had challenged head coach Jason Demetriou on his treatment of superstars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.
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Burgess – and to an extent Morris – were reportedly concerned Demetriou was failing to enforce the same standards on the fullback and five-eighth as he was on the rest of the team.
A Sydney Morning Herald story also revealed a video session brouhaha recently where Mitchell criticised captain Cameron Murray for failing to pass him the ball, to which Murray allegedly replied, "Most of the time, you're not there".
It could be viewed as a crack at Mitchell's fitness or work rate, which has been criticised heavily following the loss to the Knights.
"It gets heated all the time," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
"There are push and shoves at training, in video sessions there are tense words.
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"There's talk about Cam Murray and Latrell having words – so what? They are having words in team meetings… what happens in team meetings should never ever leave.
"That's your bunker, nothing should ever get out from there."
Walker, too, has been the subject of reports which claim he's walked out on training sessions after getting upset and angry.
Johns – who won two premierships with the Knights and three Dally M Medals during a glittering career – revealed he also used to walk out on sessions in anger.
"The talk of Cody walking out of training and being frustrated, that happens all the time," he said.
"Especially ball players who are emotional like Cody. There were times I'd walk off the field if I got the shits about something, or something wasn't working I'd storm off the field.
"Obviously I'm a diva… but Cody is the same sort of player, he's very emotional and he likes things to be done.
"There were times when I didn't agree with what we were doing, or plays weren't coming off, or players weren't doing what I wanted them to do, and I'd just storm off.
"They were all used to it. They were like 'here he goes, there goes the diva'. Bedsy (Knights great Danny Buderus) or Mark Hughes would come and put an arm around me and go 'come on mate'.
"We used to have them all the time – it's part of players who are emotional, they are competitive, they want to win constantly.
"I'd be concerned if they were the other way, if they (said) 'oh well it didn't work, so what'. Cody is that sort of player, he's emotional and he wants things done right."
South Sydney has the bye this week before a final-round clash with the Roosters, which Mitchell will miss due to suspension.
The round 27 game could decide whether the Rabbitohs play finals, or miss out.
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