Rabbitohs Rumors, Signings and News

[Rabbits20]

A bit harsh

30 degrees, early preseason

got to give it till January get get combinations right

Very harsh day 1 give the boys a chance.

Also Schuster is in ok shape.

 

[ADAM_SMITH]

A bit harsh

30 degrees, early preseason

got to give it till January get get combinations right

no such thing as hard, when they play in 30 degree days against melb roosters or penrith they wont be saying its 30 degrees give them a break

penrith would have been training in at least 2-3 degrees hotter in the western suburbs weather.

 

[handyman2190]

A bit harsh

30 degrees, early preseason

got to give it till January get get combinations right

I think it will be a progression, baby steps until they are at a level that they can handle,then they will be flogged

 

[Eric the great]

South’s exploring with nrl about salary cap relief over cams injury during rep games

 

[speedster]

Wayne will get them fit. Day 1 is day 1. But I do want to know about Schuster's level of fitness on day 1 because that is a sign of his personal commitment to save his career. So, given that there are conflicting reports about his shape, I hope to see some vision for myself. Plus, there's a long way to go.

Cody is a bit older and he and Latrell are our Ferraris so you don't flog your Ferraris day 1 I expect. In Wayne I trust. But thanks for the reports guys and keep 'em coming please. Muchly appreciated.

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

went down to training today. Observations from below.

In separate group of there own was.

Latrell
Aitken
Arrow
Graham
Walker
Thomas Fletcher

and training with the development players was

Mamazolous
Schuster
Munroe
Gray
Fletcher Myers

Schuster looks fat still and cant run or even move. Do not know how he will get around the footy field with his weight.

Walker was doing a fitness drill then went it got too hard walked off towards where the water bottles and that were.

Mitchell couldnt finish the drill either then went inside the weights room to do weight cause he came out holding a piece of paper which looked like a gym program.

Host and Illias were also in weights room.

Mellars looks like a footballer.

Munroe has trouble passing will need to improve his passing if he ever going to move to fullback.

The training session looked very poor and not intense at all. If that is going to be the standard then were going to be in for a long year.

Dont know might be the first session however, no intensity no talk, not one player was sweating!!!

Munro won't be moving to fullback

 

[speedster]

Can't really see his body, but that's what I could find. He's never going to be skinny and his possie is backrow but that's day 1 from the chest up for what it's worth.

If he can get himself fully fit and playing well then we will have a genuine ball playing edge backrower which we haven't really had since Sutto retired. An added dimension in attack that could be killer but he will also have to do the hard yards and make his tackles too.

If.

 

[speedster]

Munro won't be moving to fullback

Not at NRL level. He's a finisher not a creator from what I've seen.

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

Not at NRL level. He's a finisher not a creator from what I've seen.

And besides that:

Over Latrell Mitchell?
Despite what Wayne already said about this?

 

[Rabbits20]

Wayne Bennett reveals Cameron Murray could miss six months as Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker firm as captain contenders​

Wayne Bennett has revealed the return timeline of injured star Cameron Murray is worse than first thought, with the super coach now left to weigh up the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker to captain his Rabbitohs.

Peter Badel
November 7, 2024 - 2:46PM
News Sport Network

Wayne Bennett has revealed inspirational skipper Cameron Murray could be sidelined for up to six months as he considers Cody Walker or Latrell Mitchell for the South Sydney captaincy.

Bennett’s impending leadership decision comes as Australia coach and NRL Immortal Mal Meninga threw his support behind Mitchell captaining the Rabbitohs during Murray’s extended absence.

Bennett concedes Australia and NSW Origin forward Murray may not be seen in action until May in a crushing blow for South Sydney’s hopes of a finals fightback next season.

Murray underwent surgery on Tuesday and his damaged wrist will be immobilised in a cast for the next six weeks, with Rabbitohs medicos to determine a rehabilitation plan in mid-December.

The Souths ironman is set to be wiped out for the entire pre-season and Bennett fears he could miss the first 10 rounds of the 2025 premiership in what would be a huge setback for the Rabbitohs’ premiership prospects.

Murray has been ruled out of Sunday’s Pacific Championships final between Australia and Tonga at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium and Bennett says he is resigned to being without his champion skipper for some time.






Cameron Murray injured his wrist on international duty with the Kangaroos. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images


Murray’s injury will ignite debate about the length of the season – and potential implications on NRL club pre-seasons – with Bennett admitting Souths have felt the fallout of Australia’s Test calendar.

“Cameron has had surgery on his scaphoid so we’re looking at five to six months out,” Bennett said.

“It means a lot for Cameron to play for Australia and unfortunately that’s the price you pay sometimes.

“It’s a blow for us but I’m not going to stop guys playing for their country.

“He could be out for six months so I’m in no rush with the captaincy.”

Bennett won’t have to name a stand-in skipper until pre-season trials begin in February but the 74-year-old will assess a number of candidates, including Mitchell, Walker, Jack Wighton and Jai Arrow.

There is a view Mitchell can do without the pressures of captaincy given his drama-charged 2024 campaign but Bennett sees the two-time premiership winner as a spiritual leader at Redfern.






Latrell Mitchell is among the candidates for the Rabbitohs captaincy. Picture: Michael Pantaleone/South Sydney Rabbitohs







Cody Walker is another lead captaincy contender. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images


Bennett does not believe a short-term leadership stint would be an excessive burden for Mitchell and Meninga agrees, saying his Indigenous Test protege would relish filling the Murray void.

“Latrell has certainly got the aura,” said Meninga, who handed Mitchell his Test debut in 2018.

“To get the best out of Latrell, maybe it’s a smart move.

“I think he’s got that ability to be a leader, there’s no doubt about that.

“I’ve had Cam Murray in this camp (with Australia’s Pacific Championships squad) and he’s just a damn good person and a damn good player.

“If Wayne is looking to get some consistency and the best out of Latrell, I certainly think he’s up to it.”

Walker is another consideration for Bennett. The veteran pivot turns 35 in January and Bennett is keen to sign the off-contract Walker for at least another 12 months in 2026.

“Cody plays to a very high standard so I don’t see any reason why he can’t continue,” Bennett said.

“It won’t continue forever, I know that, but Cameron Smith showed us all you can play NRL at 37 and go well into your 30s.

“If Cody is enjoying it, it doesn’t have to be his last year.

“Cody hasn’t had a lot of injuries in his career, so his body is in pretty good shape.

“He is a great professional so I don’t think next year will be his last year.”

 

[Rabbit57]

Good call people keep throwing up options for pistol Pete at hooker such as Humphries who has never played top grade as hooker or jye grey who I like as a footballer but not a hooker people have got to have trust in Wayne as I’m sure he has got a better idea on what a hooker in first grade looks like than anyone on this forum

I’ll throw up another option. Biondi - Odo on train and trial. If he reaches his potential he might have a game or two at hooker.

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

Could it be possible?

Clint Gutherson is a done deal.
Now the Dragons need Lachie Ilias

Clint Gutherson is over the line. This is who the Dragons will chase next

St George Illawarra secured the signature of the former Parramatta captain on Friday. Coach Shane Flanagan will now turn his attention to finding a new halfback.

www.smh.com.au

 

[speedster]

With Latrell suspended for round 1, it's odds-on Cody will captain to start the season but there's no reason Wayne couldn't name them both co-captains so that by round 2, they both run out with the "c" next to their name.

A lot of wayward players of the past found their maturity and increased sense of responsibility when given the captaincy and it was the making of them in the long run. Guys with bad judiciary records suddenly got suspended much less when they were made captain.

 

[speedster]

Could it be possible?

Clint Gutherson is a done deal.
Now the Dragons need Lachie Ilias

Clint Gutherson is over the line. This is who the Dragons will chase next

St George Illawarra secured the signature of the former Parramatta captain on Friday. Coach Shane Flanagan will now turn his attention to finding a new halfback.

www.smh.com.au

Hold the phone as a famous movie star (who shall remain nameless) struggled to do.

 

[southsydneyrabbitohs]

I’ll throw up another option. Biondi - Odo on train and trial. If he reaches his potential he might have a game or two at hooker.

Rabbit57 he can play 6,7, or 9 so a smart buy by bennett indeed by covering these 3 pozzies...

 

[Rabbits20]

The Sydney Morning Herald​

Clint Gutherson is a done deal. Now the Dragons need Lachie Ilias​

Christian Nicolussi​

November 8, 2024 — 12.51pm

Clint Gutherson has signed with St George Illawarra, now fellow Dragons recruit Damien Cook has urged the club to get Lachie Ilias.

Ilias has one year remaining on his deal at Souths, and with English halfback Lewis Dodd to be given first shot at the No. 7, incoming coach Wayne Bennett is reportedly weighing up using Ilias as a back-up dummy-half option to Peter Mamouzelos.

Parramatta star Mitchell Moses says he will miss Clint Gutherson after the Eels captain was released.

The Dragons need a new halfback following the departure of Ben Hunt, and have identified Ilias as a potential option – and Cook has made it known to coach Shane Flanagan and Ilias why the move should happen.

Having 24-year-old Ilias and Cook re-united would partly help the new-look Dragons’ spine of fullback Gutherson and five-eighth Kyle Flanagan gel.

“Souths weren’t travelling that well last season, and Lachie copped a lot of that criticism, which was unfair,” Cook said.

“I think Lachie is a great halfback, he’s a great defender, he’s still got plenty to learn, and he hasn’t had the chance to show what he’s capable of. Lachie’s a halfback, not a hooker.”

“He’s looked after his [leg] injury, and when I’ve spoken to him, he tells me he’s progressing really well.

“I’d love to see him at the Dragons. I’ve been in his ear, too.

“I know he loves Souths, but I’ll be letting him know what I think. He’s a halfback, not a dummy-half. Later on in his career, he might end up at lock because he is that bigger body, and he’s a good ball player. I understand Souths might be thinking about what they’re doing. He will be a part of their best 17, but they’ve also got other halves ahead of him.

“I know Lachie would love it at the Dragons.”

The Dragons announced on Friday they had signed Gutherson to a three-year deal.

“Clint will be a fantastic addition to our squad over the next three seasons,” Flanagan said in a statement.

“He is not just an elite fullback; he also brings leadership, competitiveness, toughness and versatility. In addition to his obvious on-field qualities he will also be a huge asset to our emerging players over the coming years.”

Cook spent nine seasons at the Rabbitohs, a club where he went on to play for NSW and Australia, and even started a young family.

Now 33, Cook knows a fresh start will do wonders for his mind, and he was eager to start training on November 25.

Flanagan is eager to use Cook and fellow hooker Jacob Liddle in the 17, which was relayed to Cook by Flanagan during negotiations. Cook has played lock forward, and likes the idea of him and Liddle being on the field at the same time un a bid to “try and have that one-two punch”.

Cook said he got to know Gutherson during the 2020 end-of-year NSW Origin camp on the Central Coast.

“He’s not only a great player, but he’s a great guy to have in your locker room,” Cook said of Gutherson.

Dodd has been recruited from St Helens on a three-year deal at Souths, while Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Latrell Mitchell, Jye Gray and even Josh Schuster are all halves options.

Meanwhile, Cook will oversee his first League Nines Youth Series in Wollongong on Saturday, which will feature 20 clubs from as far north as Coffs Harbour, and Milton-Ulladulla to the south, along with clubs from the South Sydney, St George and Canterbury districts. The NSWRL-sanctioned tournament will feature players in the under-13, under-14 and under-15 age groups, and a small purse to the winner.

“We had a lot of washouts this year, so this is a great chance to play some footy, and even sign up a few extra players for the next season,” said Cook, whose tournament will kick-off at Sid Parrish Park in Figtree.

 

[southsydneyrabbitohs]

Hold the phone as a famous movie star (who shall remain nameless) struggled to do.

Tripleb spot on cobber yes yes yes yes please stmerge sign lachlan ilias and make my day!!

 

[southsydneyrabbitohs]

Tripleb spot on cobber yes yes yes yes please stmerge sign lachlan ilias and make my day!!

Tripleb i picked albo 2 win then Trump 2 win can ilias sign with stmerge so I can get the trifecta?? id like 2 see that.cookie wants ilias at stmerge looks like cookie has either lost the plot or rusty has slipped cookie an old nick the trick politi$ under the table trick yah I hope so.why not throw mamouzelos in 4 free to stmerge as a sweetener he is better than cookie lol.

 

[Hellray]

So Brock Gray has signed a train and trial deal with the Titans

Michael Roberts has had his train and trial deal with the bunnies terminated due to some very concerning drug charges

 

[speedster]

Tripleb spot on cobber yes yes yes yes please stmerge sign lachlan ilias and make my day!!

Cookie is starting to get our hopes up but with Croft's release hitting a major snag, it could happen. Flanno still saying he will wait and see where Hunt lobs and whether that sees another option become available. If Hunt goes to the Broncs, will that mean Mam gets the sack? Flanno will trip over his tongue chasing Mam and will bowl Ilias out of the way turning him into roadkill to pick Mam up from the airport personally.