In amongst the plethora of SEN radio content, podcasts, web pages, instagram accounts and the like, I stumbled over a post recently on the ‘Zero Tackle’ web page, titled ‘Five burning questions for every NRL club in 2026’
The good folk at ‘Zero Tackle’ listed the following questions for the red and green:
- How can Souths get the best out of David Fifita?
- Will Jye Gray be able to prove himself as ‘the’ fullback?
- Will Latrell Mitchell return to the form he showed in Roosters colours at centre?
- Can the club avoid another injury plagued season?
- How monumental will the signing of Fifita be for their season?
Apart from questions one and five above being rather similar, respectfully, I put forward the following list, as well as commenting on each of the above.
Rabbit in the Vineyard’s five burning issues for South Sydney in 2026:
‘The spine’ part 1: who will emerge as South Sydney’s best option at halfback?
‘The spine’ part 2: at 36 years of age, is Cody Walker going to have significant influence on games?
Will Latrell play more than 11 games, ie the number he played in 2024 and 2025?
Will key aspects of the ‘how’ – including defence, attacking the high ball, kicking game (both long and short) and repeat sets – improve?
Can Wayne Bennett, who prides himself on ‘man management’, get the best out of South Sydney’s out of balance salary cap: including Latrell, Cody, Wighton, Graham, Brandon ‘The Cheese’ Smith, and the recruit, Dave Fifita?
Burning issue 1: Who plays halfback? Let’s be serious … since Adam Reynolds played the last of his 231 games for South Sydney in the 2021 NRL Grand Final loss to Penrith at Lang Park, the position has not been a strength for the Rabbitohs. This season, 2025’s first choice number seven Jamie Humphreys is suspended for the first two rounds. The muscular Humphreys was solid last year, without being spectacular, the expensive UK import Lewis Dodd is gone, Jonah Glover broke his jaw after only three minutes of the Charity Shield, leaving Ashton Ward to run on against the Dolphins on Sunday. Young teacher aide Ashton Ward is a great prospect. He’s worth persevering with, regardless of Humphreys’ availability. Ward has a kicking game, is an organiser, and has a ‘never say die’ attitude in defence.
Burning issue 2: 36-year-old Cody at 5/8th in 2026. The signs were not great late in the 2025 season. Returning from injury, Cody played several games off the bench. What also concerns me are the recent quotes from Cody around playing on in 2027. In a similar vein to both David Warner and Usman Kahwaja, it seems Cody is going to ‘see how his body is after ten rounds then decide about 2027 accordingly’. Interesting. One can only hope South Sydney are planning for life without Cody.
Burning issue 3: Latrell in now in his seventh season at South Sydney. During his four seasons at the Roosters, he averaged 24 games a season and won two premiership rings. Being objective, Latrell’s contribution at South Sydney has been disappointing. 2022: 14 games, 2021: 17 games (suspended for the finals), 2022: 17 games, 2023: 16 games, 2024 and 2025: both 11 game seasons. Latrell will need to reverse a downward trend to contribute as he needs to in 2026. Over to you, coach Bennett.
Burning issue 4: various aspects of ‘the how’: Like any Head Coach, Bennett hires his own ‘backroom’. I will continue to say: for Wayne Bennett, turning South Sydney’s fortunes around is his biggest coaching challenge in a very, very long career. Bennett is 76 years old. This Sunday’s NRL clash against his most recent club, the Dolphins, in Brisbane will be his 1306th as coach. Thanks to the incredible Rugby League Project web page for that statistic. Bennett and his staff certainly have the wheelbarrow in front of them: South Sydney’s defence was not up to standard at times in 2025, ditto 2024. Add to the defence: willingness to attack the high ball, the kicking game, and general organisation (example: repeat sets).
Burning issue 5: refer to parts of the previous section, however the ‘skinny coach’, as Roy Masters calls Wayne Bennett, has a huge task ahead in two areas: managing a longish list of players who have not played many games at their previous clubs, including Brandon ‘The Cheese’ Smith and the recruit David Fifita. Add to that list Cody and Latrell, as well as Campbell Graham (remember him?) and we are nearing half a rugby league team. South Sydney’s 2025 injury toll was a frequently mentioned topic, some even throw out the ‘curse of Heffron’ line – South Sydney’s state of the art centre at Maroubra – as the issue. “Go back to Redfern!” some of the cardinal and myrtle diehards chant …
Of the ‘Zero Tackle’ five burning issues list, two focus on the recruit, David Fifita. He is certainly a risk. Much like the annual off-season comments about Latrell (he’s fit, he’s lost weight, he’s happy) Fifita needs to prove his worth on the field, consistently. He’s had injury issues, played eight NRL games in 2025, and last played State of Origin in 2023.
Jye Gray: in my mind, Gray has already proved he is the fullback for this team. Latrell has finally been moved to the centres, his Origin and Kangaroos position, where he won premierships for his previous club.
Injuries: as a rusted on South Sydney football club member, one can only hope that the administration of the club has objectively reviewed all aspects of training and rehabilitation and recovery.
Already this season: Jai Arrow is on the injured ‘indefinitely’ list, and Brandon ‘The Cheese’ Smith has a calf injury.
The ‘Zero Tackle’ article:
Five burning questions for every NRL club in 2026
Wayne Bennett’s coaching history list:
Wayne Bennett – Coaching Career – List of Games – RLP
South Sydney full weekend results:
U/17 Lisa Fiaola Cup Canterbury-Bankstown 34 d South Sydney 4
U/19 Tasha Gale Cup Canterbury-Bankstown 42 d South Sydney 10
U16 Harrold Matthews Cup South Sydney 26 d Canterbury-Bankstown 22
U/19 SG Ball Cup South Sydney 38 d Canterbury-Bankstown 10 (4 wins, undefeated)
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK
Gibson ‘The Dirtman’ 2023 Barossa Shiraz
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Russel Hansen
Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country.
He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder.
He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters.
Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
RITV – so many burning questions/issues/worries/hopes/frustrations. Regardless of your club, perhaps. On paper the Rabbitohs look very good, but age, injuries and unknowns make life hell for the average fan. GMS! Let’s see who’s feeling a bit better by the end of the weekend.
Hard to believe it is season no7 for Latrell at the bunnies. Also hard to believe Fifita has been so disappointing in the NRL. I recall him scoring 3 (i think) tries against the Broncos at Robina shortly after signing with the Titans. It looked like men against boys. I remember thinking it was money well spent. What on earth has happened?
For me, the burning question is, in which round of 2026 will Alex Johnston become the leading try scorer in NRL (& its predecessors) history.
The other question is how much did Blake get paid to don a wig in the Budget Direct commercial? Heaps, I hope!