NRL news: Rabbitohs steal Keebra Park High off of Gold Coast Titans

Jai Arrow has declared the civil unrest which engulfed the club at the end of the season is over as South Sydney embark on a new era of sustained success with top league nursery Keebra Park.

Maroons star Jai Arrow insists the civil unrest that engulfed South Sydney has eased and the Rabbitohs can embark on a new era of sustained success after poaching one of Queensland’s top league nurseries from the Titans.

Arrow returned to Keebra Park High School on the Gold Coast on Wednesday as Souths announced a new three-year partnership with the league heavyweight that has helped produce NRL superstars Payne Haas, Reece Walsh and David Fifita.

The Rabbitohs snuck under the guard of the Titans – who recently lost the Burleigh Bears to the Broncos and were unwilling to enter an exclusive school partnership with Keebra – to spread their recruitment reach into fertile south east Queensland.

The Keebra announcement was some positive news for the Rabbitohs on the back of this year’s dreadful fadeout in which Souths missed the finals after leading the NRL premiership halfway through the season.

South Sydney have aligned with Keebra Park High.

Rabbitoh Jai Arrow with Keebra Park players Harvey Smith and Ivy O'Brien. Picture Glenn Hampson

The Rabbitohs’ plight was compounded by the sudden departure of assistant coach Sam Burgess amid accusations star players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker wielded too much power at Redfern.

With more than a month passing since the ninth-place finish, Arrow said the Rabbitohs were ready to rocket into pre-season training and commence their 2024 resurrection.

“It was obviously disappointing but it is what it is now,” he said.

“It’s not the way we wanted to finish after starting off great. It’s about moving forward into the pre-season and next year, which is starting a bit earlier now.

“We’re getting some extra weeks to get training in and we’ve got a new recruit in Jack Wighton (Raiders) who I’m excited to play with.

“I don’t think anyone has (figured out what happened). We can’t pinpoint anything apart from us as a playing group and our performances not being up to scratch.

“It was a tough time for the club (but the drama) is gone. Everything is all sweet on that part.”

The Rabbitohs have overhauled their coaching setup under Jason Demetriou and are extending their pathways through the Keebra partnership.

Ex-Rabbitohs Benji Marshall, Ben Te’o and Jesse Arthars graduated through Keebra’s system and now Souths is hoping a new generation of NRL superstars will filter from the school to Redfern.

“It’s a good thing for the club to expand their recruitment and look to sign kids from the Gold Coast and my old school,” Arrow said.

“I’m excited to see some kids get an opportunity to come to South Sydney and show what they’ve got.

“The Titans wouldn’t have liked to have lost this school given the boys that have come out of it. You look at the grand final and Payne and Walshy (Broncos) were in it, then there’s David Fifita (Titans).

“It’s cool to see a Bunnies logo on the Keebra jersey and we’re expanding ourselves in Queensland.

Inccoming Gold Coast coach Des Hasler. Picture: Getty Images

Titans chairman Dennis Watt. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“The school did a lot for me. I’m not sure what the training’s like now, but I used to be here at 5.30am in the gym, have a shower and go to a school then train in the arvo.

“It did a lot for me physically and my mentality around rugby league. It built a bit of character that I still have to this day.”

The Rabbitohs will help develop Keebra’s coaches and provide playing opportunities for the school’s top talent.

Souths pathways chief Joe O’Callaghan said the club jumped at the opportunity when the Titans’ three-year arrangement was coming to an end.

“We were a little bit surprised when the opportunity came up,” he said.

Gold Coast youngster Josiah Pahulu captained Ipswich SHS to victory in the 2022 National Schoolboys Cup. Picture David Clark

“I can see the model the Titans are trying to go with by having numerous schools. It’s a rich rugby league area from Logan to the Northern Rivers.

“At the same time we can see where Keebra is coming from, wanting to have an exclusive partnership and direct pathway.

“It suits both parties really well. We’ve been on the lookout for a while to get a rugby league school of excellence on board.

“They presented a strategic plan for their football program for the next few years and it sits really well with our club and the direction we’re going.

“We want to keep kids at home as long as they can. The boys and girls can finish their studies here and get the coaching they require.

“We play in a national competition and need to recruit nationally.”

Originally published as NRL news: Rabbitohs steal Keebra Park High off of Gold Coast Titans