South Sydney Rabbitohs best juniors for 2021

It is one of the most famous and historic sporting clubs in Australian sport. Meet the next wave of stars coming through the ranks at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Meet the best young players at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The famous club has seen a big shake-up to its junior set-up over the past 12 months – a move which could see the historic club become the envy of the NRL.

The club has now revealed a list of their standout juniors from the class of 2021.

Rabbitohs head of elite pathways and player development Joe O’Callaghan revealed major changes had been put in place during the past 12 months to better support the club’s future stars.

The club has a bright crop of young stars coming through the ranks. Pictured is current Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

That includes the introduction of a new elite squad called the Black Rabbits.

The Black Rabbits is the cream of the crop featuring the best young players hand-picked from the under-17, under-19 and under-21 teams as well as the best young stars from the women’s team.

O’Callaghan explained players in the Black Rabbits were chosen with positions in mind that may need to be filled in the senior side in the future.

The group of 24 train by themselves once a month and receive specialist coaching and assistance, from the likes of incoming Rabbitohs head coach Jason Demetriou, to help them on their way to the NRL and NRLW.

A satellite Black Rabbits squad has also been set up and is operating in southeast Queensland.

Another significant change has seen the under-17 and under-19 boys’ teams come under the operation and coaching of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, based out of Erskineville Oval.

Rabbitohs legend John Sutton is part of the coaching staff with the junior sides. He is pictured with rising star Tallis Duncan. Picture: Richard Dobson

Previously, those two age groups were operated by a separate organisation, Souths Juniors, which works in partnership with the Bunnies.

O’Callaghan said there were many benefits in bringing those two sides directly under the club including exposing players to the culture at the Bunnies, the “language” and “philosophy” of their playing style, and utilising the gym and other facilities.

Junior players are currently spoiled for coaches to turn to with the likes of club legend John Sutton among the ranks.

O’Callaghan said by strengthening their junior set-up it would make their NRL side a dominant force for many years to come.

“You can’t rest on your laurels with your current NRL squad, you have to make sure there is a constant flow,” O’Callaghan said.

“The biggest thing for us is we don’t want a rebuilding stage at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“You don’t want talk of a premiership window and talk of the window shutting. Why did it have to shut?

“We want to plan five years ahead and then five years after that.”

The club currently has plans to introduce a women’s under-17 and under-19 side next year and an NRLW side in 2023.

South Sydney Rabbitohs best young players of 2021:

Ashton Cini. Picture: David Swift

Ashton Cini*

Position: Lock

Team: Harold Matthews Cup (u17s)

Romano Cook.

Romano Cook

Position: Hooker

Team: SG Ball Cup (u19s)

Monique Donovan.

Monique Donovan

Position: Centre

Team: NSWRL Women’s Premiership side

Tallis Duncan (left) with Rabbitohs legend John Sutton. Picture: Richard Dobson

Tallis Duncan

Position: Second row

Team: SG Ball Cup (u19s)

Lachlan Ilias. Picture: Bryden Sharp

Lachlan Ilias

Position: Halfback

Team: Jersey Flegg Cup (u21s)

Elly Johnston (with ball).

Elly Johnston

Position: Prop

Team: NSWRL Women’s Premiership side

Josiah Karapani (with ball). Picture: Julian Andrews

Josiah Karapani

Position: Centre

Team: SG Ball Cup (u19s)

Akira Kelly in action for the indigenous All Stars. Picture: Evan Morgan

Akira Kelly

Position: Halfback

Team: NSWRL Women’s Premiership side

Ben Lovett. Picture: Facebook

Ben Lovett

Position: Second row

Team: Jersey Flegg Cup (u21s)

Aaron Macey

Position: Centre

Team: Harold Matthews Cup (u17s)

Peter Mamouzelos. Picture: Bryden Sharp

Peter Mamouzelos

Position: Hooker

Team: Jersey Flegg (u21s) and NRL debutant this year

Tyrone Munro*

Position: Fullback

Team: Harold Matthews Cup (u17s)

Chaise Robinson.

Chaise Robinson*

Position: Fullback

Team: Jersey Flegg Cup (u21s)

*Chaise is the brother of former NRL players Reece and Travis Robinson; Ashton is the brother of Tigers NRL player Zac Cini; Tyrone is the cousin of NRL and Origin star Josh Addo-Carr.