'Long time coming': Bennett finally calls on $700k recruit

Lewis Dodd admits it has "been a long time coming" to earn a spot in South Sydney's starting team after joining the club in the off-season. Signed on big money from the Super League, the young playmaker has been constantly overlooked by coach Wayne Bennett across the opening two months of the season. But heading into Magic Round, there was simply no choice but to insert the $700,000-a-season 23-year-old into the fray with a host of Rabbitohs playmakers sidelined due to injury. Jamie Humphreys, Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton will all be out of action this weekend, with the latter suffering an injury at training after initially being named to wear the No.6 jumper against the Newcastle Knights. Speaking to media at the airport on Thursday, the former St Helens premiership winner said his time in NSW Cup and on the bench will hold him in good stead. "It's been a long time coming, it feels like," Dodd said. "I didn't think it was gonna be easy, I didn't know if it was gonna go my own way. "I wouldn't have had it any other way - it will make me a better player and better person. "At the end of the day, that's all I can ask for." The injury crisis at Redfern will also see Bennett install a new captain for the trip to Brisbane for the annual rugby league extravaganza. Jai Arrow will step into the role and gave a trademark response to the decision. "I guess I'm the last one left out of the leadership group," the ex-Origin forward said. "Someone has got to hold the fort down while the rest of them take some time off." Souths will face the Knights on Saturday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium.

Get in their faces

This column has mentioned before that if you get into the Rabbitohs' faces and rattle their main men, they are vulnerable.And Cronulla used that blueprint to score their crucial 26-16 win over the Bunnies in Perth.The loss could cost Souths a finals spot, and on the display in the west they don't deserve to be there.Marquee players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker weren't given any time or space and their frustration was there for all to see.It was a massive win for the Sharks, with the final score of 26-16 flattering the Bunnies. The win ended a three game losing run and puts the Sharks back on track for a finals berth.

South Sydney superstar Cody Walker 'blew it' in latest Origin audition

The opportunity was there for Cody Walker to press for a berth in Origin III on Sunday night - but sadly he blew it.Walker's hopes of a Blues call-up weren't helped by a rampaging Cowboys team, who thumped the Bunnies 31-6 on their own turf.Walker can get frustrated and make errors when things don't go his way - and so it was at Accor Stadium.Walker missed five tackles, made three errors and gave away a penalty as the Cowboys dominated him.It would be wrong to single out the star five-eighth - who has had a great season overall - for criticism.His halves partner Lachlan Ilias also struggled, missing six tackles, two of which directly led to tries, and even skipper Cameron Murray missed four tackles and gave away two penalties.Souths are clearly in the wars, losing four of their last five games and conceding 30 or more points on each occasion.

Souths re-sign superstars Mitchell, Walker

Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker have re-signed with South Sydney in a major coup for a club pushing hard for premiership success.Mitchell will remain with the Rabbitohs until at least the end of 2026, while 32-year-old Walker looks set to finish his career in Redfern after signing a two-year extension.The pair, and hooker Damien Cook, had previously expressed their hope of remaining at the club after their previous contracts expired at the end of 2023 but squeezing all three under the salary cap appeared a challenge.Now that Walker and Mitchell have followed Cook in re-signing, the Rabbitohs can enjoy a pre-season without distraction and look to translate sustained success into silverware.The Rabbitohs are the only side to have qualified for the preliminary finals in each of the last five seasons but have no premierships to show for that consistency.Mitchell, 25, was a revelation at fullback in 2022 after returning from an extended hamstring injury lay-off, producing the 10th-most try assists of the season despite playing only 17 games.His new contract means he is set to surpass 100 club games with the Rabbitohs after beginning his career as a utility back at the Sydney Roosters.Five-eighth Walker was at his best once Mitchell came back into the side last season, the duo re-energising the Rabbitohs' attack with a lethal combination down the left edge.A late bloomer, Walker did not make his NRL debut until 2016 but has since developed a reputation as one of the game's premier running halves.

Walker stands tall

Mark down Friday night as the turning point of Cody Walker's season.The Rabbitohs' magician has copped plenty of flak in the first half of the season - and deservedly so.But with seven players missing and his halfback partner Lachlan Ilias lasting just two tackles, Walker stood tall.The classy five-eighth took a game that was in the balance by the scruff of the neck, leading the Rabbitohs to a 40-28 comeback win in Newcastle.Walker scored two tries and laid on two more in a vintage performance that gained the Bunnies an invaluable two points.It would have done his confidence the world of good and is a great sign for Souths coming into the finals.

Walker won't lose spark without Reynolds

Cody Walker is adamant his livewire approach won't be dimmed by Adam Reynolds' departure, insisting he can still play the same way for South Sydney in 2022. Despite Jason Demetriou taking over from Wayne Bennett and Reynolds leaving for Brisbane, the Rabbitohs' NRL off-season mantra has been they don't need to reinvent the wheel. Walker maintaining his style of play and the freedom to pop up on both sides of the ruck is crucial to that. Although the five-eighth believes he will now only have his hands on the ball more with a rookie as his halves partner. Lachlan Ilias, set to return to full training next month after minor back surgery, is the man expected to claim the No.7 jersey in round one against the Broncos. "I don't think my role changes in the way I play the game," Walker told as Souths announced MG on a five-year major sponsorship deal. "It's just building a combination with Lachy, so that he understands my game as well. "I'm probably going to talk a bit more, but in terms of the way I play I don't think it changes too much."

Rabbitohs Romp Rewrites Record Books

Souths set records galore in the 36-6 romp over the terrible Titans on Saturday afternoon. Cody Walker became the first player since records have been kept to notch 50 line break assists in a regular season, tearing apart the Titans' defence out wide. The Rabbitohs finished the game on 689 points - the most they have scored in any season since they began in 1908. The victory was also their 10th straight - the first time they have notched that many wins since 1989. The Titans are also sick of the sight of Latrell Mitchell - he has now scored in all seven games he has played against the Gold Coast.