Latest news with #Rabbitohs
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Rabbitohs' ‘$2 million mistake' exposes the NRL club's major recruitment issue
The Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd has been labelled a '$2 million mistake' as he prepares to start at halfback for the first time in the NRL. Dodd was named in the No. 7 jersey for South Sydney's clash with the Sharks on Saturday night. In his four previous NRL games this season, Dodd came off the bench in three games and started at five-eighth in the other. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Even with his hefty $650,000 salary, Dodd has been regularly overlooked for selection by coach Wayne Bennett, even amid an injury crisis at the club in 2025. NRL 360 co-host Dan Ginnane wondered whether Dodd had been signed by the Rabbitohs solely because he kicked the match-winning field goal for St Helens in the World Club Challenge back in 2023, when they prevailed 13-12 over Penrith. The 23-year-old Dodd is contracted with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2027 season on a three-year deal. 'Is there a chance that Souths pushed the button when he kicked that field goal in the World Club Challenge, which is really, let's be honest, in our part of the world, it's a glorified exhibition game?' Ginnane asked. 'He kicks a field goal, they win 13-12, is that a $2 million field goal that he kicked?' Panellist Andrew Webster agreed the Dodd signing was a mysterious one. 'It is one of the more bizarre recruitments, really,' Webster added. 'I've heard from people both in the UK and other recruiters here in the NRL that they were surprised that Souths signed him and threw that amount of money at him. 'Look, it's a $2 million mistake. 'I've heard of other Super League clubs being interested in getting him but they want to be offering some pretty heavy coin for Lewis Dodd to want to move away from the $700,000 a year contract he's on.' Host Braith Anasta said the Rabbitohs' recruitment has left a lot to be desired. 'I really think they've got to change a lot about their recruitment, Souths,' Anasta said. 'I think they've got to take a different direction, moving forward. I say this because, you look at their NSW Cup team, they're coming last, their Jersey Flegg second last, their junior competition is nowhere near where it used to be.' Webster believes South Sydney need to add to their stocks in the forwards. 'They need some middle forwards. That's what they've been missing all year. Through injury and form, they haven't had that at all this year, and where they are on the ladder reflects it,' Webster added. Ginnane pointed out that Latrell Mitchell has missed a lot of games for the Rabbitohs since joining the club. 'Latrell plays 14 games a year. It's fact. He's played 85 games in six years at Souths, so he's going to miss 10 games,' Ginnane added. The Rabbitohs are currently missing a staggering number of players, worth over $6 million, in an injury crisis. Mitchell ($1.1 million), Cameron Murray ($1 million), Keaon Koloamatangi ($650,000), Campbell Graham ($650,000), Cody Walker ($600,000), Brandon Smith ($550,000), Davvy Moale ($500,000), Peter Mamouzelos ($300,000), Jamie Humphreys ($250,000), Jayden Sullivan ($200,000), Mikaele Ravalawa ($165,000) and Bayleigh Bentley-Hape ($120,000) are all currently sidelined.
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘It's pretty laughable': Worrying stat exposes South Sydney's horror injury toll
South Sydney veteran Jai Arrow says his side's unprecedented injury crisis has become 'laughable' ahead of Saturday's showdown with the Sharks where he'll be just one of two guys to have played every game for the club this season. The Rabbitohs are in the midst of one of the worst injury runs we've ever seen, with Cody Walker (eight games), Latrell Mitchell (10) and Campbell Graham (11) just some of the luckless stars, while skipper Cam Murray is yet to play this year after rupturing his achilles in the pre-season. Arrow, Tallis Duncan and Keaon Koloamatangi are the only Souths stars to have played all 18 games this season, but the latter won't play again in 2025 after he suffered a serious ankle injury in the loss to Penrith. He'll join Jamie Humphreys and Peter Mamouzelos in the casualty ward after the spine players suffered head knocks last Friday that should mean Lewis Dodd starts at halfback. Keaon Koloamatangi will go for scans on a right ankle injury after getting his boot caught in the turf during a tackle. Mechanism involved foot turning to the outside - brings concern for syndesmosis injury. Was said to be the initial concern from the sideline - considering… — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 18, 2025 'It's pretty laughable at the moment, the amount of injuries we have. But you're dealt the cards you're dealt,' Arrow said at the launch of the Beer, Footy and Food Festival that will be held at Henson Park on Saturday. 'It is what it is, we've just got to keep turning up for each other, keep turning up to training and hopefully results will turn. It was funny this morning, I went in and saw the physio and the rehab crew, there's a pretty solid 1-13 (of guys missing). 'I remember walking into the club the other day and finding out we lost Keaon, we lost Pete Mamouzelos and Jamie both to head knocks and Keaon to his ankle. I just started giggling to myself, to be honest. 'It's pretty crazy and pretty laughable with the amount of people we have missing at the moment. But it is what it is, all you've got to do is keep turning up and enjoying each other's company and turn up for each other on the field.' It's a relief that Arrow has stayed fit after his injury troubles in previous years, with the workhorse putting it down to his simple midweek routine. 'I think I'm the only one in the squad that's played every game so far. I'm just glad touch wood that I haven't had any niggles, I haven't had any essentially that's pulled me from playing and training,' he said. 'I've been in and around the squad the whole year. I'm just happy I'm playing. 'I haven't really changed much other than probably avoiding the physios more than I have been. Realistically, I'm one that likes to get going on the field more than off the field. 'I wouldn't say I'm the best person with prep. My prep is sitting down, having a coffee with my boys and having a good yarn and then when I'm out on the field I start to tick them over then.' The Rabbitohs are fighting to avoid the wooden spoon but could get Murray back in the final few rounds of a season that started with so much promise under the guidance of the returning Wayne Bennett. 'It's funny, I think back and we were 4-1 at one stage, but I'm not one to dwell on the past. It is what it is,' he said. 'The most important thing is that we've got to have faith in each other and just enjoy this next six weeks of playing footy together. 'Someone like Cam, he won't play unless he's ready and I know he wants to play footy as well. He's obviously missed a fairly big chunk of footy. 'I know he's someone who wants to play for his teammates, I know he's someone who wants to play for the club. He's our skipper, our leader. 'I'm sure he'll make the right decision whether he comes back and plays or not, but I'm pretty confident we'll be seeing him back in weeks to come in a Rabbitohs jersey.'
The Advertiser
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Souths' Arrow can only laugh as yet another injured
Jai Arrow can only laugh at how bad South Sydney's injury crisis has become as halfback Jamie Humphreys becomes the latest Rabbitoh sidelined. A head knock has ruled Humphreys out of Saturday's clash against Cronulla, so English recruit Lewis Dodd looks set for a second start at halfback in a season spent out of Wayne Bennett's favour. Humphreys joins Latrell Mitchell, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cam Murray, Pete Mamouzelos, Jayden Sullivan, Cody Walker and Campbell Graham among others in a packed casualty ward at 15th-placed Souths. "This morning, I went in and saw the physio and the rehab crew, there's a pretty solid 1-13 (team) there," Arrow said at the media launch for Saturday's Beer Footy Food Festival at Henson Park. The ankle injury Koloamatangi suffered against Penrith will mean Arrow finishes the Sharks clash as one of only two Rabbitohs to have played every game this year - along with Tallis Duncan. For comparison, Cronulla have had seven players feature in every game so far. Arrow could only laugh when he heard the club had been struck by even more misfortune out of last week's loss to the Panthers, which effectively ended the club's finals hopes. "I just started giggling to myself, to be honest," Arrow said. "It's pretty crazy and pretty laughable with the amount of people we have missing at the moment. "But it is what it is, all you've got to do is keep turning up and enjoying each other's company and turn up for each other on the field. That's all we can do, really." Arrow says there's been no secret sauce for staying fit; if anything, he's the type to take a less-is-more approach to his preparation. "My prep is sitting down, having a coffee with my boys and having a good yarn," he said. "I'm just glad, touchwood, that I haven't had any niggles." The last time the Rabbitohs met the Sharks, they were in the midst of a promising start to the season, with the 27-12 loss in round three their only defeat across the first five rounds. Arrow has resisted temptation to ponder what might have been this year for Souths, who are now fighting to avoid a first wooden spoon since 2006. "It's funny, I think back, we were 4-1 at one stage,' he said. "But I'm not one to dwell on the past. It is what it is. The most important thing is that we've got to have faith in each other and just enjoy this next six weeks of playing footy together." Arrow expected Murray would soon make his return from the achilles injury he suffered in the pre-season, with the NSW representative easing back into field work at training. Pundits have questioned why the club would risk bring Murray back from such a delicate injury so late in a campaign destined to finish without finals, but Arrow held no concerns for his captain. "Someone like Cam, he won't play unless he's ready," Arrow said. "I'm sure he'll make the right decision whether he comes back and plays or not but I'm pretty confident we'll be seeing him back in weeks to come in a Rabbitohs jersey." Jai Arrow can only laugh at how bad South Sydney's injury crisis has become as halfback Jamie Humphreys becomes the latest Rabbitoh sidelined. A head knock has ruled Humphreys out of Saturday's clash against Cronulla, so English recruit Lewis Dodd looks set for a second start at halfback in a season spent out of Wayne Bennett's favour. Humphreys joins Latrell Mitchell, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cam Murray, Pete Mamouzelos, Jayden Sullivan, Cody Walker and Campbell Graham among others in a packed casualty ward at 15th-placed Souths. "This morning, I went in and saw the physio and the rehab crew, there's a pretty solid 1-13 (team) there," Arrow said at the media launch for Saturday's Beer Footy Food Festival at Henson Park. The ankle injury Koloamatangi suffered against Penrith will mean Arrow finishes the Sharks clash as one of only two Rabbitohs to have played every game this year - along with Tallis Duncan. For comparison, Cronulla have had seven players feature in every game so far. Arrow could only laugh when he heard the club had been struck by even more misfortune out of last week's loss to the Panthers, which effectively ended the club's finals hopes. "I just started giggling to myself, to be honest," Arrow said. "It's pretty crazy and pretty laughable with the amount of people we have missing at the moment. "But it is what it is, all you've got to do is keep turning up and enjoying each other's company and turn up for each other on the field. That's all we can do, really." Arrow says there's been no secret sauce for staying fit; if anything, he's the type to take a less-is-more approach to his preparation. "My prep is sitting down, having a coffee with my boys and having a good yarn," he said. "I'm just glad, touchwood, that I haven't had any niggles." The last time the Rabbitohs met the Sharks, they were in the midst of a promising start to the season, with the 27-12 loss in round three their only defeat across the first five rounds. Arrow has resisted temptation to ponder what might have been this year for Souths, who are now fighting to avoid a first wooden spoon since 2006. "It's funny, I think back, we were 4-1 at one stage,' he said. "But I'm not one to dwell on the past. It is what it is. The most important thing is that we've got to have faith in each other and just enjoy this next six weeks of playing footy together." Arrow expected Murray would soon make his return from the achilles injury he suffered in the pre-season, with the NSW representative easing back into field work at training. Pundits have questioned why the club would risk bring Murray back from such a delicate injury so late in a campaign destined to finish without finals, but Arrow held no concerns for his captain. "Someone like Cam, he won't play unless he's ready," Arrow said. "I'm sure he'll make the right decision whether he comes back and plays or not but I'm pretty confident we'll be seeing him back in weeks to come in a Rabbitohs jersey." Jai Arrow can only laugh at how bad South Sydney's injury crisis has become as halfback Jamie Humphreys becomes the latest Rabbitoh sidelined. A head knock has ruled Humphreys out of Saturday's clash against Cronulla, so English recruit Lewis Dodd looks set for a second start at halfback in a season spent out of Wayne Bennett's favour. Humphreys joins Latrell Mitchell, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cam Murray, Pete Mamouzelos, Jayden Sullivan, Cody Walker and Campbell Graham among others in a packed casualty ward at 15th-placed Souths. "This morning, I went in and saw the physio and the rehab crew, there's a pretty solid 1-13 (team) there," Arrow said at the media launch for Saturday's Beer Footy Food Festival at Henson Park. The ankle injury Koloamatangi suffered against Penrith will mean Arrow finishes the Sharks clash as one of only two Rabbitohs to have played every game this year - along with Tallis Duncan. For comparison, Cronulla have had seven players feature in every game so far. Arrow could only laugh when he heard the club had been struck by even more misfortune out of last week's loss to the Panthers, which effectively ended the club's finals hopes. "I just started giggling to myself, to be honest," Arrow said. "It's pretty crazy and pretty laughable with the amount of people we have missing at the moment. "But it is what it is, all you've got to do is keep turning up and enjoying each other's company and turn up for each other on the field. That's all we can do, really." Arrow says there's been no secret sauce for staying fit; if anything, he's the type to take a less-is-more approach to his preparation. "My prep is sitting down, having a coffee with my boys and having a good yarn," he said. "I'm just glad, touchwood, that I haven't had any niggles." The last time the Rabbitohs met the Sharks, they were in the midst of a promising start to the season, with the 27-12 loss in round three their only defeat across the first five rounds. Arrow has resisted temptation to ponder what might have been this year for Souths, who are now fighting to avoid a first wooden spoon since 2006. "It's funny, I think back, we were 4-1 at one stage,' he said. "But I'm not one to dwell on the past. It is what it is. The most important thing is that we've got to have faith in each other and just enjoy this next six weeks of playing footy together." Arrow expected Murray would soon make his return from the achilles injury he suffered in the pre-season, with the NSW representative easing back into field work at training. Pundits have questioned why the club would risk bring Murray back from such a delicate injury so late in a campaign destined to finish without finals, but Arrow held no concerns for his captain. "Someone like Cam, he won't play unless he's ready," Arrow said. "I'm sure he'll make the right decision whether he comes back and plays or not but I'm pretty confident we'll be seeing him back in weeks to come in a Rabbitohs jersey."
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
New two-year deal for South Sydney try-scoring machine Alex Johnston
South Sydney try machine Alex Johnston could set an NRL record no one will ever be able to chase down after earning an extra two years at the club. Johnston, 30, needs just six tries to break Ken Irvine's longstanding record of 212 and, with the rest of 2025, plus now 2026 and 2027, could set an unreachable mark courtesy of his new deal. Already South Sydney's greatest try scorer with 207 from his 237 NRL games, Johnston could pass Irvine and then put a gap on the rest of the chasers. 'I couldn't be happier to be staying at the club for another two years,' Johnston said. 'Despite the recent results, I know we have a strong club here with quality players, coaches and staff, and I want to be part of returning us to the top of the ladder. 'I've enjoyed premiership success here before and I'm really focused on doing that again here for South Sydney. 'I also want to break the try-scoring record at the Rabbitohs and achievements like that come from the efforts and performances of my teammates as much as me. We're all in this together. 'I also would like to thank the members for their support. There are no more loyal supporters in the game and I love representing them each week as well. I thank them for sticking by us and encouraging us throughout some difficult times on field. 'I'm looking forward to working hard to turn around the back end of our season this year and then having a crack at premierships over the next two years as well.' Veteran Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou is the closest active player to Johnston with 175 career tries. MOST NRL TRIES 1 Ken Irvine 212 2 Alex Johnston* 207 3 Billy Slater 190 4 Steve Menzies 180 5 Brett Morris 176
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Veteran Rabbitoh re-signs with NRL record in sight
Alex Johnston looks guaranteed to break the NRL's tryscoring record in South Sydney colours after signing a new contract extension. The veteran winger, six tries from an unmatched 213 career four-pointers, had been in talks with the Rabbitohs in recent weeks before the club confirmed a new two-year deal on Tuesday. An injury to Latrell Mitchell cast doubt over Johnston's ability to break the record this season, given he must now shift to fullback out of the left wing spot where he has been so prolific. But the new deal means Johnston will at least have the chance to surpass Ken Irvine's mark of 212 next season, when Souths will look to rebound from a horror campaign of injuries. It's official 😍✍️ — South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) July 22, 2025 "I couldn't be happier to be staying at the club for another two years," Johnston said. "Despite the recent results, I know we have a strong club here with quality players, coaches and staff, and I want to be part of returning us to the top of the ladder. "I also want to break the tryscoring record at the Rabbitohs and achievements like that come from the efforts and performances of my teammates as much as me. We're all in this together." The new deal keeps Johnston a one-club player, with the 30-year-old local product making his debut in the 2014 season. He went on to feature in that year's drought-breaking grand final win and has made 237 appearances for the club in total.
