Redfern injury crisis has South Sydney in a hole for next fortnight

NRL ladder leaders South Sydney are facing a shocking player shortage due to injury which could leave them with as few as 16 players to take on Parramatta next week once Origin season takes its toll as well.

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NRL ladder leaders South Sydney are facing a shocking player shortage which could leave them with as few as 16 players to take on Parramatta next week.

Injury has cut such a large swath through Redfern that on Tuesday the Rabbitohs were forced to name just 20 players for Saturday night’s clash with the Wests Tigers.

In doing so, they became the first side to be unable to name a full 21-player squad since the NRL introduced its selection mandate last season.

The Rabbitohs squad has been torn apart by injuries. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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Already without 10 of their top-30 squad, the Rabbitohs’ list of unavailable players will only get worse next week when both NSW and Queensland pick a host of their stars for State of Origin.

Souths will be forced to seek salary cap exemption from the NRL to promote players from outside of their top-30 squad in a bid to field a full side against the Eels next Friday.

A host of players, including Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Kyle Turner, Braidon Burns and Adam Doueihi are missing from the team to play the Tigers on Saturday night.

Liam Knight also needs to be cleared of concussion to take his place.

Origin selection could leave the club with 16 available top squad players. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Souths’ injured brigade are not due back until the round 13 clash with Newcastle, which means they are budgeting to have 14 players missing for their Parramatta match.

That does not take into account potential injuries or suspensions resulting from their match against the Tigers.

Dane Gagai and Damien Cook will be picked by Queensland and NSW respectively while Cameron Murray is also closing in on an Origin debut. Halves Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds could earn a Blues berth while selectors have discussed winger Campbell Graham, who could come into the side should disaster strike the NSW’s outside backs before the team is chosen on Sunday.

Rabbitohs general manager of football Shane Richardson said the club was “doing it tough”.

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“We welcome back players from round 13 onwards,” Richardson said. “Next week will be real tough for us. We need an NRL dispensation to fill in the team. We will have to bring up young players. But they aren’t in our top 30.

“We will have to apply for dispensation. We won’t have the numbers. If we lose four in Origin we will be down to 16 players if we don’t get injuries.”

The Rabbitohs have about $300,000 to spend this year because of the retirement of Inglis, who is still a part of their top-30 squad. They quashed any prospect of signing Brisbane’s James Roberts while Penrith’s Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is understood not to be in the club’s plans.

The Rabbitohs will soon have more players unavailable to play they will available.

Fringe players including Cory Dennis, Kurt Dillon, Rhys Kennedy, Ky Rodwell and Connor Tracey are also unavailable.

“I’ve never been down to these sort of number,” Richardson said. “Sometimes clubs apply for dispensations to play young players. We have to bring in young players in just to fill in the gaps.

“It’s been like that for a few weeks. To be fair every player has done the job. That’s why we are 9-1. “There is great confidence they will do the job.”

Turner had already been a stopgap centre but his concussion has seen back-rower Ethan Lowe shifted to the outside backs.

The Rabbitohs had to draft in a handful of players to fill out their Canterbury Cup side this weekend which is boosted by a host of youngsters because the Jersey Flegg competition is in the midst of a two-week break.

Originally published as Redfern injury crisis has South Sydney in a hole for next fortnight