2022 Preview: South Sydney Rabbitohs

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Jason Hosken continues our 2022 NRL club preview series, today looking at 2021 Grand Final runners up South Sydney.

With a rookie coach and juniors ripe for the picking, South Sydney's season hinges on how quickly they integrate with the established stars.

As they brace for the post Wayne Bennett era, the rise of Cameron Murray looks set to continue with new coach Jason Demetriou crowning the Blues regular with the Rabbitohs captaincy.

Yet for the untested coach and 24-year-old skipper, it's the void left by Brisbane bound talisman Adam Reynolds that will threaten their sleep the most.

Falling just one game shy of the grand final for three consecutive seasons, Souths finally broke the shackles in 2021 and with a touch of luck in a tense decider could have easily edged past the Panthers for the club's 22nd title.

Still blessed with a core of experienced big names, Souths' season rests on the ability of Bennett's former right-hand man to elevate a host of fresh faced talent. With the likes of Blake Taaffe and new playmaker Lachlan Ilias, Demetriou's reputation at harvesting junior talent will be crucial in the Rabbitohs' push for a fifth consecutive top-four finish.

Anthony Milford's on-again, off-again signing has evaporated, leaving Isaiah Tass (Brisbane), Michael Chee-Kam (Wests Tigers) and Siliva Havili (Canberra) as the new faces of an underwhelming recruitment campaign.

But if the red and green need anyone, it's Latrell Mitchell. In a competition dominated by teams fielding elite fullbacks, injuries and suspension have prevented the dual premiership winner from firing a finals shot in each of his two seasons at Redfern.

With Damien Cook and Cody Walker still central to a potent spine, the addition of Mitchell at the pointy end of the season is a must if Souths fans are to repeat the premiership celebrations of 2014.

Why they'll win it

The Rabbitohs are no strangers to defying the odds.

Mitchell's brain explosion and season ending suspension saw them widely written off before last year's finals. But on grand final night there they were, just a split hair away from hoisting the first trophy awarded outside of Sydney.

Reynolds and Dane Gagai are the big name departures but apart from the loss of Jaydn Su'A to the Dragons, the grand final pack remains the same. And with the likes of Tom Burgess and Jai Arrow coming off the bench, the Rabbitohs' upfront clout still ranks among the best in the competition.

In the halves, Cody Walker's legs should be screaming. But like a modern day Cliff Lyons, the 32-year-old back-to-back George Piggins Medal winner is aging better than a Barossa Valley Shiraz.

And with a bag of tricks complemented by an ever growing maturity, look for Walker to guide his young halves partner to the same lofty heights.

Then there's that lethal left edge. Where the hypnotic combination of Walker and Alex Johnston should see the winger continue to strike at better than a try a game.

And don't discount the at times conservative Damien Cook. If anything, Reynolds' sea change may just free up the Origin hooker to dazzle on a more regular basis.

But in the end, the evolution of Souths' local talent could be about to pay dividends.

Generation Next might be stealing the latest headlines but the team's point of difference could lie in the unassuming Campbell Graham and the power of Keaon Koloamatangi. Now on the cusp of higher honors, their next step in an already formidable lineup may just be enough to take the Redfern boys all the way.

Why they won't

Adam Reynolds and Benji Marshall departed Redfern with plenty of kilometres under the hood, but with over 500 games between them that's a vault load of smarts out the door.

Then there's the small matter of Wayne Bennett's return to Queensland. You only have to look at Anthony Seibold and Danny Buderus to understand just how tough it is to slot into the masters' well worn boots.

Jason Demetriou could well have the goods, but betting on a premiership in his first year is definitely one for the irresponsible.

South Sydney's draw - how their schedule stacks up

Souths kick-off their campaign with road trips to Brisbane and Melbourne. While round 3 won't be any easier against a Roosters side desperate to square up with Latrell Mitchell.

And with Demetriou sweating on the transition of untried combinations, a grand final rematch at Penrith could prove telling in what rounds out a brutal opening month to the Rabbitohs' season.

Rounds 5 to 15 appear much friendlier, with Manly and the Gold Coast the only two sides from last season's finals.

The Origin period scrubs up well too, where selected stars will only miss the round 17 away clash to the Knights.

On the flipside, Demetriou's initiation is riddled with traps. The Sea Eagles aside, Souths meet each of last season's top six teams on two occasions.

And just like the opening month, the closing rounds present just as many headaches. But if the Rabbitohs aren't chasing their tail, then the Eels, Penrith and Roosters inside the final four weeks may yet prove to be the perfect build-up for another tilt at the title.

In terms of travel, home games against Canberra and the Warriors have been relocated to Dubbo and the Sunshine Coast. Overall, a total of five games will be played interstate.

Key players

It's an argument for a rainy day, but Souths fans have every right to believe Latrell Mitchell's absence at the business end of the past two seasons has cost them two premierships.

Entering his third season in the red and green, Mitchell's strength and leadership in the absence of Reynolds and to a lesser extent Marshall is a non-negotiable if Demetriou's side is to repeat the club's mad dash to last season's grand final.

With Cook and Walker still at the helm guiding a relatively young and energetic group, the Rabbitohs are shoe-ins for a fifth successive finals campaign. Though come September, it will be the imposing Taree junior who they will want on board more than any other.

Rookies to watch

Blake Taaffe and Lachlan Ilias are the rookies on everyone's lips but they're just two of seven in the top squad who share a combined tally of just 14 NRL appearances between them.

Taafe is set to retain the No.1 jumper until Mitchell's round 3 return while Ilias, a former junior rugby union representative, is poised to partner Walker in the halves.

Out wide, veteran winger Josh Mansour has a fight on his hands with a stack of speedy talent also eyeing a spot in Demetriou's top 17.

Journeyman Taane Milne and top-grade regular Jaxson Paulo lead the charge for the vacant wing and centre positions, but don't be surprised if at least one of Isaiah Tass, Terrell Kalo Kalo and Zane Bijorac crack a spot as the season unfolds.

Upfront, prop Davvy Moale will be keen to build on his two appearances in 2021, while there's big wraps on Peter Mamouzelos to cover the dummy-half duties.

Player movements

Inbound: Isaiah Tass (Brisbane), Michael Chee-Kam (Wests Tigers), Siliva Havili (Canberra)

Outbound: Adam Reynolds (Brisbane), Jaydn Su'A, Tautau Moga (St Geo Illa), Dane Gagai (Newcastle), Josh Cook, Braidon Burns (Canterbury), Patrick Mago (Wigan - UK), Troy Dargan, Brock Gardner, Steven Marsters, Dean Hawkins (released), Benji Marshall (retirement)

Best 17

1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Campbell Graham
4. Jaxson Paulo
5. Taane Milne
6. Cody Walker
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Tom Burgess
9. Damien Cook
10. Tevita Tatola
11. Jacob Host
12. Keaon Koloamatangi
13. Cameron Murray

14. Jai Arrow
15. Mark Nicholls
16. Liam Knight
17. Blake Taaffe

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