Ins
Jai Arrow (Gold Coast Titans, 2024), Jacob Host (St George Illawarra Dragons, 2023), Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers, 2022), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers, 2021), Taane Milne (New Zealand Warriors, 2022), Tautau Moga (Newcastle Knights, 2021)
Out
Corey Allan (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Tom Amone (released), Kurt Dillon (released), Bryson Goodwin, Jack Johns (Newcastle Knights), Ethan Lowe (retired), James Roberts (Wests Tigers), Ky Rodwell (released), Bayley Sironen (New Zealand Warriors)
The Rabbitohs qualified for their third straight Preliminary Final, only to fall short yet again at the penultimate hurdle. They were right in it against the runaway Minor Premiers and can be hugely proud of their season.
Cody Walker's second half to the season had to be seen to be believed. He was the form player off the competition across the final ten rounds of the regular season. His halves partner Adam Reynolds was also at his brilliant best.
Latrell Mitchell started slowly but soon found himself very comfortable in the fullback position. By the time he was unfortunately injured he was breathing fire in the one. Corey Allan filled in amazingly well and played Origin on the back of his brilliant run.
Campbell Graham had a season to remember, while Dane Gagai had his best club season for many years. Cameron Murray continued his incredible rise. Damien Cook is at the top of his game, which is scary moving forward.
The Bunnies have managed the near impossible in making a Prelim final yet managing to keep the majority of their squad together. You could lodge a serious argument that they're even stronger.
Corey Allan is a big out but was released to play fullback. His position on the wing will be taken by Josh Mansour. The former Origin regular will add a huge amount of experience in a position that is already a strength.
James Roberts was an unfortunate exit but truthfully had fallen behind Gagai and Graham in the centre pecking order. His speed will be missed but Graham is looking like a genuine star.
Jai Arrow is the big in. He can play big minutes and provide a huge workload for an already stacked Bunnies pack. Bayley Sironen was a surprising release but Arrow's inclusion more than makes up for it.
SEE ZT's own Dan Nichols in This Week's RLO Episode: Round One Celebration!
'Trell Number One: Last year a lot of the off-season talk was about the best centre in the game making the move to fullback. Mitchell started slowly in 2020, even shifting back to centre on a few occasions, before really locking down the number one jersey.
Fair to say though by the end of the year he was a more than handy fullback. I believe their Premiership chances ended when Mitchell went down injured, despite Corey Allan's brilliant run in the number one jersey. If he plays the full season this year there's no reason he can't be a top two or three fullback.
Best spine in the game: I'm sure I'll be shouted down in the comments by Storm or Panthers fans, but in my opinion that Souths spine is the best in the game.
Damien Cook is arguably the best number nine in the league, while Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds form an all-star halves pairing. Throw in Latrell Mitchell at one and the red and green sit atop the 1, 6, 7 and 9 discussion.
If all four players fire then Souths won't lose many games. Yes, they'll need their forward to lay the foundation but Cook has 'blind and you'll miss it' speed while Walker can turn a game in a second.
Arrow/Murray Lock?: This is a huge question that will shape the season of two of their biggest stars. Cam Murray, for mine, is a top three or four lock in the game. As far as I'm concerned he's the undoubted starting 13 for the Bunnies for Round 1.
That said, there is a line of thinking to shift him back into the second row to allow marquee signing Jai Arrow to slot into his preferred spot at lock. Murray's impact was stifled when moving from the middle in 2020 so I think it would be ridiculous to shift one of the team's biggest weapons for anyone not named Jason Taumalolo.
Arrow can play prop or come off the bench, but you put your best pieces in the strongest position and that for me is Murray at 13.
1st
I had reservations in regards to overrating the Eels by predicting a second placed finish, but I have no such worries here with the Bunnies. I can't see any side in the competition matching them over 20+ rounds.
They have the best spine in the game, an absolutely star-studded backline that will battle between themselves for top try scoring honours, and a forward pack well suited to the new rules.
When you can bring in players the quality of Josh Mansour and Jai Arrow without guaranteeing them a starting spot, you're in a very good position.
Wayne Bennett is widely regarded as the best coach in the game. I'd argue if he cannot deliver a title with this Bunnies outfit then his reputation may take a hit.
The only potential weakness I see is in the second row. There's no stand out option to partner Su'A. This may tempt the master coach to shift Cam Murray out wide through necessity. I would persist with other options as mentioned.
Outside of huge nitpicking, this side screams Premiership potential. On the back of experience gained through three straight Prelim finals, I'd be shocked if there isn't a fourth.