All that’s old is new again for South Sydney with Wayne Bennett back in the hot seat at Redfern as he tries to reverse the club’s fortunes after a rotten 2024 campaign.
Jason Demetriou took over from the master coach only two years prior but was shown the door after he was unable to arrest the Rabbitohs’ slide towards the bottom of the ladder.
The club have now turned back to Bennett to lead a revival after he has spent the past two seasons helping to establish the Dolphins in the NRL.
MORE: Which players are leaving the South Sydney Rabbitohs? Full 2024 departures and arrivals lists
South Sydney Rabbitohs 2025 season preview
Latrell Mitchell will be the key for the Bunnies with their talisman plagued by injuries and underwhelming performances in the past few years.
He will be supported by Cody Walker and new recruit Lewis Dodd, who look set to form a new halves partnership, while a first-choice dummy-half will have to be bedded in following Damien Cook’s departure.
A new era in the front row will also be ushered in with premiership-winning English international Tom Burgess leaving the club and returning to the Super League.
However, the Bunnies will receive some much-needed stability in their backline with Campbell Graham - who missed the entirety of the 2024 season - expected to be back on deck after recovering from a sternum injury.
Alongside the welcome familiar face will be a host of new signings with Euan Aitken following Bennett from Redcliffe and Jamie Humphreys joining from Manly.
South Sydney predicted team list for Round 1
1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Isaiah Tass
3. Jack Wighton
4. Campbell Graham
5. Tyrone Munro
6. Cody Walker
7. Lewis Dodd
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Peter Mamouzelos
10. Jai Arrow
11. Euan Aitken
12. Keaon Koloamatangi
13. Cameron Murray
14. Jamie Humphreys
15. Josh Schuster
16. Davvy Moale
17. Tallis Duncan
Rabbitohs latest team news ahead of Round 1
Latrell Mitchell missed the last two months of the 2024 season after picking up a foot injury, which compounded a dire campaign for the 27-year-old as he made just 11 appearances.
Under Bennett, he will need to put the on-field brain snaps - which saw him pick up an unnecessary ban for an elbow to the face of Shaun Johnson - and off-field indiscretions behind him to beat Jye Gray to the No.1 jersey.
Alex Johnston suffered an Achilles injury in Round 21 and is likely to miss the opening months of the 2025 campaign, so a spot on the left wing is up for grabs.
Isaiah Tass was handed a three-year deal which illustrated Bennett’s confidence in him and he could be given the first shot after he himself experienced an injury-plagued season in 2024. Tyrone Munro will be on the other flank.
Campbell Graham is expected to be back in the centres with the Origin hopeful set to be joined by Jack Wighton, who finished last year back in his customary five-eighth position.
Demetriou and interim coach Ben Hornby struggled to find a halfback with Lachlan Ilias and the since departed Dean Hawkins and Dion Teaupa given time in the No.7 jersey.
However, Lewis Dodd was signed to a lucrative deal from St Helens and will be given time to establish himself in the NRL alongside Cody Walker.
MORE: Who is Lewis Dodd? South Sydney's halfback comes with Super League pedigree
Tevita Tatola played just six games in 2024 before being ruled out with a foot injury. The bad luck followed on from his 2023 campaign which yielded 15 appearances.
It’s imperative the prop gets back to full fitness and becomes the leader in the pack that he’s required to be, with Jai Arrow possibly supporting him in the front row.
Peter Mamouzelos was awarded a three-year contract extension and is expected to take over from Damien Cook following the veteran's exit to St George Illawarra.
Euan Aitken suffered a pectoral injury in the final rounds of the 2024 season which cut short his stay at the Dolphins.
He is likely to be Bennett’s first choice for the backrow spot on the left, while Keaon Koloamatangi will likely revert to an edge despite prospering through the middle.
Captain Cameron Murray will take the No.13 jersey and will be supported off the bench by the emerging Tallis Duncan.
Elsewhere on the pine, Ilias and Jamie Humphreys are likely to be competing for the utility role with the playmakers potentially turned into hookers for the good of the team, while veteran Siliva Havili will also be in contention for the role.
Sean Keppie, Davvy Moale, Shaq Mitchell, Jacob Host, Ben Lovett, Liam Le Blanc and new recruits Josh Schuster and Lachlan Hubner will be battling for the remaining spots in the 17.
