The Bunnies have had their struggles since ending their title drought back in 2014, and missed the finals by a long way last season.
They made some pretty big sacrifices to accommodate the return of club legend Sam Burgess, and ultimately they missed the likes of Walker and Stewart.
Robbie Farah has been brought into the side to replace the lost experience and attacking guidance, although there’s an argument to be made that he is the club’s second best number nine.
Luke Keary’s move to the Roosters will be a big loss, however Code Walker’s ability is undoubted, and his combination with Adam Reynolds looks like one to keep an eye on.
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Weakness: Superstar over-reliance
Most sides rely on their stars to provide the moments of magic and drive success, however the reliance on the likes of Reynolds, Inglis and Burgess is slightly concerning at Redfern.
As solid as the likes of Johnston, Goodwin and co are, they lack a genuine, consistent game winner out wide, which heaps plenty of pressure on Inglis.
Up front, the Rabbits struggled last season, and when Sam Burgess wasn’t setting insane marks with ball in hand, they struggled to make metres.
The Souths supporting cast need to provide just that, support, in a big way this season. Tom and George need to help their brother, while Sutton, Turner and Rochow need to produce plenty.
Strength: Game’s elite
As true as the above statements may be, the Bunnies have three of the game’s elite players in Burgess, Inglis and Reynolds.
On his day, there is no more damaging fullback that Inglis. He can bust games wide open with relative ease, and is almost impossible to stop when at full force.
Burgess is the games most important forward, and like Inglis, can turn a game in a split second. His dominance is unmatched, although he was well contained at times in 2016.
Adam Reynolds is a magic player despite his detractors, and has plenty to offer in 2017 and beyond. I am genuinely excited to see what he and Walker can produce.
Best Player: Greg Inglis
As previously mentioned, there is no more damaging number one in the game than Greg Inglis at full flight.
Youtube highlight reels have been dedicated to the possible future immortal, and more than a tear has been shed by fans of the Blues, or those playing the Bunnies, in the past.
Talk of his body breaking down won’t go away, but he looked much fresher and stronger at the tail end of 2016 than in previous seasons.
All the talk is he will revert, full time, back to the fullback role he has made his own, and that can only be good news going forward.
Pressure On: Outside backs
Hymel Hunt, Bryson Goodwin, Alex Johnston and Aaron Gray make up a talented, yet unheralded backline. (Gray’s injury will delay his taking to the field)
Johnston aside, none of the above strike fear into opposition defenders on a regular basis, and all will have to be at their very best in 2017 if they want to drive their side to success.
There just doesn’t seem to be the try-scoring ammunition out wide to worry the likes of the Storm, Raiders and Cowboys.
Robert Jennings may provide the X-Factor, and may be given a chance earlier than expected due to the injury suffered by Gray.
Prediction: 11th
Souths fans, light those torches, I can’t see your side playing finals footy in 2017, thus missing the finals series for the second straight season.
Injury or a drop in form to one of the side’s big three could be fatal in terms of finals aspirations, and even if they all fully fire, without assistance, there’s only so much they can do.
Don’t get me wrong, the talent is there. The all-Burgess front row has given sides nightmares in the past, and all reports indicate a far improved season.
Just how Robbie Farah is used could have a huge impact on the season. If he plays big minutes, at his full potential, he’s a mega star. If not, he’s a distraction.
The Bunnies late-season revival came about only after moving Damien Cook into the hooking role full time. I’m at a loss to explain why they weren’t happy with the supremely talented number nine and instead looked to recruit Farah.