LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
South Sydney's recent $25 million move to a new training facility at Heffron Park has ignited controversy among fans, who are raising concerns about a potential 'Heffron curse' as injury woes mount within the team.
The Rabbitohs transitioned from their longtime base at Redfern Oval to this new center of excellence in 2023, coinciding with a troubling increase in player injuries leading up to the NRL's Magic Round.
The latest casualty is veteran player Jack Wighton, who was initially set to play against Newcastle but has now been sidelined for at least four weeks due to a calf injury.
He joins a growing list of Rabbitohs players on the injury list, which includes captain Cody Walker, Jamie Humphreys, Cam Murray, and Alex Johnston.
Superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell is also out due to a suspension for the Knights clash, prompting coach Wayne Bennett to give Lewis Dodd his initial start in the halves.
Fans have been especially vocal about Wighton's injury, questioning whether the new training facility or the club's high-performance staff could be contributing factors.
Wighton's injury follows a series of misfortunes, including Walker's five-week absence due to a calf strain sustained after previous hamstring issues.
Both Mitchell and Murray also faced injuries during pre-season, with Murray now ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Other players like Tevita Tatola and Campbell Graham have experienced injury concerns too.
Despite the rising calls for an explanation regarding the so-called 'Heffron curse,' Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly previously stated there is no correlation between their training facilities and the injury toll.
"We actually got the playing surface checked by independent specialists three weeks ago, and it was perfect," he noted.
"Some of the soft-tissue injuries we had last pre-season were not even at Heffron Park.
They happened when we were training at Redfern before Christmas whilst Heffron was unavailable."
As the team struggles with injuries, the frustration among fans continues to grow, with many looking for accountability from the club.