Act of Squad: Rabbitohs predicted team and 2026 overview

It may seem unlikely to label a team that finished last season in 14th place as contenders for the premiership, especially with minimal high-profile acquisitions. However, the South Sydney Rabbitohs possess one of the strongest rosters in the NRL if their key players remain healthy.

Last season, captain Cameron Murray played just 1 match, while hooker Brandon Smith featured in 5, prop Tevita Tatola in 9, and backs Cody Walker, Campbell Graham, and Latrell Mitchell managed only 11 appearances each, totaling just 48 matches among them for the Rabbitohs.

All these players are representative stars eager for a successful 2026 under the guidance of master coach Wayne Bennett, who has the distinction of being the longest-serving and most successful coach in the sport's history.

Throughout his illustrious career, which began in Canberra in 1987, Bennett has secured six premierships with the Broncos, one with the Dragons, and reached the grand final three additional times, including with Souths in 2021. Despite this impressive history, he faced one of his toughest seasons in 2025, marked by the Rabbitohs' record of only nine victories.

Nevertheless, a silver lining from a challenging season was the emergence of young talents Jye Gray, Jamie Humphreys, Tallis Duncan, Lachlan Hubner, Peter Mamouzolos, Tyrone Munro, and Ashton Ward.

These rookies demonstrated their abilities at the NRL level, with Gray's promising performance anticipated to facilitate Mitchell's transition from fullback to center. This strategic shift is poised to establish one of the most formidable left edges in the game, featuring Mitchell, Walker, dynamic second-rower David Fifita, and winger Alex Johnston, who is just three tries away from becoming the highest tryscorer in premiership history.