Stark Wighton reality Latrell must face; halves dilemma set to erupt: Rabbitohs State of Play

Development players: Dion Teaupa (2024), Ethan Ferguson (2025), Haizyn Mellars (2025), Liam Le Blanc (2025), Thomas Fletcher (2024)

PLAYERS IN: Jack Wighton (Raiders), Sean Keppie (Sea Eagles)

Jack Wighton comes to Souths on a four-year deal with a view to playing centre for the next two seasons and then taking over at five-eighth when Cody Walker hangs up the boots. Wighton adds to Souths’ impressive centre stocks with incumbents Campbell Graham and Isaiah Tass. Jason Demetriou wants Wighton to bring some physicality to his edges, while he provides depth in the halves should injuries or poor form strike. Sean Keppie was signed long-term at Manly, but found himself on the outer under Anthony Seibold and chose to jump ship to the Bunnies on a three-year deal. With Tom Burgess in the twilight of his career, Keppie will provide excellent depth behind incumbent props Tevita Tatola and Jai Arrow.

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PLAYERS OUT: Hame Sele (Dragons), Blake Taaffe (Bulldogs), Jed Cartwright (Knights), Terrell Kalo Kalo (unsigned)

WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE: Kicking game and ball control

The Rabbitohs went from first after 10 rounds last season to miss the finals in an all-time late season implosion. Granted, Latrell Mitchell missed 10 weeks with injury but that is just an excuse and a club with the calibre of roster as Souths should always have been playing in September. Souths rely too heavily on the brilliance of Mitchell and Cody Walker to paper over their deficiencies. The Rabbitohs need to improve their long and high kicking games to give them better field position and more opportunities to contest attacking kicks. Mitchell might have to take more ownership of the kicking game from fullback given he has the biggest boot, while Walker and Lachlan Ilias need to create more try-scoring opportunities with their short and high kicking games. Souths also have a habit of shooting themselves in the foot with their ball control the last few seasons. If they want to compete with the best teams they need to lift their completion rates in 2024.

WHO THEY COULD SIGN: Playmaker

The Rabbitohs could do with some depth in the halves. They have Cody Walker and Jack Wighton to cover five-eighth, while Lachlan Ilias and Dean Hawkins are the halfback options, but none are noted kickers. Of the halves without a contract for 2024, Ben Hampton, Cooper Johns and Brandon Wakeham all have experience and could provide healthy competition. Of the players coming off-contract in 2024, Souths could go to market and bring Luke Keary home from the Roosters. Another option is Roosters halfback Sandon Smith, who impressed last season and is caught behind Sam Walker in the pecking order. Souths love getting one over their fiercest rivals, so bringing Smith or Keary to Redfern would be sweet.

PLAYER UNDER MOST PRESSURE: Lachlan Ilias

Jack Wighton’s arrival at Redfern has heaped even more pressure on Lachlan Ilias to deliver. At 23, Ilias is a bright talent and highly regarded at Souths, but his first grade career has been inconsistent to date and while he is young patience has a habit of running out when a team is losing. With 51 games in first grade it is time for Ilias to step up in his third full season. After leading the competition last year, Souths should never have missed the finals and while not all of that is on Ilias he deserves his share of the blame. The biggest issue with Ilias is his kicking game doesn’t give his chasers enough time to contest the ball and they neither put pressure on the opposition back three or give his chasers time to retrieve the ball. If Souths struggle early next year and Ilias doesn’t improve in some key areas, Jason Demetriou may be forced to look at a Wighton-Walker halves pairing at some point in the season.

YOUNG GUN TO WATCH: Tyrone Munro

Tyrone Munro burst onto the scene last year as an 18-year-old scoring three tries in three games in his rookie season. However, Munro is tipped to play a much bigger role in 2024 and may start the season on the wing for Souths. The young flyer has been likened to a young Greg Inglis and he will only get better the more he grows into his frame. Munro can beat players with his combination of speed, footwork and sheer strength and he could have a field day playing outside Latrell Mitchell next season. Munro is a more gifted athlete than Alex Johnston so the pair could be locked in a try-scoring battle for Souths next year.