Souths Players To Watch

Souths Players To Watch

First grade rugby league returns this weekend when the Rabbitohs take on the Sea Eagles at Gosford on Saturday in a trial match.

In a surprise move, the master coach Wayne Bennett won’t be coaching this undeniably important first hit out. Instead his assistant Ben Hornby, last year’s interim head coach will take the reins.

Besides the first grade there is a Jersey Flegg trial match on Saturday and it’s round 3 for our Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball Cup teams. Meanwhile, the South Sydney Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale teams have a round 3 bye.

NRL

We could just about list the entire 24 players named to watch on Saturday but here’s a selection for you to savour.

Lewis Dodd

English import Lewis Dodd leads an intriguing list of club debutants that will suit up on Saturday against the Manly ‘Silvertails’. The former Wigan star halfback looks to have settled in nicely at Souths but the time has come for him to show the club and Bunnies fans what he can do.

Jamie Humphreys

Jamie Humphreys is the grandson of former ARL Chairman and Balmain Tigers star Kevin Humphreys. He will partner Dodd in the halves and he too will undoubtedly have all eyes on his performance. The former Manly player should have plenty of mates in the opposition side. His job is to cast those friendships aside and play the footy many are tippping will see him earn a spot in the NRL round 1 squad.

Lachlan Hubner

Lachlan Hubner will wear the coveted Rabbitohs number 13 with unquestionably big shoes to fill standing in for club captain Cameron Murray. The former Dolphin has plenty of wraps on him, he has a big motor so keep any eye out for him to be busy in the middle of the field.

I met Lachlan at the South Players Association Christmas party at the Coogee Bay Hotel in December. I can report that he’s a tremendous young bloke that didn’t hesitate to have a good chat with an old bloke like me! Lets hope he becomes an extra Cam Murray like asset to this club.

Matthew Humphries

It is different spelling but another man named Humphries will get a chance off the bench on Saturday. ‘Money’ Matt Humphries has spent the pre season training with the top 30 squad at the Heffron Centre.

in his first game of the SG Ball season, Humphries was basically a class above the opposition. He scored a double, set a few more up and kicked another 9 goals in a demolition of the Dragons at Redfern Oval. Watch out for him, he’s a star on the rise.

Thomas Fletcher

Tom Fletcher has been in the Rabbitohs system for a couple of years now. We’ve seen the potential, he’s a ball running forward and can hit hard in defence. He has however, been unlucky with injuries that have robbed him of valuable game time.

When I bumped into Tom last week at Redfern Oval he told me he’s fit and ready to go in 2025. If we can see the best version of Tom from the bush then an NRL debut awaits.

Talanoa Penitani

Talanoa Penitani is a talented footy player. He is a Sydney lad and the brother of NRLW stars Tiana and Tash Penitani. Reports suggest that Talanoa has been training the house down and is ready to showcase his talents in the red and green.

Talanoa is connected to the Rabbitohs in more ways than one. Tiana Penitani Gray is married to former Souths back Aaron Gray. Aarons’ brother, former Bunnies pathways forward Brock Gray is the partner of Tash Penitani.

Declan Casey & Isaiah Tass

Outside back Declan Casey has played NRL with the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers. He’s been given a chance at Souths and will start in the centres alongside Isaiah Tass. Tass is back from a serious leg injury and will no doubt be super keen to return to the form that saw him cement a spot in the Rabbitohs star studded backline.

Nazareth Taua

Nazareth Taua is a forward who began with the Marist Saints in New Zealand before playing Mal Meninga Cup for Redcliffe and Norths Devils in 2022-23. He started the final five games for the Rabbitohs’ Jersey Flegg Cup team in 2024. Watch out for him to come off the bench on Saturday, he can play.

Ashton Ward

Ashton Ward has also spent this pre season rubbing shoulders with Trell Mit, Cody Walker and co. He is a skilful, speedy five eighth. This former Dragon is a gun, look for him to get involved on Saturday.

Bayleigh Bentley-Hape

Try scoring fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hape has played for South Eastern in the Souths Juniors competition and NSW Cup for the Rabbitohs. He’s an elusive type, keep an eye on him.

Bailey Biondi-Odo

Play maker Bailey Biondi-Odo played 17 games for the Bulldogs in 2021-22. In 2021 he scored his first NRL try for Canterbury in a 32-24 loss to the Rabbitohs in round 18. Since 2022 Biondi-Odo has played NSW Cup for the Bulldogs and Hostplus Cup for the Townsville Blackhawks in Queensland. 2025 is this 23 year olds chance to find his way back to the big stage.

The Rabbitohs’ squad for Saturday’s pre-season match against Manly on Saturday 15th February, 3:30pm at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford is:

1- Jye Gray
2- Fletcher Myers
3- Declan Casey
4- Isaiah Tass
5- Talanoa Penitani
6- Jamie Humphreys
7- Lewis Dodd
8- Sean Keppie
9- Peter Mamouzelos
10- Davvy Moale
11- Max McCarthy
12- Thomas Fletcher
13- Lachlan Hubner

Interchange:

14- Ashton Ward
15- Salesi Ataata
16- Nazareth Taua
17- Ryan Gray
18- Liam Le Blanc
19- Matthew Humphries
20- Siliva Havili
21- Bayleigh Bentley-Hape
22- Luke Webley
23- Josh Stuckey
24- Bailey Biondi-Odo

Coach – Ben Hornby

Jersey Flegg Cup

On Saturday we get our first look at this new u21s group. Bring it on!

Riley Frame

Queensland hooker Riley Frame has been running around in the Wynnum Manly red and green since he was 6 years old. Riley will feel right at home in the famous cardinal and myrtle South Sydney jersey because he’s grown up in those colours. This running number 9 has made the trip down south to fulfil his rugby league dream.

Liam Stariha

Having the word ‘Star’ in your surname can therefore lead to certain expectations. Liam Stariha from Brisbane Bayside has moved to South Sydney to prove that he’s got the right stuff. Just like Riley Frame, Liam is also a Wynnum Manly junior. A powerful forward, Stariha captained the Seagulls to an under 18s premiership. My Queensland spies tell me that Liam “leads by example, is a good defender with a high workrate and he certainly leads by example”.

Brent Hawkins

Big brother Dean has moved to the Eels but Brent Hawkins is back again at the Rabbits in 2025. Brent can play 7 or 6 and is also an accurater goal kicker. Watch out for this Matto Tigers junior to surely play more quality footy this season.

Jason Hallie

When Jason Hallie moved down to Souths from Tully in Queensland he weighed in at around 130kg. Big Jason made an immediate impact in the pathways system, proving to be somewhat of an unstoppable force when running the football. During this off season Jason has found a passion for cross fit training with dad Leon. Jason is a new man having now dropped an incredible 15 kgs. He’s ready to unleash his 2.0 version talents on the Jersey Flegg competition.

A quick shout goes to the bloke at the bottom of the team list here in the number 26 jersey. Bailey Smith, the boy from Botany is just recovering from a slight hammy problem but when fit he is a dynamic fullback, hooker or halves player. Rip in mate!

The Jersey Flegg Cup squad for their trial match against the Panthers 10:30am Saturday 15th February at Erskineville Oval is:

1- Dane Towns
2- Billy Sprague
3- Daniel Wright
4- Jack McHenry
5- Daniel Waqa
6- Brent Hawkins
7- Nicholas Quinn
8- Mikael Ibrahim
9- Riley Frame
10- Jason Hallie
11- Joshua Alhazim
12- Kristian Tornatore
13- Zane Watson

Interchange:

14- Yehya Ayache
15- Nathaniel Gallo
16- Wyatt Lourigan
17- Liam Stariha
18- Sione Lolohea
19- Palu Tausala
20- Tavis Felsch
21- Jayden Wolfe
22- Nabatiku Utiaro
23- Tanna Featherstone
24- Sam Graziani
25- Sam Taylor
26- Bailey Smith

SG Ball Cup

The undefeated Rabbitohs SG Ball Cup under 19s team will play the 0-2 Magpies on Saturday. There’s a real buzz around this team but there is no doubt stiffer competiton awaits as the season progresses. Time will tell if these boys are the real deal but so far so good.

Lochlin Moses

During my Bunnies TV interview with Lochy Moses last week, I hinted that coach Nathan Hogan would be keen to give him a run after he had been named 18th man in rounds 1 and 2. Coach Hogan may well have heard the call because he has promoted the La Perouse junior to make his SG Ball Cup debut againts the Magpies.

Moses is an outstanding talent, his ball skills are freakish and he can turn a game on his own, watch out for him!

Yasin Kusco

At training last week while chatting to coach Nathan Hogan I asked him what he liked about his fullback Yasin Kusco. “He’s talented and as tough as they come” was his reply. Then on the weekend Kusco scored a try double to take his season tally to 3.

Kaea Mathews

Rabbitohs recruitment manager Brent Hill made a number of trips to New Zealand recently while scouting for talent. Outstanding back rower Kaea Mathews making the move to Souths is therefore a result of our man ‘Benny Hills’ eagle eye. Kaea (pronounced Ky Ah) is a rock solid edge back rower who is a ferocious defender and has a tremendous offload.

Cody Hill

Not only is ‘Benny Hill’ finding players but he’s also fathering them as well. Hooker Cody Hill has been a standout in all the SG Ball trial games and is now carving them up in the competition games when it matters. Not surprisingly younger brother Zane Hill is playing brilliant footy at hooker for the Bunnies Harold Matts team.

The SG Ball Cup team for round three against Western Suburbs 11:30am on Saturday 15th February at Kirkham Oval, Camden is:

1- Yasin Kuscu
2- Jacob Fong
3- Lance Tovio
4- Dayne Jennings
5- Charlie Poynton
6- Taj Alvarez
7- Mark Nosa
8- Maddax Fui
9- Cody Hill
10- Johannes Logan
11- Lochlin Moses
12- Kaerangi Mathews
13- Harrison Rooke

Interchange:

14- Tylan Berryman
15- Elijah Keung
16- Devonte Vaotu’ua
17- Daniel Lua
18- Riley Allen
19- Joshua Ballard

Coach – Nathan Hogan

Harold Matthews Cup

Our Harold Matthews team is also yet to taste defeat in 2025. This would also no doubt please newly appointed pathways boss, rugby league legend David Furner.

I had a brief chat to coach Kell O’Brien yesterday and not surprisingly he’s under no illusion about the tough task ahead. “Big game this week” is how he described the clash coming up against the also undefeated Magpies.

Darcy Feltham

Dashing Darcy Feltham is an average looking young fella, if you saw him in the street I doubt you’d think he was a gun rugby league footballer. Put a red and green jersey on him and he transforms into a try scoring machine. He’s smart, he’s quick and he’s very hard to pin down.

Malaki Schwalger-loane

Malaki Schwalger-loane caught our eye last year when he played well in a 16s Development game we broadcast on Bunnies TV. Big Malaki was a standout then and he did the same on Saturday, making bone crunching tackles and pumping out plenty of metres running the ball. His efforts have subsequently been rewarded with a Harold Matts debut off the bench. Good luck mate!

The Harold Matthews Cup team for round three against the Magpies 10:00am Saturday 15th February at Kirkham Oval, Camden is:

1- Darcy Feltham
2- Robert Simms
3- Asher Pung
4- Benjamin Ghattas
5- Hudson Warren
6- Payton Tarau
7- James Davies
8- Benjamin Kaberry
9- Zane Hill
10- Anthony Mailangi
11- Vincent De Giorgio
12- Soane Naufahu
13- Keone Anitelea Tsioussis (c)

Interchange:

14- Charlie Bateup
15- Ziggy Lester
16- Malaki Schwalger-Ioane
17- Koneliaz Kane
18- Jayden Rooke
19- Kai O’Brien
20- Dennishely Taukafa
21- Taj Aufai-Farani

Coach – Kell O’Brien

Lisa Fiaola & Tarsha Gale Cup

The Rabbitohs girls teams have the bye this week but a quick shout out to Shaylee Haines. Shaylee from Moree missed round 1 in the concussion protocol but came out and scored a great try in her Tarsha Gale teams win over the Dragons.

Fullback Taya Donovan scored a try to give her Lisa Fiaola team the lead late in the 2nd half on Saturday. Straightaway we all thought that this 4 pointer would be enough to win the match. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, the Dragons subsequently scored and broke our collective hearts.

Souths Players To Watch by Steve Mavin for Bunnies TV.

Selected images with thanks to Karoline and Oscar.