South Sydney Rabbitohs 2023 NRL Preview & Predictions

<p>Once again late season victims of the Penrith Panthers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be out for revenge in 2023.</p> <p>The Panthers have ended Souths’ campaign the last three seasons in a row, twice in preliminary finals and once in the Grand Final.</p> <p>You can imagine their players are already looking forward to their round two encounter at Penrith Stadium.</p> <p>There has been minimal transfer activity at the Redfern club meaning the South Sydney Rabbitohs predicted team to start the season will look eerily similar to the one that fell just a game short of the decider in 2022.</p> <p>Having made the final four in each of the past five seasons without tasting premiership glory, is 2023 finally the year the Bunnies complete the mission? Read our South Sydney Rabbitohs preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Gains</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li><strong><em>Terrell Kalo Kalo</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Josiah Karapani</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Ben Lovett</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Leon Te Hau</em></strong></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>There have been no big-name additions for South Sydney ahead of the 2023 season. Instead, four youngsters have been promoted to the top 30 to bolster their squad.</p> <p>While they haven’t signed any big names, they did manage to lock up superstar trio Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook on new contracts.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Losses</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li><strong><em>Mark Nicholls (The Dolphins)</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Kodi Nikorima (The Dolphins)</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Jaxson Paulo (Sydney Roosters)</em></strong></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Consistency seems to be key for South Sydney in 2023 with minimal talent exiting the club.</p> <p>The only regular starter to depart ahead of the new season is front-rower turned cult hero Mark Nicholls.</p> <p>The man known ironically as “the GOAT” has left to join former mentor Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins along with teammate Kodi Nikorima.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Player To Watch</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Latrell Mitchell</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Mercurial fullback Latrell Mitchell is one of the game’s great entertainers and is capable of pulling off feats on the field that others simply can’t.</p> <p>Never far from controversy, when Mitchell is not serving a suspension, he is usually turning in clinics for the Cardinal and Myrtle.</p> <p>Mitchell missed 10 rounds through injury last season, but when he finally made his comeback he returned as a man on a mission.</p> <p>He single handedly won games for South Sydney in the second half of last season and scored some truly spectacular tries in the process.</p> <p>In addition to his try scoring and playmaking exploits, Latrell has come on leaps and bounds as a goal kicker. His prowess off the tee dramatically helped ease the loss of elite marksmen Adam Reynolds last season.</p> <p>Mitchell’s late season tear was rewarded with a spot in the Kangaroos World Cup squad that went on to lift the trophy. Latrell starred once more playing in all five of their matches, scoring five tries in the process.</p> <p>If he can stay out of trouble and injury free there is no limit to what Latrell Mitchell and the South Sydney Rabbitohs can achieve in 2023.</p>

<h3>South Sydney Rabbitohs Season Prediction</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Predicted finish: <strong>3rd</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For all their success in recent times, the Rabbitohs have still only won a single premiership in the last decade.</p> <p>That Grand Final win (their first in 43 years) was all the way back in 2014 and with stars like Damien Cook and Cody Walker entering the latter stages of their careers, it is evident that their premiership window is slowly shutting.</p> <p>2023 presents another excellent opportunity for the Red and Green to capture just their second premiership in over half a century.</p> <p>They possess one of, if not the best spine in the competition and in skipper Cameron Murray they have the competition’s premier forward.</p> <p>Add in try-scoring freak Alex Johnston who has been the NRL’s leading try scorer for the last three seasons in a row and the Rabbitohs have a team more than capable of challenging for the title.</p> <p>Expect to see the Bunnies hop into the top four and set themselves up for another deep run come September.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>South Sydney Rabbitohs Predicted Team For Round 1</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li>Latrell Mitchell</li> <li>Alex Johnston</li> <li>Campbell Graham</li> <li>Isaiah Tass</li> <li>Izaac Thompson</li> <li>Cody Walker</li> <li>Lachlan Ilias</li> <li>Tevita Tatola</li> <li>Damien Cook</li> <li>Thomas Burgess</li> <li>Keaon Koloamatangi</li> <li>Jai Arrow&nbsp;</li> <li>Cameron Murray</li> <li>Blake Taaffe</li> <li>Siliva Havili</li> <li>Jacob Host&nbsp;</li> <li>Davvy Moale</li> </ol>