Humphreys set to hold No.7 spot when Souths meet Ilias

Yahoo

10-03-2025

Lewis Dodd, the man who led South Sydney to push Lachlan Ilias out the door, looks set to be snubbed for selection when the Rabbitohs face their former half for the first time in the NRL.
Jamie Humphreys trained at halfback in Monday's opposed session after starring in Souths' round-one defeat of the Dolphins, which a suspended Dodd missed.
"Obviously getting thrown in at halfback was a step up and (Humphreys) took it with both hands and excelled," said Bunnies fullback Jye Gray.
Humphreys had been playing only his second NRL game and was expected to start the season behind Englishman Dodd in the halfback pecking order.
But ex-St Helens No.7 Dodd lined up with the reserves on Monday, returning from the suspension he incurred during a trial match.
Humphreys stayed later than Dodd to consult with the coaching staff during the Rabbitohs' field session, and took on more kicking than the Englishman.
Dodd wore a rehabilitation singlet as he manages a minor hand injury.
But he is considered available for selection in Saturday's clash with St George Illawarra and participated in a weights session later on Monday.
Barring a last-minute change of heart from coach Wayne Bennett, it appears Humphreys will be named as Cody Walker's halves partner to face the Dragons.
Former Manly prospect Humphreys has become a fast favourite with his teammates for his calm demeanour and athletic physique.
"He looks like Iron Man," said second-rower Keaon Koloamatangi.
"He's really good, he's not much of a talker off the field but on the field he talks a lot and mainly leads with his actions.
"Being the halfback of the Rabbitohs, you need to step up and be a really big focal point of the team. He did a great job in his first game. He's improving each week."
The bench was lovin' Jamie's first try in the red & green ❤️💚 pic.twitter.com/zZM8XqJ7CY
— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) February 22, 2025
Koloamatangi reckons burly halfback Humphreys would have the whole Rabbitohs squad covered in an arm-wrestle.
"No one will beat him," he said.
Humphreys made a point to approach the media pack that watched training on Monday and shook every journalist's hand as he introduced himself.
"He's actually a really quiet guy around the change rooms but whenever you talk to him, he's really polite," Gray said.
"He's calm and composed out on the footy field."
After four seasons and 53 games for Souths, Ilias was forced out the door after struggling to spark the club in their post-Adam Reynolds era.
Ilias was quiet in the Dragons' 28-20 round-loss to Canterbury, and Koloamatangi warned he will be up against it facing his former teammates.
"We talk pretty much daily, he's still one of my close mates," the second-rower said.
"I'll still talk to him until Saturday, then I'll probably try to rip his head off. That's how it is in footy."
The Rabbitohs look set to call Fletcher Myers into their backline after winger Tyrone Munro suffered a collarbone injury in the defeat of the Dolphins.
Bayleigh Bentley-Hape could make his NRL debut as centre Jack Wighton accepts a one-match suspension for his grade-two careless high tackle charge.
With backline options Euan Aitken and Alex Johnston still injured, Bentley-Hape trained on the opposite wing to Myers on Monday after scoring two tries playing in the NSW Cup on the weekend.