Latest news with #SouthSydney
Sydney Morning Herald
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7
In what can be likened to rugby league's own version of Stephen Bradbury, Lewis Dodd has finally been given the chance to wear the South Sydney No. 7 jersey – because there are no halves still standing at the club. Jamie Humphreys will miss Saturday's clash against Cronulla because of delayed concussion symptoms he experienced after last weekend's loss to Penrith, joining fellow playmakers Cody Walker (hamstring) and Bud Sullivan (broken leg), as well as Latrell Mitchell (quad) who has filled in at five-eighth, in the bulging casualty ward. Dodd left St Helens in the Super League to ink a three-year, $2m deal with Souths, but has struggled to get a look-in under coach Wayne Bennett. The 23-year-old has featured in just four games, with three of them coming off the bench, and one at five-eighth. Teammate Jai Arrow, who remains the only player to have featured in every game this year, especially now Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) is sidelined, said Dodd welcomed the news when told by Bennett he would be starting at halfback on Monday. 'It's amazing what an opportunity can do for someone, Lewis has that opportunity now to start at halfback, and to make this team his own,' Arrow said. 'It's exactly what happened with Jamie at the start of the year, he got that opportunity and took it with both hands. 'Now 'Doddy' gets to do that, I'm excited for him, we're all excited for him, and I know when Wayne told him at the review, he clapped to himself and knew he was ready. He was pretty pumped.'
The Age
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7
In what can be likened to rugby league's own version of Stephen Bradbury, Lewis Dodd has finally been given the chance to wear the South Sydney No. 7 jersey – because there are no halves still standing at the club. Jamie Humphreys will miss Saturday's clash against Cronulla because of delayed concussion symptoms he experienced after last weekend's loss to Penrith, joining fellow playmakers Cody Walker (hamstring) and Bud Sullivan (broken leg), as well as Latrell Mitchell (quad) who has filled in at five-eighth, in the bulging casualty ward. Dodd left St Helens in the Super League to ink a three-year, $2m deal with Souths, but has struggled to get a look-in under coach Wayne Bennett. The 23-year-old has featured in just four games, with three of them coming off the bench, and one at five-eighth. Teammate Jai Arrow, who remains the only player to have featured in every game this year, especially now Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) is sidelined, said Dodd welcomed the news when told by Bennett he would be starting at halfback on Monday. 'It's amazing what an opportunity can do for someone, Lewis has that opportunity now to start at halfback, and to make this team his own,' Arrow said. 'It's exactly what happened with Jamie at the start of the year, he got that opportunity and took it with both hands. 'Now 'Doddy' gets to do that, I'm excited for him, we're all excited for him, and I know when Wayne told him at the review, he clapped to himself and knew he was ready. He was pretty pumped.'
News.com.au
19 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
20 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
21 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
