The South Sydney Rabbitohs arrive in 2026 looking for redemption after a campaign ruined by injury.
At their best, and more importantly, fittest, they should be able to find it as well.
The fact they didn’t pick up the wooden spoon in 2025 is actually something of a minor miracle.
Souths broke every record known to the NRL for the number of weeks spent sidelined across their top squad, but breakout seasons for a number of youngsters, as well as questions never answered properly in 2025, mean there is plenty for coach Wayne Bennett to work out heading into the new year.
Here are the key selection questions for the Rabbitohs ahead of 2026.
Does Jye Gray bump Latrell Mitchell from fullback?
Jye Gray was one of the key reasons South Sydney were able to stay off the very bottom of the ladder in 2025, with the star of the future announcing his arrival as an NRL weapon.
He might be one of the smallest players in the game, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in work rate, talent and footwork.
The expectation is he will start in the number one jumper this year, pushing Latrell Mitchell out to the centres.
That in itself is dangerous. Mitchell potentially playing on the outside of Cody Walker and David Fifita, with Alex Johnston on the wing? South Sydney’s left edge could break every try-scoring record known to this competition in 2026.
But there is a world where Gray tails off. Second year syndrome is a thing, Gray’s size is a worry, and Mitchell is good enough to put pressure on.
If things aren’t going well for South Sydney early, don’t be surprised if Wayne Bennett flips this back around.
What position does Campbell Graham play?
Mitchell being in the centres creates an intriguing predicament for the Maroubra-based outfit, although not one that the club couldn’t have seen coming the moment they signed Jack Wighton from the Canberra Raiders.
Utilising the former Clive Churchill Medallist in the centres always carried risk for Graham if Mitchell was ever forced to shuffle back there.
While Graham himself has had major injury issues in recent seasons, he was, at one point, an almost guarantee for the Origin side. He is one of the best defensive centres in the competition both in vision and in work rate, and so his move to the wing in 2026 will raise some eyebrows.
Ultimately, he will do no worse on the wing, he is just that sort of player, but there is a train of thought which suggests South Sydney will miss a trick by not having him in the three-quarters.
What is the makeup of the halves?
The halves were something of a revolving door for South Sydney, although, most of the side was so that’s not exactly the largest of surprises.
Cody Walker, if he can stay fit, is the obvious option to start at five-eighth, but there is no guarantee he will manage to play 24 games, or a number even close to that – in fact, at his age and given track record, you’d almost consider it unlikely.
At full strength, it is expected Jamie Humphreys will again join him. Humphreys became South Sydney’s surprise halfback in 2025 after the club spent the pre-season seemingly preparing for failed English import Lewis Dodd to take the position.
Dodd is now back in England, while the Rabbitohs will likely look at Jayden Sullivan as the most likely player to come into the side at either position. Beyond that, they have signed impressive NSW Cup half Jonah Glover from the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Who plays hooker?
The Rabbitohs are stacked in the number nine role heading into 2026.
The arrival of Bronson Garlick from the Melbourne Storm adds to the selection question which already had Brandon Smith and Peter Mamouzelos unclear of their roles.
Garlick hasn’t had any time as a first-choice dummy half, but he has done a more than acceptable job when called upon to replace Harry Grant in recent seasons, and could well be in contention for a spot this year.
There are reservations around Mamouzelos, particularly in his first contact defence, and it’s tipped by some he could be the player to miss out, with Smith starting and Garlick coming from the bench.
Could be a big watch during the pre-season trials.
What does a full strength pack mean for Tallis Duncan and Lachlan Hubner?
Exactly where Tallis Duncan and Lachlan Hubner fit in this year is slightly up in the air.
At the start of 2025, with Cameron Murray set to miss the entirety of the campaign, Duncan was tipped as the most likely replacement at lock, but Wayne Bennett pulled a surprise.
Duncan turned himself into more of an edge, playing a mix of second-row and centre, while Hubner became the lock.
Duncan’s transformation and obvious talent means he will likely be in the second-row with David Fifita on the other side of the park, while Hubner may be reduced to a bench role, but one would expect he will still feature heavily throughout 2026.
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