Wayne Bennett’s second reign at Redfern will officially get underway on December 1, when the master coach returns from holidays to take charge of the underperforming South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Yet after briefly popping in and reacquainting himself following his Dolphins departure, the Bunnies have already started to undergo some major changes.
Stalwarts Tom Burgess and Damien Cook confirmed their exits months prior after inking deals elsewhere, although they will now be joined by six other outgoing players.
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Amongst the new batch is veteran Michael Chee Kam, who has seen his three-year stay at the club come to an end.
The 32-year-old featured 16 times for the Bunnies this season with a number of those appearances coming in the backrow.
However, Bennett has already identified this position as a key area of improvement under his watch.
Euan Aitken will make the trip to Sydney with him from the Dolphins, while Josh Schuster has also signed a one-year deal to try and resurrect his career after his abrupt exit from Manly.
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Chee Kam has been linked with a return to the Sea Eagles, where he made his NRL debut back in 2014.
Although he played just five times for the club in total across a two-year period, before he left to join the Wests Tigers where he established himself as an NRL regular.
Chee Kam is joined by Dean Hawkins, Dion Teaupa, Izaac Thompson, Leon Te Hau and Richard Kennar in leaving.
"As a club we would like to thank Michael, Richie, Dean, Dion, Izaac and Leon for their service to South Sydney," Head of Football Mark Ellison said.
"Some of these players will have opportunities at other NRL clubs and we wish them and their families the very best of luck in the future. They will always be regarded as proud Rabbitohs."
