Latrell must confront the stark truth of Wighton; a halves conundrum is about to arise: Rabbitohs State of Play
Souths were among the major disappointments of the previous campaign, and if they don’t improve two key aspects of their play and get their act together, 2024 may see more of the same.
Jack Wighton won’t be the miracle worker that gets the Rabbitohs back to the finals by himself, so Latrell Mitchell has to step up and assume more leadership of the team. The Rabbitohs, led by Lachlan Ilias and Cody Walker, need to get better at kicking.
COACHES: Jason Demetriou
After a review of their coaching setup Souths made some changes last season parting ways with Sam Burgess and John Morris. Souths extended the deal of Jason Demetriou until 2026 and assistant Ben Hornby signed an extension until 2025. Joe O’Callaghan, will move into a full-time coaching role as an NRL Assistant Coach as well as maintaining the role as NSW Cup Coach. South Sydney legend John Sutton will become a full-time Development Coach, working with O’Callaghan and the club’s elite young talent.
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2024 squad: Alex Johnston (2025), Benjamin Lovett (2024), Cameron Murray (2028), Campbell Graham (2027), Cody Walker (2025), Damien Cook (2025), Daniel Suluka-Fifita (2025), Davvy Moale (2025), Dean Hawkins (2024), Isaiah Taas (2024), Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson (2024), Jack Wighton (2027), Jacob Host (2025), Jai Arrow (2027), Josiah Karapani (2024), Jye Gray (2024), Keaon Koloamatangi (2026), Lachlan Ilias (2025), Latrell Mitchell (2027), Leon Te Hau (2024), Michael Chee Kam (2024), Peter Mamouzelos (2024), Sean Keppie (2026), Shaquai Mitchell (2024), Siliva Havili (2025), Taane Milne (2024), Tallis Duncan (2025), Tevita Tatola (2028), Thomas Burgess (2024), Tyrone Munro (2025
Development players: Dion Teaupa (2024), Ethan Ferguson (2025), Haizyn Mellars (2025), Liam Le Blanc (2025), Thomas Fletcher (2024)
PLAYERS IN: Jack Wighton (Raiders), Sean Keppie (Sea Eagles)
Jack Wighton comes to Souths on a four-year deal with a view to playing centre for the next two seasons and then taking over at five-eighth when Cody Walker hangs up the boots. Wighton adds to Souths’ impressive centre stocks with incumbents Campbell Graham and Isaiah Tass. Jason Demetriou wants Wighton to bring some physicality to his edges, while he provides depth in the halves should injuries or poor form strike. Sean Keppie was signed long-term at Manly, but found himself on the outer under Anthony Seibold and chose to jump ship to the Bunnies on a three-year deal. With Tom Burgess in the twilight of his career, Keppie will provide excellent depth behind incumbent props Tevita Tatola and Jai Arrow.
PLAYERS OUT: Hame Sele (Dragons), Blake Taaffe (Bulldogs), Jed Cartwright (Knights), Terrell Kalo Kalo (unsigned)
WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE: Kicking game and ball control
The Rabbitohs went from first after 10 rounds last season to miss the finals in an all-time late season implosion. Granted, Latrell Mitchell missed 10 weeks with injury but that is just an excuse and a club with the calibre of roster as Souths should always have been playing in September. Souths rely too heavily on the brilliance of Mitchell and Cody Walker to paper over their deficiencies. The Rabbitohs need to improve their long and high kicking games to give them better field position and more opportunities to contest attacking kicks. Mitchell might have to take more ownership of the kicking game from fullback given he has the biggest boot, while Walker and Lachlan Ilias need to create more try-scoring opportunities with their short and high kicking games. Souths also have a habit of shooting themselves in the foot with their ball control the last few seasons. If they want to compete with the best teams they need to lift their completion rates in 2024.
LAYER UNDER MOST PRESSURE: Lachlan Ilias
Jack Wighton’s arrival at Redfern has heaped even more pressure on Lachlan Ilias to deliver. At 23, Ilias is a bright talent and highly regarded at Souths, but his first grade career has been inconsistent to date and while he is young patience has a habit of running out when a team is losing. With 51 games in first grade it is time for Ilias to step up in his third full season. After leading the competition last year, Souths should never have missed the finals and while not all of that is on Ilias he deserves his share of the blame. The biggest issue with Ilias is his kicking game doesn’t give his chasers enough time to contest the ball and they neither put pressure on the opposition back three or give his chasers time to retrieve the ball. If Souths struggle early next year and Ilias doesn’t improve in some key areas, Jason Demetriou may be forced to look at a Wighton-Walker halves pairing at some point in the season.
Tyrone Munro burst onto the scene last year as an 18-year-old scoring three tries in three games in his rookie season. However, Munro is tipped to play a much bigger role in 2024 and may start the season on the wing for Souths. The young flyer has been likened to a young Greg Inglis and he will only get better the more he grows into his frame. Munro can beat players with his combination of speed, footwork and sheer strength and he could have a field day playing outside Latrell Mitchell next season. Munro is a more gifted athlete than Alex Johnston so the pair could be locked in a try-scoring battle for Souths next year.
