Why Wayne won’t be magic bullet in Souths return amid playmaker crisis — Season Preview

Wayne Bennett’s return to Redfern could not have started any worse with arguably his two most influential players going down with long-term injuries before a ball was kicked in 2025.

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Skipper Cameron Murray suffered a ruptured Achilles, which will rub him out for the majority if not the whole season depending on how his recovery goes.

Meanwhile, Latrell Mitchell, who was reportedly the fittest he has been in his time at the club, went down with another hamstring injury that will sideline him for the first two months of the season.

Added to the club’s poor preparation in key positions, star recruit Lewis Dodd was suspended for the first game of the season after some unconvincing performances in the trials.

Bennett reportedly has wasted no time in galvanising his playing group, saying “I have been here before” pointing to his 2015 season with the Broncos that saw Darius Boyd sidelined early before returning late in the season, as they made a charge for the Grand Final.

That sort of experience is handy, but that Broncos team was far more experienced than this Souths side and they also have a horror draw to start the year, so Bennett will need to bank some wins early or risk losing touch with the top eight.

Despite the horror start with injuries, Andrew Webster isn’t writing off master coach Bennett just yet.

“If anyone can get a depleted South Sydney going it is Wayne, but the acid is on them early on,” Andrew Webster said on NRL 360.

However, Braith Anasta warned, this is not the Rabbitohs side that Wayne last took to a Grand Final in 2021.

“This is a side that was struggling anyway and now have arguably their two best players out for a long period of time,” Anasta said.

Brent Read is concerned for Souths, but agreed they are in good hands.

“I’m worried about them, but Gordie (Tallis) knows Wayne Bennett better than anyone and I think Sam Burgess said it the other day, don’t write off Wayne Bennett,” Read said.

Tallis believes Murray will be difficult to cover for.

“I think Murray is really hard to replace and they can’t replace him,” Tallis said.

“I think Tallis Duncan has shown he is enough and they play a similar style and they have Schuster.”

However, Anasta is concerned about Schuster’s desire to play the game after a tough off-season since signing with Souths after a year on the sidelines.

“There have been reports of Schuster’s attitude at training and looking like he wants to retire,” Anasta said.

Read warned Schuster will not be a magic bullet to replace Murray at this stage.

“They are not happy with him,” Read said.

“He’s not playing and he didn’t play any games in the pre-season. He is struggling with his desire at the moment. I wouldn’t be counting on Schuster to get them out of a hole.”

Read believes Mitchell still holds the key for Souths’ finals hopes.

“The key for them is Latrell,” Read said.

“Maybe they can’t win the comp without Cam Murray, but they need to get Latrell back as soon as they can. If he is out for an extended period from 10 to 12 weeks they are in trouble.”

Tallis agreed that Mitchell is irreplaceable for Souths.

“I think they can win the comp without Murray, but I don’t think they can win it without Latrell,” Tallis said.

However, Anasta noted Souths have other issues in the halves that could determine their season.

“I don’t think we should be writing off the Bunnies just yet, but the elephant in the room is the signing of Lewis Dodd,” Anasta said.

“He was signed to play in the halves to replace Lachlan Ilias. There seems to be some doubts over Lewis.”

Webster replied: “There is doubts over whether he is an NRL standard halfback, I would have thought you had that sorted before you signed him in the first place.”

However, Read believes it is too soon to write off Dodd based on two trial performances.

“I think it’s a bit early to throw the baby out with the bath water,” Read said.

“He’s had a couple of pre-season games and look there is no question there is doubts over him, but he has played a lot of footy at St Helens and won a comp for them. He has played for England. He’s not a dud Dodd. He’s got some ability.”

But Anasta believes Dodd’s replacement in Round 1 could be a breakout player for Souths in 2025.

“You know who does have some ability is Humphreys,” Anasta said.

“Maybe he is the one who is going to step up and take that No.7 jersey.”

Read replied: “I think Dodd will be back in week two. They have spent too much money on him not to give him first crack at that No.7 jersey.”

While a Grand Final appearance seems a long way off for this side, given they finished second last in 2024, Bennett has come back to Souths to win a premiership and that is his and his players’ goal over the next three years.

However, it isn’t Bennett taking the field and it is up to his players to walk the walk and deliver on the field, as the master coach can only guide and inspire them form the stands.

Luckily for Souths they have solid replacements for Mitchell until he returns, with Jye Gray showing he has a big future in the NRL and the speed, skills and footwork to be a real handful in attack.

Lachlan Hubner and Tallis Duncan will help fill the void left by Murray, while Jai Arrow is back to full fitness and is primed for a big year.

With Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Campbell Graham and Alex Johnston when he returns from injury, Souths have plenty of dangerous veterans in their backline, but their forward pack looks a little skinny.

Sean Keppie needs a big year up front after failing to hit his straps since joining Souths, while Davvy Moale needs to step up and blossom into a senior leader of the pack.

Tevita Tatola returns from a long-term foot injury, but Josh Schuster is yet to hit his straps and Souths badly need him to rediscover his best, especially in the absence of Murray.

On paper Souths have the squad to return to the top eight, but if injuries continue to strike, it is hard to see the Rabbitohs having the depth to weather the storm over the course of a long season, especially in the forwards.

If Peter Mamouzelos, Humphreys and Gray can fire in the spine until Mitchell returns and Souths can stay in touch with the top eight, back against Bennett in the back half of the year at your peril.

But at this stage 2025 looks like a building year for Bennett, who looks one or two star players short of being a title contender.

STRENGTH

Backline. On paper the Rabbitohs have one of the best backlines in the competition. At his best Latrell Mitchell is one of the best players in the game and he has a great partnership with Cody Walker and ability to create tries for his wingers Alex Johnston and Tyrone Munro. Johnston and Munro are at opposite ends of their careers, but have the ability to be the best finishing duo in the game. Campbell Graham returns from injury to form a representative calibre centre pairing with Jack Wighton. Walker is getting on in years, but at his best he is one of the game’s most dangerous playmakers. Lewis Dodd is untried in the NRL, but Wayne Bennett doesn’t recruit players that can’t play and he will have young gun Jamie Humphreys challenging him after being picked in the first round due to the Englishman’s suspension.

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