Rabbitohs 2025 preview: Bennett’s big return derailed by injured stars

Things couldn’t be feeling worse for the South Sydney Rabbitohs coming into 2025, which is mighty diabolical to be thinking considering the original Supercoach Wayne Bennett has just returned to the club

There’s plenty of reason for the doom and gloom though, not least the flogging rivals St George Illawarra handed the Bunnies in Mudgee two weekends ago. Souths picked up some points eventually, but really, things only turned around once the Dragons had stacked up enough of a lead to coast home.

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Even before that, there was pain though: Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray were both felled in training, with Murray now out for the year.

Latrell will be back sooner, but nursing any kind of niggle heading into the year is far from ideal.

Then there’s how much of a stinker big Super League recruit Lewis Dodd dropped in the preseason — though this one has been helped slightly by the fact Jamie Humphreys looked exquisite in the minutes he got after Dodd was sin binned and then pulled from the game thanks to the Mudgee heat.

Souths’ biggest worry though is the rest of the roster. Bennett has always been the man to make middling footy players into beasts, but running a finger down the Rabbitohs roster it feels like he may have been slapped with one of the biggest challenges of his very long career. Sean Keppie and Davvy Moale starting as the club’s props should tell you something there; so too the fact that the strike weapon Bennett is turning to off the bench should Cody Walker or Humphreys not sizzle is Jayden Sullivan.

It feels odd to be doubting how much Wayne can do to make a roster into a contender, but The Sporting Base writer just genuinely thinks Souths will struggle without Latrell through the season (with Origin at very least pulling him away). The Cam Murray gut punch only put the icing on the shit cake.

I’d happily swallow my words just to see Bennett pull a bit more magic, but that’s long, long odds this year.

Round 1 side: 1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner Bench: 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola

Coach: Wayne Bennett (first year)

Biggest loss: Damien Cook Biggest gain: Jamie Humphreys, Lewis Dodd

First five: Dolphins (A), Dragons (A), Sharks (A), Panthers (H), Roosters (H)

Last year’s finish: 16th

Predicted 2025 finish: 17th

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TopSport odds: Premiers: $34, Top 4: $6, Final 8: $2.63, Most Losses: $10