NRL 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[mitch222]

And what do you do with Gray? I really feel in addition to everything you said Big Pete, with all those options they have, if it takes Bennett too long to figure out how best to fit everyone, they might be coming from too far back.

Dodd is a really good halfback but can he take the reins of an experienced and arguably set in their ways NRL side with a few potentially prickly characters? I'm not sure.

I'd be really tempted to go with Gray at 1 and Latrell in the centres but if you do that, what do you do with Walker and Wighton given Graham at his best in my opinion is the best centre in the comp. That said, given how long he's been out, what version of Graham will come back?

So many question marks around that side and so much Jekyll and Hyde in there. Regardless of the calibre of player, I'm not sure the collective mindset is professional enough to actually contend when the whips are cracking. I could see them somehow scraping into top four equally as much as finishing bottom four. Weird side.

Maybe second best but there is a long margin between Chricton and anyone else at the moment. The bloke is just a stud.

 

[1910]

Let's take a look...

South Sydney Rabbitohs 2025
1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Jack Wighton
4. Campbell Graham
5. Tyrone Munro
6. Cody Walker
7. Lewis Dodd/Jayden Sullivan
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Peter Mamouzelos/Jamie Humphreys
10. Jai Arrow
11. Keaon Koloamatangi
12. Euan Aitken
13. Cameron Murray

14. Siliva Havili
15. Tallis Duncan/Sean Keppie/Shaq Mitchell
16. Davy Moale
17. Josh Schuster

So in the modern NRL you have the Penrith Panthers who are an absolute phenomenon no questions asked. Then you have a team like Melbourne who even when they're struggling still manage to make the Top 4 and just keep on rolling. Then there's the Roosters who have a fantastic team on paper but can't quite match it with those teams and always seem to leave their run too late.

Below them is South Sydney who have this brilliant core that can beat anyone on their day but have completely lost the plot the past couple of years. It was amazing just how quickly it all fell apart. Half-way through 2023 they were the form team of the competition and had an embarrassment of riches with Jack Wighton joining the next year. A year later they're sending out an SOS to Bennett as all the star players start going AWOL.

They've completely underachieved and while they've veered off course they have a coach who can make the big calls and win the big matches. He doesn't always get it right and sometimes it's a case of so close yet so far but with him on board I certainly feel more confident than I did with Demetriou and Hornby respectively.

I think the reason why they're being favoured so much is because they have arguably the best back and the best forward in the competition in Latrell and Murray. We've seen what both can do on their day and if Bennett can unlock them it'll just allow so much to fall into place. Ever since leaving the Roosters Latrell has been complacent but I think his time is drawing to a close and if he doesn't sort himself out quickly he knows he could be entering the next phase of his life prematurely. One last serious run with Bennett could be just the inspiration he needs.

The forwards need to really lift. If Tatola and Arrow can get back to their best that will be a huge boost because Souths were awful in the ruck last year. I like the Aitken and Schuster purchases - it's two sides of the coin where you have a reliable player in Aitken who can slot in. Then you have the high ceiling player in Schuster who could be a match-winner. Bennett will have to manage him well and there's a risk factor there but that could be a huge boon.

Also have my doubts around halves and hooker. Will they be able to direct traffic and control possession? WIll they take the pressure off the other players and allow them to shine? I'm not even sold on the halves I've named - even Bennett didn't seem to recognise Dodd from what I saw. Sullivan just seems like another back-up half to play alongside Gerome Burns. It could very well be a Wighton/Walker combo for all I know.

You lost me at no Jye Gray.

 

[Sproj]

You lost me at no Jye Gray.

Put Mitchell at centre? What you do with Wighton / Walker / Dodds?

 

[1910]

Put Mitchell at centre? What you do with Wighton / Walker / Dodds?

No clue but I would always have Gray.