Less hype, more metres: Su'A right at home at Redfern

South Sydney forward Jaydn Su'A knows first-hand the added pressure of playing for a powerhouse club like Brisbane.

It's why when he left the Broncos to join Souths last season, he felt the burden of expectation and hype placed on him at an early age ease slightly.

Su'A could empathise with his former Broncos teammates on Thursday as he discussed his own journey to realising his potential in red and green. 

"Being the one-club town there is pressure on you … if you're performing it's all going well but if you're not performing you're in a bit of strife," Su'A said.

"[But] they're a tight-knit and good organisation so I think they'll be sweet.

"I'm at home with Souths [now] and am ready to take the next steps forward. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable and am playing a lot better too."

After seven rounds of the Telstra Premiership season, the numbers back up that assertion.

The 22-year-old ran a season-high 116 metres in a below-par Rabbitohs performance last week while his overall attack and defensive numbers are also above year-on-year career averages.

"I still think there's a lot I need to work on to get my timing right and defensively on my edge but I'm happy with how I went but it's obviously not good enough," Su'A said.

"[As a team] we need to get our ball control better, it's not where it needs to be and we're missing opportunities because of it."

The Bunnies were buoyed by the return of recently retired Englishman Sam Burgess at training this week after COVID-19 bubble restrictions were eased - allowing the former back-rower to re-join the club's coaching staff.

Su'A said it was a timely return for the squad as they look to make amends for last week's defeat to the Panthers.  

"His energy is very contagious when he's around the crew, you definitely know about it," he said.

"I feel like he's made a big difference from Tuesday when he first got back in.

"He's upped the ante in all the defensive work and individually he's helping me with little things in my game that need to be worked on. It's great to have him back."

Another Englishman, Luke Thompson, has been named on an extended Bulldogs bench for Sunday's game but seems unlikely to make his NRL debut.

Whether the former St Helens enforcer lines up or not, Su'A expects the Bulldogs to come out firing.

"They compete well and don't give up," Su'A said.

"They've got Dylan Napa and Aiden Tolman and Thompson there trying to make a difference [if he plays].

"We'll prepare as if he is playing and if he doesn't we'll be ready for it."