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South Sydney are set to spring a surprise by switching Latrell Mitchell to five-eighth instead of centre partner Jack Wighton as their depleted stocks get even worse due to the judiciary.
The Rabbitohs confirmed halves Cody Walker and Jamie Humphreys would miss up to three and five weeks respectively due to hamstring problems while English half Lewis Dodd is also in trouble.
He has been hit with a one-game ban for a crusher tackle while playing NSW Cup on Sunday, that would double to two games if he fights it and loses.
Dodd cannot come into the Souths side to face North Queensland in Perth unless he proves his inocence. It is the second time Dodd has missed a chance to debut through suspension, after also copping a ban out of pre-season trials.
That suspension allowed Humphreys to start round one in the No.7 jersey, before the rookie playmaker impressed and kept Dodd stuck in reserve grade.
Mitchell is now seen as the frontrunner to move to five-eighth alongside Jayden Sullivan, with Wighton set to stay at centre.
South Sydney suffered another injury blow with winger Mikaele Ravalawa set to miss eight weeks with a torn hamstring.
Rabbitohs winger Isaiah Tass, who is set to return to centre with Mitchell inheriting the No.6 jersey, backed the Indigenous All-Star to shine in the pivotal role.
“If he plays No.6, he’ll be on the ball more and that will only mean it opens up more opportunities for the people outside him,” Tass said.
“He’s one of those generational players who can play anywhere on the field. Wherever he plays, he will be a threat to the opposition; he will be a threat against the Cowboys.”
It came as Rabbitohs forward Keaon Kolomatangi said the Souths side of 2024 would have crumbled under their sizeable injury toll.
“It obviously sucks that certain players aren’t playing, especially high-calibre players,” back-rower Koloamatangi said.
Isaiah Tass celebrates scoring his try with Latrell Mitchell. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
“But it makes you want to dig a little bit deeper to win a game.
“When you win the games without your star players, it means a little bit more. Hopefully we get another win this week.”
South Sydney, enjoying a 4-1 start in Wayne Bennett’s second coming, finished Friday’s win over the Sydney Roosters with just 14 fit players, snatching victory away from their bitter rivals in the final 20 minutes.
The good feeling around the club is in stark contrast to 12 months ago, when coach Jason Demetriou was sacked after a 1-6 start and the Rabbitohs went within a whisker of the wooden spoon.
“I think it (2024) played a massive role coming into this year,” Koloamatangi said.
“Last year we were pretty down on ourselves and had a terrible year, obviously.
“Pretty much the same stuff has happened with all the injuries, but we won’t make excuses now because everyone in our top 30 is NRL calibre.
“If your name gets called you’re expected to play a role, that’s what Wayne drives – to get the best out of yourself.”
Captain Cameron Murray remains out for the season, while Australian Test centre Campbell Graham is likely to mark his comeback against Canterbury on the Easter weekend.
Mitchell returned last week to spark their win over the Tricolours, while winger Alex Johnston and off-season recruit Euan Aitken – a centre or edge forward option – are a chance to come in for the WA trip.
Where Mitchell plays will be a matter of intrigue given Jye Gray’s hot form at fullback.
Mitchell was named to return last week at centre but quickly shifted to five-eighth when Walker failed to return in the second half.
Dolphins star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is considering making himself available to play for Samoa at the end of the year if he is not chosen by Australia on the Kangaroo Tour.
Tabuai-Fidow represented Samoa in 2022 at the Rugby League World Cup before being selected for Australia the following year and playing six Tests for the green and gold in 2023 and 2024.
His father is Samoan while his mother is a Torres Strait Islander. Tabuai-Fidow was seen wearing Polynesian candy-coloured leis-or garlands – around his neck in the Queensland sheds in 2024 and has also posed in photos with the Samoan flag
In 2023 he said he would “love to play” for Samoa again but also wanted to wear the green and gold, a dream he fulfilled later that year.
Tabuai-Fidow explained why representing Samoa again appealed.
“Just to be part of it and representing my dad’s side. I know I have already done it once but it would be pretty special to do it again in the near future,” he said.
Australia will tour England at the end of the year and after his press conference on Tuesday the man known as ‘Hammer’ confirmed he would do so if chosen.
Samoa also have a Pacific Cup campaign at the end of the season and will contest next year’s World Cup. Tabuai-Fidow would have played more games at the 2022 World Cup for Samoa but injured an ankle in the opening match.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scores a try. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“My mum is a Torres Strait Islander and my dad is Samoan so it is pretty cool to run on representing them. It is a big part of my life and to have those two cultures is special,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
He said he was still uncertain which nation he would represent this year. “I am not too sure yet. I am just going to try and play my best footy throughout this season,” he said.
“Going off the last four weeks I need to come out of my shell. I am not thinking too much about the end of the year. I just want to play good footy and see what happens from there.”
Payne Haas said recently he would make a call at the end of the year whether he would represent Samoa or Australia while Gold Coast captain and Kangaroos prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is also mulling a switch.
Samoa coach Ben Gardiner is assembling a potentially world-class squad of epic proportions.
“It’s a pretty cool thing to do for a nation like Samoa,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“It is pretty cool how many Samoans do play in the NRL and if they do get the crew together it will be a pretty special team. I know all the boys will put their hands up to go back and play.” Tabuai-Fidow is proud to be an Australian representative and said representing both sides of his culture was special. Respect for both is also paramount.
“That is the big thing, to show that respect. I think wherever the boys want to play, wherever their heart is, that is on them,” he said.
Tabuai-Fidow’s close North Queensland mates Murray Taulagi and Jeremiah Nanai have both represented Samoa and Queensland.
“I played up north with them and they are two blokes I get along well with and it would be pretty special to do that,” he said.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook has fired a broadside at the NRL over the frequent airing of their grievances over negotiations for a team in Perth via the media.
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has been outspoken about his desire to get a team up in Perth in the next few years and the NRL has been applying pressure to the government to meet a series of demands surrounding funding for the new franchise, a centre of excellence for the club and an upgrade to HBF Park.
Cook told 9News in Perth that the NRL needed to treat WA “with more respect” after reports earlier this week that the league was about to abandon plans for the potential franchise which was due to include a partnership with the North Sydney Bears.
“We haven’t heard officially,” he told 9News. “We hear through the eastern states media and that’s been a disappointing feature of the discussions we’ve had with them.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“WA is the only place where you can put the N in NRL.
“It’s not a national code until you have a west coast team in the competition. The NRL have to get serious and they have to treat us with more respect and not like a cash cow.”
Cook wouldn’t rule out speculation that Perth media mogul Kerry Stokes’ 7West Media, which owns the rights to the AFL, was working against the NRL franchise getting off the ground to protect its investment in the rival code.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s conversations going on in the background. We know that the broadcast rights with sport is a very big business,” Cook said.
“Western Australia is the most populous timezone in the world, so your live broadcast opportunities expand. By coming to WA, the NRL will significantly grow the number of people following the sport.”
The NRL heads to WA for the first time in 2025 on Saturday, with Manly facing Cronulla and Souths taking on North Queensland at Optus Stadium.
But the westbound jaunt comes at a time when hopes of adding an NRL team in Perth are fading. Can a showcase reignite talks and ensure the NRL has a permanent west coast presence in the years to come?
The Sydney Roosters have recruitment expert Clint Zammit, who is returning home to Townsville for personal reasons.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the man who is widely praised as one of the top talent judges in the game will be taking on a role with the North Queensland Cowboys.
He is heading back home north of the border to support his father, who is struggling with health problems.
“I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity at the Roosters,” he told the News Limited masthead.
“They are such a great club, and I’m sure they’ll be in a position over the next few years to stay where they belong among the top clubs.”
It is tipped to be one of the toughest seasons for the Eastern Suburbs club in 2025, with player departures in the off-season setting up a battle just to make the top eight.
After five rounds, the Roosters sit second last on the ladder, with only Parramatta below them on for and against.
with AAP
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