Rabbitohs Rumors, Signings and News

[handyman2190]

I do.
1000% better than Mamaouzelos

He will not be fit and his knee may not be up to it

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

He will not be fit and his knee may not be up to it

This is up to Wayne and the med staff.
Obviously they will make all those assessments before agreeing to try and get him before '26.

But assuming he passes, there is still no disputing he is still 1000% better than Mamaozelos

 

[speedster]

Great news!!!
As to your last statement, I respectfully disagree.
Anything is possible, would not be surprised see the Roosters eventually capitulate and let him go early.

Hey, I said improbable, not impossible.

They need to pay him out (money that is) and let him walk otherwise he might dig his heels in and stay for that mammoth salary.

Give him the $700k (or close to it) and we'll give the $150k.

 

[speedster]

This is up to Wayne and the med staff.
Obviously they will make all those assessments before agreeing to try and get him before '26.

But assuming he passes, there is still no disputing he is still 1000% better than Mamaozelos

That's right. Players do make full recoveries after 6-9 months and it happened last August I think. It's already been about 7 months.

 

[speedster]

‘It sounds brutal... but’: Calls for Souths to cut loose $2m import before he’s played a game

‘Sounds brutal... but’: Calls for Souths to cut loose $2m import before he’s played a game

www.foxsports.com.au

‘It sounds brutal... but’: Calls for Souths to cut loose $2m import before he’s played a game​

The Rabbitohs are set to extend veteran five-eighth Cody Walker in a move that will likely see the club make a “brutal” call on Lewis Dodd before the English recruit has played a game.

Walker, 35, is about to sign a 12-month extension for the 2026 season on a deal reportedly worth around $650,000.

That has implications for the club who have Dodd who has just started his three-year contract and is also earning around $650,000 per season but he’s playing reserve grade.

Souths’ starting halfback, Jamie Humphries, is on the NRL minimum wage of $150,000 per season but if his form continues that will soon change.

The Rabbitohs only have $150,000 in cap space this season - which is restricting their ability to get Brandon Smith early - and it’s a similar story next year.


It means something has to give and the NRL 360 panel believe that will be Dodd who the club will almost certainly have to pay him to play elsewhere.

“After talking to Souths management today, they’ve indicated that they’ve already kickstarted initial talks in retaining Cody Walker,” Dave Riccio said.

“He’ll be 36 next January but he’s not playing like a 35-year-old, he’s still commanding the ball and running that football side with a rookie in Jamie Humphries beside him.

“Everything indicates that he will be retained on a 12-month deal. He’s worth $650,000 - $700,000 for me.”

Braith Anasta then asked how that extension would impact the club’s other halves in Humphries and Dodd.

“They’ve got a jigsaw puzzle, you’re 100 per cent spot on. They’ve got Jye Gray in the background too who can play in the halves,” Riccio said.

“And there’s obviously Humphries, he’s on contract for this season and next and while they’ve haven’t gone there yet… at some point they know they’re going to have to have a look at that contract if he continues to progress the way he is.”

James Hooper then addressed the elephant in the room and said the club needed to make a tough decision on Dodd.

“It’s early doors, but they might have to make a hard call on Lewis Dodd,” Hooper said.

“It sounds brutal, he hasn’t even laced a boot and run out in an NRL game but they’ve signed him on a three-year deal.

“I think Kristian Woolf had some interest in him at the Dolphins prior to him signing with Souths, perhaps they try and open that pipeline.”

“They just bought him. He hasn’t played a game yet,” Anasta responded.

“You’re asking the questions about how it all fits together, I’m just saying if you’ve got a bloke on that amount of money, given what we’ve seen from Humphries I know it’s only early doors but he looks like an NRL player every day of the week,” Hooper said.

Anasta then painted the tough reality Dodd faces.

“No other NRL club is going to want Dodd. You can’t play reserve grade Super League, reserve grade NRL and then have an NRL club (give you a contract), it’s not going to happen,”

“The only chance is if Souths chip in, significantly,” Riccio responded.

“I’m with Hoops, you can’t have a $600,000 reserve grader on your books. But Maybe you can have a $300,000 and you tip in $300,000.”

 

[speedster]

OF COURSE THERE’S A BUNNIES-CHOOKS TIFF

True to form there’s a standoff shaping up between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney over the immediate future of Brandon Smith.

The Bunnies have made it known they’re quite happy to accommodate Smith prior to June 30 but they’ve only got $150,000 available in terms of salary cap space for 2025.

But in the latest twist to be added to the Book of Feuds the Roosters won’t be budging and have made it clear they intend to retain Smith for the remainder of the season.

Smith is due back from ACL and MCL ailments in July with the Chooks outlining how they intend to use his services at the back end of the season.


The Chooks have previously discussed chipping in for Smith to shift to their arch-rivals at Heffron Park prior to June 30 but the thinking has shifted since the Kiwi Test forward officially announced he was joining the Bunnies.

The Roosters have NSW State of Origin hooker Reece Robson arriving for next season so told Smith early doors they would refrain from re-signing him beyond 2025.

 

[speedster]

Smith needs to make even more of a pest of himself now until they just want rid of him and they crack.

He should walk around Roosters training whistling Glory Glory!

 

[Rabbits20]

I’m not sure how to feel about this. We all know what Cheese is like at his best but he hasn’t been at that for a while his attitude and commitment has been questionable too last few years his standards have dropped he’s had a number of injuries too. Cheese can play hooker as we know and lock but we have plenty of utility lock forwards I feel we are missing a prop and this signing doesn’t fix that issue at all you still need a big prop like a Haas in that mould you still need a big middle that can make those big metres which we haven’t really had since we lost Sam Burgess.

If Cheese puts in and behaves himself I’m willing to get behind him he will need to win me over. Hopefully the fresh change will do him good. The positive is Wayne wanted him as well and if I read correctly Cheese was a Souths fan growing up. If he gets back to his best he could be good value for money.

 

[doyen]

Smith's a star of RL--a p/ship player--he's a No.9 & a very tough player who can line up anywhere else in the forwards---148 NRL games--27 tries--13 tests for the Kiwis--28 yrs old---this is a big signing for Sths !!!!

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

Smith's a star of RL--a p/ship player--he's a No.9 & a very tough player who can line up anywhere else in the forwards---148 NRL games--27 tries--13 tests for the Kiwis--28 yrs old---this is a big signing for Sths !!!!

And 6-0 versus Damien Cook, through all head to heads, including test matches

 

[Rabbits20]

 

[BotanyBorn&Bred]

View attachment 100005

Yeah....for now....
But it's only a matter of time.....

 

[Eric the great]

Talk on nrl 360 trell might be back early

 

[speedster]

Talk on nrl 360 trell might be back early

The South Sydney Rabbitohs Official Homepage

Welcome to the official page of the South Sydney Rabbitohs!

www.rabbitohs.com.au

Well, he was looking fit and moving freely at training, as was AJ. Great to see. Schuster got out there too - not sure where he is at with his recovery and fitness. Tallis looked all smiles participating in the drills.

It will be very interesting to see what Wayne does with the side once Latrell is fit for selection again. Will he select him at fullback forcing Jye Gray to either the bench or NSW Cup? Or will he play him at centre in which case, where does he play Wighton?

 

[Eric the great]

The South Sydney Rabbitohs Official Homepage

Welcome to the official page of the South Sydney Rabbitohs!

www.rabbitohs.com.au

Well, he was looking fit and moving freely at training, as was AJ. Great to see. Schuster got out there too - not sure where he is at with his recovery and fitness. Tallis looked all smiles participating in the drills.

It will be very interesting to see what Wayne does with the side once Latrell is fit for selection again. Will he select him at fullback forcing Jye Gray to either the bench or NSW Cup? Or will he play him at centre in which case, where does he play Wighton?

The South Sydney Rabbitohs Official Homepage

Welcome to the official page of the South Sydney Rabbitohs!

www.rabbitohs.com.au

Well, he was looking fit and moving freely at training, as was AJ. Great to see. Schuster got out there too - not sure where he is at with his recovery and fitness. Tallis looked all smiles participating in the drills.

It will be very interesting to see what Wayne does with the side once Latrell is fit for selection again. Will he select him at fullback forcing Jye Gray to either the bench or NSW Cup? Or will he play him at centre in which case, where does he play Wighton?

I’m with speedster try wighton at lock he’s played there before with canberra

 

[Det.Wojciehowicz]

I think he would be great at lock for us.

 

[speedster]

I’m with speedster try wighton at lock he’s played there before with canberra

I think he would be great at lock for us.

Yeah, he could ball play from there and could virtually play as a 2nd 5/8 when we're on the attack. Much of the time I feel he is under-used at centre as he doesn't come looking for the ball. At lock he would need to do his share of the hard yaka but also be able to ball play as well as attack the line from closer to the middle where he always did from 5/8.

Meanwhile, Latrell if he plays left centre should come infield much more and play like a 2nd fullback at times. Bit like Turbo does when he plays rep footy at centre.

But, what will Wayne do? That's what really matters.

Jye Gray is leading the comp for run metres and he has been fantastic in our unbeaten start to the season thus far. Another big game against the Sharks might give the coach even more food for thought. It's a good headache to have I guess and we have the best man in the game to make these decisions.

 

[Eric the great]

Yeah, he could ball play from there and could virtually play as a 2nd 5/8 when we're on the attack. Much of the time I feel he is under-used at centre as he doesn't come looking for the ball. At lock he would need to do his share of the hard yaka but also be able to ball play as well as attack the line from closer to the middle where he always did from 5/8.

Meanwhile, Latrell if he plays left centre should come infield much more and play like a 2nd fullback at times. Bit like Turbo does when he plays rep footy at centre.

But, what will Wayne do? That's what really matters.

Jye Gray is leading the comp for run metres and he has been fantastic in our unbeaten start to the season thus far. Another big game against the Sharks might give the coach even more food for thought. It's a good headache to have I guess and we have the best man in the game to make these decisions.

Wayne has been in this position before with fuller and hammer at the dolphins

 

[Det.Wojciehowicz]

Yeah, he could ball play from there and could virtually play as a 2nd 5/8 when we're on the attack. Much of the time I feel he is under-used at centre as he doesn't come looking for the ball. At lock he would need to do his share of the hard yaka but also be able to ball play as well as attack the line from closer to the middle where he always did from 5/8.

Definitely play the same role Sutto played when he moved there.

 

[speedster]

Definitely play the same role Sutto played when he moved there.

Well, Sutto played edge which is another option for Jack also. But I reckon lock where he can really be part of the spine from there which a lot of modern day lock forwards are.