South Sydney Rabbitohs 2020 NRL preview: Team list, burning questions
Having loss Burgess brothers Sam and George, along with veteran John Sutton, Wayne Bennett knew he had to shake up the South Sydney pack for season 2020.
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All his critics jumped at the chance to rip into Wayne Bennett recently when he indicated that he wanted to coach on after his current contract expires at the end of next season and Jason Demetriou takes charge at the Rabbitohs.
But one thing Souths fans should not be concerned about is that this declaration will take away from Bennett’s focus as he tries to set himself up for the future.
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The fact of the matter is that this has only heaped more pressure on Bennett to have success in 2020 or no doubt there will be a huge push from those same critics to bring in Demetriou a season early.
The reality is Bennett was instrumental in this succession plan, despite concerns about the state he would leave he club, and how he also wanted to help Demetriou set up his own life for his young family with job security.
Bennett will now adopt a wait-and-see approach to see how his fitness and health holds up before deciding if he will take another job beyond next year.
But Bennett also loves a challenge, and he would know that any chance he has of getting another head coaching position beyond 2021 will be dependent on his success over the next two seasons.
That will most likely mean that he needs to win another premiership, or at least make a grand final, for any club to be willing to take a gamble on him at that point, when he will be 72.
THE ROSTER
Who’s in:
Latrell Mitchell (Roosters), Bryson Goodwin (Warrington), Troy Dargan (Broncos), Steven Marsters (Dragons), Joshua Cook, Dean Hawkins, Keaon Kolomatangi, Ky Rodwell (upgraded from development contracts)
Who’s out:
John Sutton, Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess (retired), George Burgess (Wigan), Dean Britt (Bulldogs), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Kyle Turner, Billy Brittain, Jacob Gagan, Mawene Hiroti (unsigned), Adam Doueihi (Tigers)
Latrell Mitchell’s arrival to play fullback is the biggest inclusion, while the Rabbitohs were hoping bargain price signings Patrick Mago and Hame Sele could add depth to a no-frills forward pack that will be without retired club legends Sam Burgess and John Sutton while George Burgess also exited to the Super League. That has hit a bit of a snag with Mago ruled out for 12 weeks after tearing his pectoral muscle in the Charity Shield. Bryson Goodwin is the other significant addition who will be in the frame for an NRL spot after returning from the England for one last crack at the NRL at age 34.
Off-contract 2020: Tom Amone, Cory Denniss, Kurt Dillon, Bryson Goodwin, Alex Johnston, Steven Marsters, Ky Rodwell, Bayley Sironen
All the major names are locked in for next year following Liam Knight’s recent extension until the end of 2023, although there is a clause in the club’s favour for Mitchell for next year that has to be signed off on.
That has to be activated by April at the latest or else the soap opera we all watched over the summer might head into an encore series.
The future of Johnston, who enters his seventh season with the Rabbitohs at age 25, will be intriguing.
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BURNING QUESTIONS
Is Mitchell the answer at fullback?
Time will tell. While Andrew Johns doesn’t think so (“he’s an out-and-out centre,” says Joey), Bennett has no concerns.
Even before the All Stars clash Bennett was really starting to get excited about how well Mitchell was adapting to the role at training.
And just as importantly, after that game Bennett was still positive despite some of the lukewarm reaction Mitchell received for his performance.
Mitchell followed that with a mixed effort in restricted minutes in the Rabbitohs’ 26-12 Charity Shield win over St George Illawarra in Mudgee.
What it has also done is given Alex Johnston’s NRL career a new lease of life after speculation throughout the summer that the club was looking to move him on.
Now Johnston has just about cemented his spot on the bench as fullback cover as Mitchell works up his endurance base to the level required to play rugby league’s most demanding position for the full 80 minutes.
How the Mitchell gamble pans out this season could make or break the Bunnies’ premiership chances.
How will Murray switch shake up the pack?
Aside from confirmation Adam Reynolds will take over from Sam Burgess as captain — to which the big Englishman gave a huge tick of approval in his exclusive column — the other big pre-season news at Redfern was the revelation Cameron Murray would move to an edge this year.
Bennett reckons it will be better for Murray’s long-term health if he doesn’t have to get bashed up for 80 minutes every week playing in the middle, although he will still get plenty of time in the middle during matches.
Also with Burgess brothers Sam and George gone, Bennett wants as much size as he can get in the middle rotation, so starting Tom Burgess, Junior Tatola and Liam Knight will be the preferred option.
It’s a big year for: Tom Burgess
No Sam, no George. Now Tom is on his own and he has to become the leader of this South Sydney pack.
If you are a front rower on $700,000 a season it comes with expectation. But last year Tom’s performances just didn’t live up to his price tag.
But by all reports Tom has taken up the challenge of leading the young forwards very seriously, and has dropped several kilos over the summer to make sure he is ready.
Junior Tatola is also a young prop with exceptional potential.
If Burgess holds up his end of the bargain the Bunnies should be okay with the likes of Mago and Sele now added to the middle rotation.
PRE-SEASON HERO
Mark down the name Keaon Koloamatangi. If you haven’t heard of him yet, you will very soon.
This young South Sydney junior from Mascot has really impressed everyone at the club over the summer and expect his name to be a regular fixture in the NRL squad this year.
A back-rower with immense potential, Koloamatangi missed the back end of last year after undergoing shoulder surgery but the break probably worked in his favour.
During the time off playing the 21-year-old really knuckled down and got to work on his fitness.
It has trimmed off the puppy fat and in its place now stands a wrecking ball who looks like he is ready to make his presence felt with the big boys.
While Koloamatangi is at home on the edge, he has the size to play in the middle and in time they reckon he will develop into a forward to be feared.
The best player you’ve never heard of
Jaxson Paulo. Breaking into the Rabbitohs backline this year is not going to be easy but this youngster who arrived from Gold Coast midway through last year looks like he has a huge future ahead of him.
Still eligible for under 20s Jersey Flegg, Paulo stands at 193cm (6 foot 3 inches in the old measurement), weighs 101kg and can play centre or wing.
While you always hear plenty about the promising young forwards to have come out of Keebra Park High in recent years, insiders at the Rabbitohs reckon it’s only going to be a matter of time before this kid gets his shot, regardless of who it is standing in his path at Souths.
Another youngster who has impressed in pre-season is Blake Taaffe who was a standout for Souths at the NRL Nines and also in the trial win over Parramatta.
While the 20-year-old from the Central Coast is not yet in the top 30 squad or even on a development contract, there is a few spots still available on Souths’ roster.
That means Taaffe could get an upgrade in the coming months if the Rabbitohs suffer any injuries in the halves.
Stats that matter: South Sydney have lost a wealth of experience in the forwards with John Sutton, Sam Burgess and George Burgess all departing. Since returning to the Rabbitohs in 2016, Sam Burgess has averaged the most metres for the club in each season. Latrell Mitchell is a major boost though, the 22-year-old Dally M centre of the year has already bagged 65 tries in his 96 games.