Home Ground: Accor Stadium (Olympic Stadium Homebush)

Coach: Wayne Bennett

It is challenging to envision any team enduring the same extent of injuries as the Bunnies did in 2025, while still maintaining a competitive edge. And, boy did it get really tough for them. It was the season from hell for the Rabbitohs. 2025 NRL season was a major disappointment, marked by a record-breaking injury crisis (over 275 weeks missed by players) and a mid-season collapse, leading to a 14th-place finish despite strong start and finish. They began well (4-1), then lost nine straight, plummeting down the ladder, but thankfully won three of their last four games to climb off the bottom and avoid the spoon.

The biggest factor with players missing an unprecedented amount of time, crippled the squad. Wayne Bennett had his hands full deflecting the media week-in-week-out, and he had no solutions trying to put the best 13 out on the park each week being so low on troops. In one match the entire squad was so depleted by injury, they could only front 16 players, with one missing from the bench.

Impressive forward and Bunnies captain Cameron Murray played only one game in 2025 after rupturing his achilles in the pre-season which signaled the beginning of the end. Further early season injuries to Latrell Mitchell, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Munro, Campbell Graham, Euan Aitken and new recruit Mikaele Ravalawa all sidelined at various times prior to their Round 6 clash. Then mid-season, Jack Wighton, Cody Walker, Jamie Humphreys and new recruit Brandon Smith all went down. It was a season of never-ending misery for the clubs and by Round 22, it was no surprise that they were sitting dead last.

Cody Walker returned in Round 24 after missing five games to take on a rejuvenated Eels outfit and showed the Bunnies were a much stronger outfit than their ladder position suggested - still full strength. Despite all the injuries, and the almost impossible task of naming the same side for two consecutive games, Souths still managed to produce 2 more wins last year and concede 74 points less. It was genuinely remarkable that they ended up just 4 wins outside the top 8.

A fully fit Latrell Mitchell immediately transforms Souths from a bottom-four side into at least a mid-table attack. In 2025 they were forced to cycle through fullbacks, makeshift centres and experimental spine combinations almost weekly, losing any semblance of structure. But the far more stabilising return is Cameron Murray will be a huge boost. His absence in 2025 was more damaging than Latrell's because it removed South Sydney's midfield organiser, defensive dynamo and ball-playing link.

Last year, the emergence of Jye Gray, Tallis Duncan, and Tyrone Munro went largely unnoticed. While their performance in 2025 was understandably unrefined, by 2026, they are anticipated to provide crucial plug-and-play depth, preventing team instability during the absence of key players such as Latrell or Murray for Origin. Bennett's successful teams consistently feature a resilient Tier B, and Souths look to have has now achieved this.

2025 created a rugged edge to many of these players and if Wayne Bennett can keep together a fully fit squad, then there is no doubt it will be redemption time for South Sydney. Throw together those youngsters that had to stand up, and the old, experienced guard and you have a fine attacking outfit with a point to prove. However, a move back to the centres in 2026 for the enigmatic Latrell Mitchell, with Jye Gray at fullback will help Mitchell stay on the park more and he will score plenty of tries and kick plenty of goals on the end of a strong Souths backline.

If Mitchell can play most games for Souths next year, they can get back to the finals under Wayne. On top of that, star winger Alex Johnston is only a few tries away from the all time try-scoring record, which should inspire his teammates to get the ball in his hands.

David Fifita will link up with Souths this season, which should revitalise his career and spell trouble for other clubs in the NRL. With Murray and Graham linking up on one side and Cody Walker feeding to Mitchell, Fifita and Johnstone on the other edge, a ton of points could be racked up by this side. They could have a field day against weaker opponents who chose to sit back and watch. Season 2026 will be the final season in South Sydney colours for forward Keaon Koloamatangi, having chosen to sign with the St George Dragons from 2027. Losing Keon Kolomatangi will certainly hurt their forward power as he was incredible carrying much of the workload last season, but the Fifita pick is a massive bonus.

PREDICTED SEASON FINISH - 2ND