Mitchell, Schuster, Graham on deck for Rabbitohs pre-season, but Bennett a no-show

The Rabbitohs have started their bid to shake off an injury-riddled 2024, returning to Maroubra on Wednesday for day one of pre-season training and the start of the Wayne Bennett revolution.

However, supercoach Bennett was absent for South Sydney’s return, as Ben Hornby, Steve Antonelli, John Sutton and Trent Elkin ran drills for the team, which was without skipper Cameron Murray and the rest of their representative players.

Latrell Mitchell, Josh Schuster and Campbell Graham at day one of the Rabbitohs pre-season training.

Murray underwent surgery on Wednesday on the scapholunate injury he picked up in camp with the Kangaroos, with the club confirming the operation had been a success.

In a statement the Rabbitohs said Murray’s “wrist will be immobilised in a cast for a six-week period, after which his progress will be assessed and a rehabilitation program implemented. A time frame will be established once he has completed the initial six-week period post-operation.”

Murray’s injury is a blow for South Sydney, who will now likely be without their captain for the start of the season, with scapholunate injuries typically taking up to five months to heal. Murray also missed a significant chunk of the 2024 season due to a hip flexor injury.

However, for the team that was hit the hardest by injuries in the 2024 season – with their top 30 players missing a total of approximately 213 games due to injuries – it was a relief to see the return of stars such as Campbell Graham and Latrell Mitchell.

Graham missed the entire 2024 season due to complications with a sternum injury that he picked up in 2023, while Mitchell missed the end of this year with a foot injury.

Josh Schuster also made his appearance at Maroubra, for the start of his one-year contract at the club. The Rabbitohs threw the 23-year-old a lifeline earlier this year, after he parted ways with the Sea Eagles in April.

‘He knows how to win’: Kangaroos debut to cap forward’s meteoric rise

Lindsay Smith is poised to make his Kangaroos debut after coach Mal Meninga named the premiership-winning Panthers forward in his team for Sunday’s final against Tonga.

The 24-year-old will be handed his maiden Test cap after Cameron Murray picked up a scapholunate injury in the victory over New Zealand last month, with Raiders forward Hudson Young to start on the edge and Smith to take Young’s spot on the bench.

Though forced into the shake-up, Meninga said he was confident Smith would fit in seamlessly.

“It’s been a few years in the making, I reckon,” Meninga said. “I’ve watched him for a long time now and he’s always been a great player of promise, and he’s had a tremendous last couple of years playing for the Panthers.

“He knows how to win, and he’s been great around the group and I think he’s really excited about playing.”

Young is set to start for the first time in a Test match, having made two previous appearances off the bench. He has also represented NSW three times at State of Origin level.

Lindsay Smith at Kangaroos training last month.Credit: Getty Images

“He’s playing on an edge obviously, so that’s where he is used to playing,” Meninga said of Young. “He hasn’t really started at rep level in a game before, so he’s got a lot to prove. He’s very excited about being there, and I’m certain that he’s up for the challenge.

“He’s passionate and he’s aggressive. He loves playing the game, he’s in love with the game, he’s a great student of the game ... He hasn’t quite had that continuity at rep level. We’ve sort of given it to him in these Championships, and he’s done a really good job for us.

“We put him in the middle last week. We were fatigued, we made a lot of tackles early in that second half. So we put him on.

“He’s got great footwork, he’s very aggressive, got a quick play-the-ball on him, so that’s the reason we put him in. And I thought he handled the middle very well. He just wants to be there and wants to put that jersey on, and he wants to go the 80 minutes.”

Nathan Cleary’s shoulder surgery was a success.Credit: Instagram

Vegas, baby: Cleary eyes US opener after successful surgery

Christian Nicolussi

Rugby league’s best player is on track for a Las Vegas return after an operation on his injured shoulder was hailed a success.

Cleary posted a photo to his 435,000 Instagram followers early Tuesday of him lying on a hospital bed with his arm in a sling.

The halfback underwent the Latarjet procedure on Monday to fix the left shoulder injury, which had troubled him during the NRL finals series. The operation involved a bone graft being attached to the front of the shoulder joint to help with stability.

Cleary had to wait until his surgeon returned from annual leave, which allowed him to spend a few weeks in Europe with his partner, Matildas star Mary Fowler, following the Panthers’ fourth straight NRL title.

Penrith medicos feared Cleary would require a labral repair, or a clean-up of his rotator cuff, which could not be determined until he went under the knife.

But sources with knowledge of the surgery not permitted to discuss Cleary’s injury publicly confirmed the operation has been straightforward, and the rest of the playmaker’s shoulder had remained intact.

Recovery time is expected to be 14 to 16 weeks, which should have Cleary back a week before Penrith meet Cronulla in the season opener at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Cleary had the same procedure on his left shoulder at the end of 2021, and missed the opening month of the 2022 season, but that was because he had suffered cartilage damage, which required more time to heal, and needed a few extra weeks for a rotator-cuff tendon to mend.

Cleary will be able to return to the field as early as six weeks post-surgery to complete passing and running drills with potential halves partners Brad Schneider, Jack Cole or even new signing Blaize Talagi. The halfback will not be able to wrestle or tackle until the middle of February.

Terrell May pursues legal action against trolls over Roosters rumours

Dan Walsh

Outgoing Roosters prop Terrell May has issued a series of cease and desist notices against online fan groups for spreading rumours about him and his family as he weighs up his future.

May was informed last week that he was free to leave the Roosters immediately despite only signing a $950,000 contract extension in April, fuelling speculation about an off-field incident triggering the club’s move.

As reported by this masthead, multiple Roosters sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter have stressed that there is no major off-field issue with the rising front-rower.

Terrell May is a surprise addition to the 2025 player market.Credit: NRL Imagery

Rugby league’s rumour mill nonetheless went into overdrive, with multiple websites publishing what May’s manager described as “false and damaging” rumours about the 25-year-old and his family.

May’s manager, David Rawlings of Foundation Sports Group, confirmed three cease and desist notices have been issued to social media accounts, with further legal action being weighed up against one Facebook group this week.

“The NRL’s taken a stance over the past few years in calling out player abuse, guys like Latrell Mitchell have taken really strong stances, Jarome Luai too and there’s just no reason to tolerate any abuse,” Rawlings said.

“We’ve sent cease and desist notices out to certain Facebook groups because the personal impact of some of the defamatory commentary, it’s just not on.

“Where there’s appropriate legal recourse, we will hold people to account because how else does the message get through?”

May was rattled by the Roosters call that he was free to leave last week and declined to comment on his future after playing for Samoa against England on Saturday.

He returns to Sydney later this week and will begin to explore interest already registered by rival clubs, with the likes of Wests Tigers, Dragons and Canterbury in the market for front-rowers.

This masthead reported last week that there are figures at the Roosters that held reservations around whether May was the right cultural fit for the club.

Sources have indicated that coach Trent Robinson has no issue with May on or off the field, with salary cap management and realigning a roster packed with quality forwards driving May’s exit.

Roosters teammate Angus Crichton spoke on Friday in defence of May, having been made aware of the rumours swirling around the club’s decision.

“He is literally straight as an arrow,” Crichton said. “He doesn’t drink, he is a really good guy and he hasn’t done anything off the field to warrant this.

“So for people that are speculating and talking out of tongue, just stop it, and wait until the full story comes to light. He is a good person.”

Sam Walker extends with Roosters until end of 2027

Billie Eder

Roosters halfback Sam Walker has signed a two-year extension worth around $1 million a season that will keep him at the club until the end of 2027.

Walker has been contemplating his future at the club for a couple of months, but has finally put pen to paper, ending speculation he could make a return to his home state of Queensland.

Sam Walker will be a Rooster until at least the end of 2027.Credit: Getty Images

The 22-year-old’s decision to recommit comes three days after the November 1 free agency date that allows players off contract at the end of 2025 to start negotiating with rival clubs.

Walker’s upgraded deal pushes his salary into the rare seven-figure orbit, reflecting his status as one of arguably the game’s best young half.

Walker made his NRL debut with the Roosters in 2021, and was a big factor to the club’s success during the 2024 season, until he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the Roosters round 26 loss to the Raiders.

He will miss at least half the 2025 season along with Roosters hooker Brandon Smith who ruptured his ACL in the same match.

Walker said he was grateful for the club’s support following his injury.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to training later this month so I can keep working hard on my rehab and play my role for the team,” he said.

The short-term extension means Walker is likely to become a free agent at the same time the NRL looks to expand to 18 or 19 teams. The timing could see him one day become one of the most highest-paid players in the game.

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