Wayne Bennett, Rabbitohs poach young gun from rival in NRL raid
Wayne Bennett has done it again, snapping up a young playmaker from an NRL rival as he continues to pull the strings at the Rabbitohs.
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Wayne Bennett has done it again.
The NRL super coach has been accused of pulling the strings at South Sydney ever since he signed a three-year deal to return as Rabbitohs next season, and signing news will only add fuel to the footy scuttlebutt.
On Monday, the Rabbitohs announced they had signed young playmaker Jamie Humphreys a day after he starred on his NRL debut in Manly’s 44-6 demolition of the Newcastle Knights.
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The 22-year-old scored the first try of the game and was given conversion kicking duties in the second half.
Humphrey’s move to Souths had reportedly been agreed to for weeks, but the news of the young gun’s departure from Manly would be a crushing blow to Sea Eagles fans, given he was seen as Daly Cherry-Evans’ heir apparent.
And if Cherry-Evans returns from State of Origin duties this weekend, Humphreys might well have played his one and only game for Manly.
Souths announced Humphreys had signed with the Bunnies on a two-year deal for 2025 and 2026, which will see him play under Bennett.
“Jamie is a player we have kept our eye on for a number of years and we have always been impressed by his style of play and his work ethic,” Rabbitohs head of football Mark Ellison said.
“He made his first grade debut yesterday, scoring a try and kicking three goals, and we have seen him play a
number of games in the pre-season challenge. He has always played strongly at either hooker or in the halves.
“His versatility is a positive for our squad and we’re looking forward to having him join us for pre-season in November as he embarks on the next stage of his career in the red and green.”
The Rabbitohs have denied suggestions Bennett is shaping South Sydney’s roster while interim coach Ben Hornby steers the ship for the season.
But it appears the 74-year-old has done it again, luring a young playmaker to play for him.
Humphreys plays halfback and hooker, and he is set to get plenty of opportunity at the Rabbitohs, with veteran hooker Damien Cook leaving to join the Dragons next season.
Souths have told injured halfback Lachlan Ilias he is free to explore his options, while new recruit Lewis Dodd was dropped by his Super League side St Helens last weekend.
Humphreys was a local Manly junior and used to sell NRL merchandise at the Manly Leagues Club. His dad Stephen Humphreys is a former Sea Eagles CEO.
Humphreys told the SMH: “I haven’t spoken to Wayne (Bennett) personally, but the things I have heard about him are pretty special. And the people I trust have given me the advice I need. Playing (NRL) proved to me that I can handle that level.
“It’s something that now I have a taste of, I want to keep going with it and build off that. I don’t want to be one and done, I want to build off this.”
Currently coaching the Dolphins, Bennett has been praised for mentoring young halfback Isaiya Katoa into a player pundits believe is the future of the Dolphins franchise.
Katoa recently revealed how Bennett convinced him to sign with the Dolphins in an interview.
He told the Ice Project with Isaac John: “He hadn’t even watched a footy game of me playing. My manager cut up a few clips and sent it to him.
“If there’s one thing from that meeting, Wayne was just like, ‘I want to reassure you that when you come over here, I’ll look after you. Whether it’s on field, off field, I’ll make sure I put the right resources in place to not only make you a better person, but a better footy player.
“Right from then, I was pretty much settled, like I’m done bro. For Wayne to say that, that’s pretty awesome. I’m only 18 and he’s only watched a couple highlight videos of me and for him to say that, I was just like, ‘Yeah I’m going.”
Young playmakers are seriously valuable in the NRL, and the Canberra Raiders have signed Ethan Strange and Parramatta’s Ethan Sanders in recent times.
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Originally published as Wayne Bennett, Rabbitohs poach young gun from rival in NRL raid
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