Almanac Rugby League – RITV: Hope Statements – South Sydney 2025

 

 

 

Great word, hope.

Hope is the 2025 theme word for Redeemer Lutheran School here in the Barossa Valley.

Hope is mentioned 134 times in the Bible.

Mrs Hansen and I have talked about ‘hope’ in 2025 in the Redeemer School theme context.

On a day where (scan results pending) it would appear South Sydney captain Cameron Murray, after whom the family golden retriever is named, has sustained a season ending achilles tendon injury, before the season proper has kicked off, a series of HOPE statements before Saturday’s Charity Shield versus Damien Cook’s new team on Saturday is very necessary.

With Round 1 looming large, here are fourteen HOPE statements for South Sydney, 2025 (a starting side, plus one fresh reserve!):

 

Hope: that the new halfback hope, Lewis Dodd, recruited from St Helens (UK Super League) lives up to at least some, hopefully more than some, of the hype. He was dropped from the first team after signing with Souths. He is on a three-year contract.

 

Hope: that the 35-year-old Cody Walker’s troublesome calf somehow miraculously heals – twelve months ago to the day, Cody was in doubt for the historic *Vegas match – due to a calf injury.

*Venue clarification: Las Vegas, USA, rather than Brisvegas, Queensland.

 

Hope: that long-term injured representative centre Campbell Graham (Souths have two representative centres on their books – Latrell and Campbell) returns from a second injury setback, this time to his hand, after a sternum injury kept him out for the entire 2024 season,

 

Hope: That prop Junior Tetola can also return from long-term injury and regain form immediately! With Thomas Burgess now plying his trade in his homeland in the UK Super League, the size of Souths’ forward pack is again under scrutiny.

 

Hope: Latrell: what to do with the human headline?
Games played, as a centre for Easts 2016-2019: played 96, missed 8, (92% of matches); premierships: 2. For Souths 2020-2024: played 75, missed 58 (56% of matches), premierships: 0. Missed 2021 Grand Final due to suspension.

In 2022, at considerable expense, after more injury, Souths sent Latrell to the U.S. to work with ‘reconditioning specialist’ guru Bill Knowles. Today, Latrell again injured his hamstring at training.

 

Hope: that the defence improves – apart from a solid month in mid-season 2024, Souths defence was less than impressive. A cornerstone of Bennett coached teams in the past, the ‘D’ in 2025 will be the yardstick of the attitude, effort and fitness of the team.

 

Hope: with Damian Cook now back at St George-Illawarra, the hooking position is certainly looking like an area of concern. Will Mamouzelos take this opportunity? Could it be the Manly recruit with the famous rugby league surname, Humphreys? Souths need someone to stand up, big time!

 

Hope: for more effective on field leadership and direction – Souths 2024 injuries were well documented, however the team still contained Origin players Cook, Walker, Koloamatangi, Wighton, Arrow and Latrell (sometimes) as well as English international Thomas Burgess. For all this experience, the team did appear lost at times.

 

Hope: that Jai Arrow, a Queensland State of Origin forward, is available more often in 2025. Arrow is the ultimate competitor – plays tough for every minute he is on the field. This has resulted in chronic shoulder issues. Souths need him firing every week.

 

Hope: that goal kicking improves. When Latrell is unavailable (through injury or suspension) Souths seem to lack a reliable back up goal kicker. I saw one Souths game live in 2024, versus the Dolphins in Brisbane. Some of stand-in goal kicker Cody Walker’s attempts that evening were … below par, to say the least. Wayne has enlisted the guidance of Australian round ball football royalty Graham Arnold to improve Souths’ kicking game. Over to you, Arnie!

 

Hope: that in defence, Souths players show more urgency more often in attacking the ‘high ball’ from opposition kickers. (See notes regarding defence at point 6)

 

Hope: that kicking in general play, short kicking game in attack, or for repeat sets of six tackles, including the much maligned and low percentage play ‘short drop kicks’, also improves. If Latrell played in his Origin position in clubland, Souths (general play) kicking game would be much improved.

 

Hope: for Alex Johnston. The club favourite ‘AJ’ also has an Achilles problem. He is 30 years old and certainly not the speedster he was in his debut year (2014) and the early years of his 227 NRL game career. Johnston (195 tries) is within reach of one of the famous rugby league records, Ken Irvine’s all-time try-scoring record of 212. Earlier this week, Souths extended the contract of young gun winger Tyrone Munro, sparking speculation around the futures of Johnson and Cody Walker.

 

Hope: the return of the master coach Wayne Bennett has the desired impact. Bennett has coached 1106 games, including 936 NRL matches. Re-building Souths as a competitive team, after missing the finals for the past two seasons. The massive slide started after leading the competition in Round 12 2023, plummeting to subsequently lose 9 of their last 13 games of that forgettable season.

I believe this second stint at Maroubra is Wayne’s greatest coaching challenge. Round 1 for Souths is the Wayne Bennett Cup: Friday night football at Lang Park in Brisbane, against Wayne’s most recent previous club, the Dolphins. Great marketing NRL, and no doubt great ratings for Channel nine and Kayo! This season will be Bennett’s biggest challenge on several levels. Will 2014 Grand Final hero Sam Burgess, one of Wayne’s favourite people, be front and centre of the next succession plan? If so, here’s hoping for a better outcome than the Bennett to Demetriou baton change.

 

BAROSSA RED WINE OF THE WEEK

Paisley Wines (Angaston) 2023 ‘6 Strings Tempranillo’

A wonderful Saturday morning at the Mt Pleasant markets – discovering Paisley wines was the highlight, although the bacon and egg roll was also delicious!

Home – Paisley Wines

 

 

 

 

Photos by Russel Hansen

 

Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen

 

 

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