From The Daily Telegraph,
NRL team previews 2023: Rabbitohs free agency wrap, crystal ball, predictions
DEEP DIVE: The South Sydney Rabbitohs have lost three first graders and replaced them with … absolutely no-one. We rate South Sydney’s title chances for 2023.
South Sydney fans are still celebrating the re-signing of their “Big Three” Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook from 2024.
But these big-name retentions mask the fact the Rabbitohs have easily been the least active team in the free agency market for 2023.
Regardless, the Rabbitohs have made the final four in each of the last three seasons and are shaping as a powerhouse team yet again in 2023.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Redfern-based side ahead of the 2023 NRL season kick off in a News Corp exclusive
club-by-club deep dive series.
FREE AGENCY WRAP
They’ve lost three players in Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima and Jaxson Paulo. In their place is… no one. The Rabbitohs have been easily the least active team in free agency, and will instead focus on retention.
They began with Isaiah Tass, Izaac Thompson, Ben Lovett and Taane Milne (until the end of 2024) in late August, followed it up with key playmaker Lachlan Ilias (end of 2025), and more recently Shaquai Mitchell (end of 2024).
The Rabbitohs also celebrated the re-signings of Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook who, despite being in the final year of their deals, never seemed in any doubt about staying at Redfern.
Blake Taaffe, Thomas Burgess and the under-rated Siliva Havili can also receive offers from rival clubs.
Rating: B+
COACH STATUS AND SAFETY RATING
Jason Demetriou (2023)
As has been well-documented, many have attempted to step into the coaching box after Wayne Bennett. And many have failed. Jason Demetriou smashed the curse, guiding the Rabbitohs to within one game of a grand final in his rookie season in charge.
He also had to do it without long-time captain and Rabbitohs’ favourite son Adam Reynolds. With Souths’ big three of Mitchell, Walker and Cook re-signed, Demetriou will return for his second season in charge with a settled squad full of big-name stars balanced by an emerging crew of young talent. One of the safest coaches in the league.
Safety rating: A+
LIKELY DEBUTANTS
The rookie coach showed he wasn’t afraid to blood some rookies to go with him last season, handing out debuts to Trent Peoples, Shaquai Mitchell, Isaiah Tass and Izaac Thompson – all of whom were over 23 years of age. That was on top of playing young guns Ilias and Davvy Moale.
The Rabbitohs recently re-signed Tass and Thompson, but should they suffer any hint of second-year syndrome, they have Josiah Karapani waiting in the wings. The 20-year-old robust centre, who likes a dummy-half run, an offload and has also been likened to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, scored three tries and set up two in five NSW Cup games, while scoring four in three Jersey Flegg (under-21s) matches.
WHO TAKES THE NEXT STEP?
While it’s been three years since Daniel Suluka-Fifita made his long-anticipated NRL debut armed with the reputation as a genuine hitman, he has yet to fully make his mark.
Eyebrows were raised when the Roosters had no qualms sending him to bitter rivals South Sydney last season, where he played 12 games, mostly off the bench. His best work was done later in the year, when he cracked the 100-metre barrier three times in the space of a month, starting two games, and flashing the kind of all-round performances that show he’s ready to make the next step as a starting front-rower.
THREE BURNING ISSUES
Can halves take Rabbitohs all the way?
The Lachlan Illias-Cody Walker partnership is still very much a work in progress. Souths need more from them as a combination to be any chance of winning the comp.
Illias did a solid job taking over from veteran Adam Reynolds but Souths need more from the young halfback and the same goes for Walker. The halves need to spark more in attack and not just sit back and leave it up to Latrell Mitchell.
Premiership wins have been few and far between for the Rabbitohs for over half a century.
More from Latrell Mitchell?
There are few players who can reach the same rugby league stratosphere than a happy and injury-free Mitchell, who was a force of nature following his well-publicised recovery trip to the United States.
He’s a walk-up start to the NSW State of Origin and Kangaroos teams. But can the Rabbitohs get more from their money man?
Since his controversial move from the Roosters, the superstar fullback has missed a third of his games – never playing more than 17 in a season – and the Rabbitohs have narrowly missed the top four in two of those three seasons. Is it too greedy to ask for more?
Can they beat the curse?
Not the Wayne Bennett one, but the curse of the black Panther. And it’s probably the only question Rabbitohs fans care about. The Rabbitohs have lost nine of their past 10 against the two-time reigning premiers, including their past three finals runs (semi-final in 2020, grand final in 2021, semi-final in 2022).
The 2020-21 defeats came without star Latrell Mitchell, but not even his return last-start was enough to stem the tide. There’ll be demons to exorcise if they meet again next September.
CRYSTAL BALL
The continuity of the Rabbitohs’ best line-up, which includes arguably the best spine and back row in the competition, as well as one of the best finishers the game has ever seen, ensures the club should be well in contention for a top-four spot and another shot at the grand final. Only injuries can stop them getting there.
