Rabbitohs 2023 preview: Attack-heavy Bunnies shape as real title threats

Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, and Damien Cook have all locked in new deals, Jason Demetriou’s squad has remained mostly the same, and it’s looking like yet another preliminary final could be beckoning for the star-studded South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Let’s be honest, everyone in myrtle and cardinal should be drinking in these years.

It’s not 2014, sure, but something will give eventually—Walker, Cook, and definitely Latrell all have the talent to lead a club to glory and have proven they can get within touching distance of the big dance, or even in it, year after year after year. And now with another year under Demetriou, things can only get brighter.

There are some things looming, including Cook and Walker’s ages, but with the lower half of the competition shuffling so much, keeping consistency via re-signing the coach and key players in the spine can prove invaluable.

Last year’s finish: 7th, 14 wins and 10 losses

Last ten NRL campaigns: 7th (Prelim), 3rd (Runners-up), 6th (Prelim), 3rd (Prelim), 3rd (Prelim), 12th, 12th, 7th (Qualifying), 3rd (Premiers), 2nd (Prelim)

Predicted Round 1 lineup

1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Isaiah Tass
4. Campbell Graham
5. Izaac Thompson
6. Cody Walker
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Damien Cook
10. Davvy Moale
11. Keaon Koloamatangi
12. Jai Arrow
13. Cameron Murray
14. Siliva Havili
15. Tom Burgess
16. Jacob Host
17. Hame Sele

Coach: Jason Demetriou

Biggest losses: Mark Nicholls Biggest gains: N/A

How 2023 is looking for South Sydney

Things are looking great for the Bunnies heading into their next campaign. A blistering (in all senses of the word) hit out in Mudgee against the St George Illawarra Dragons saw the Rabbitohs reclaim the Charity Shield. It was a performance that will buoy the squad heading into round one—every star fired in the 42-24 scoreline that, in the end, flattered the Dragons.

The Souths attack is one of the best in the comp, especially whenever Latrell hits form.

There’s only one big question mark: errors. Last season, the Bunnies struggled to execute many of their long-ranging plays, opting to go for the 50/50 passes. Sometimes it coughed up big rewards. Other times it just coughed up the ball.

Like the Raiders, the Rabbitohs also struggled to get the engine really rolling over early last year. It wasn’t until a round 15 wake-up call where they got battered by an ordinary Dragons side that they really roared to life. By then they could only collect a seventh-place finish, but Souths looked like a top-four contender after that.

If we see a similar Souths side emerge out of the gates early with Demetriou now another year into the job, then you can add the Rabbitohs into the true 2023 title hopefuls alongside a chosen few.

Predicted 2023 finish: 5th

First five: Sharks (A), Panthers (A), Roosters (A), Sea Eagles (H), Storm (H)

TopSport odds: Premiers $12, Make Top 4: $2.60, Make Final 8: $1.45, Miss The Top 8: $2.70

Pass mark: Make it back to the preliminary finals Download Our Free NRL App

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