Squad Breakdown: Rabbitohs SC roster analysis

South Sydney will be out to go one better in 2022 under new coach Jason Demetriou.



With a fairly similar roster to last season, there’s no reason why they won’t contend for the premiership again.



Due to their simply immense attacking prowess, they’re one of the most sought after SuperCoach clubs in the game.



As a result, many of their players start at premium prices which makes them all the more difficult to recruit.



The early draw hasn’t done them any favours, with games against the Broncos (A), Storm (A), Roosters (H), Panthers (A) and Dragons (H)… Brutal.



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Making it all the more difficult is Latrell Mitchell’s absence in the opening rounds due to suspension.



With our predicted teams, for SuperCoach purposes we’ve included any players returning from injury/suspension in the first three rounds in the starting line-up.



This combines both the likely starting teams and best 17s, as initial price changes occur after Round 3.



Let’s take a look at the Rabbitohs’ SuperCoach prospects to begin the new season.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PREDICTED TEAM</h2>



1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Jaxson Paulo 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Mark Nicholls 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray



Bench: 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Jacob Host 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Hame Sele



Injuries/suspensions:&nbsp;Latrell Mitchell (suspension, Round 2), Liam Knight (Round 4)



Analysis:&nbsp;Blake Taaffe will start the season at fullback for the first two rounds before Latrell Mitchell returns from suspension in round 2. Lachlan Ilias replaces Adam Reynolds in the halves.



Josh Mansour will be nipping away in competition for a backline spot, he could play wing, with Jaxson Paulo at centre and Taane Milne missing out.



The team again picks itself, except for the 14 role which is up for grabs with Benji Marshall departed and Anthony Milford’s short stint over.



I’ve seen suggestions of recruit Siliva Havili, which may well work, but it gives them four big men on the bench, and with a hooker and back-row all capable of playing 80-minutes it doesn’t make a heap of sense to me.



Taaffe can cover the backline should injuries arise, granted they’d probably need a player capable of deputising for Damien Cook if injured, but perhaps they take the chance of naming Havili as the 18th&nbsp;man?



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GUNS</h2>



Cody Walker // $734,900 // 5-8 // 2021 Ave: 83.8



Despite being a fan boy, I’d like to have Cody in the avoids column, however uncertainties around Nathan Cleary’s fitness, along with Cam Munster’s Round 1 suspension, does leave a few question marks in the halves.



There’s no knock on Walker himself, it’s the draw to start the season.



While I think he’s capable of bettering last year’s average, I do think he’s valued at pretty close to his appropriate price.



I also want to see his role with Adam Reynolds, will he not be afforded as much freedom to roam both edges due to having to take a little more control over organising the team?



You’d hope not, but it’ll depend on how Ilias stands up in the top grade.



With that early draw, I’m eyeing him at a discounted rate come Round 5/6 when his fixtures open up.



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Damien Cook // $575,700 // HOK // 2021 Ave: 65.7



Cook is a huge pre-season watch for me.



Adam Reynolds is gone, he has a new coach, so will it open up his running game again?



Wayne Bennett eased him through the season before unleashing him in the back end of the year, that’s always been the master coach’s approach to player management.



If he does start taking off from dummy-half more often than I think he’s serious value.



The draw remains a concern, but he hasn’t had trouble carving up the competition’s best in the past.



Add in the fact plenty will start with Harry Grant who misses round 1, while Cook plays the Broncos on the point scoring conducive surface of Suncorp Stadium in the opener.



At this stage I’ll avoid, but if he starts darting in trials I’ll be tempted.



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Cameron Murray // $614,800 // 2RF // 2021 Ave: 70.1



Muz, my boy!



Please read the following with an open mind, because I’m very biased when it comes to Murray.



He’s just so consistent with a decent ceiling that I don’t think we’ve seen the peak of in SuperCoach just yet.



It astounds me how often he comes within an inch of scoring only to miss. Things will open up and he’ll go on a mass try-scoring run at some stage, he’s that good.



He was another who had minutes managed by Bennett, so it remains to be seen how Demetriou will play his new skipper.



He averaged 62 minutes last season, so there’s a chance this increasess a touch.



Outside of an injury affected game and his return a month later, he had a low score of just 49 points.



He had two tonnes, and seven scores over 85 points, with a base of 51.



Despite the draw, he’s a big chance to be in my round 1 team.



Latrell Mitchell // $721,000 // FLB // 2021 Ave: 82.2



With news that Latrell will only miss one match, rather than the initial two, it changes things dramatically at the Rabbitohs.



Reaching the peak of his career, likely kicking goals with Adam Reynolds gone, he has the potential to average 100+ this year and will be a huge consideration on return, or from Round 1 if you&#8217;re inclined to go that way.



His first three games are savage, but opposition tends to not worry him too much and will likely keep plenty away.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MID-RANGERS</h2>



Jai Arrow // $457,700 // 2RF-FRF // 2021 Ave: 52.2



One day Arrow will hit the SuperCoach heights we know he’s capable of. Hopefully that day is Friday, March 11, 2021, when the Bunnies kick off their season.



Jaydn Su’A’s departure opens up an edge role, and Arrow will be in line to take it.



He averaged just 47 minutes per game last season, his lowest since 2017.



Injuries have plagued him over the years, probably not helped by how hard he plays the game.



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But the fact he’s dual FRF-2RF and likely gets more time this season makes him really appetising.



His 44 base in 47 minutes was outstanding, and he traditionally scores at around 1.1 points per minute regardless of time. Do note thought he did produce just 0.99PPM in 2020.



He absolutely has the potential to be a FRF keeper (not 2RF), and barring injury, I think worst case scenario he holds his value and punches out solid 50s to start the year.



If he’s named on the bench in round 1 he’s an immediate avoid.



Campbell Graham // $494,900 // CTW // 2021 Ave: 56.4



Graham isn’t exactly a mid-ranger, it was just getting a little crowded up top…



What excites me is the potential to shift to the potent left edge outside Cody Walker.



We should know what edge he’ll be as the trials unfold. If he’s right, I’ll definitely avoid due to the draw, and to be honest it’s that reason that’ll make me likely avoid anyway.



However, from Round 5 onwards I think he’ll be a serious purchase if playing left edge.



His 34 base per game in 2021 was among the elite scoring for CTWs, while he’d be on the most lethal edge in the NRL if shifting left.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BARGAIN BUYS</h2>



Lachlan Ilias // $205,200 // 5/8-HFB // 2021 Ave: 39 and Blake Taaffe // $210,400 // FLB-HFB // 2021 Ave: 30



Two players we may have to start with, but not without slight reservations for me.



The fact is, barring injuries elsewhere, one of these two drops to the bench or out of the team in Round 2 when Latrell Mitchell returns.



That’s the all-important week prior to initial price movements, not ideal.



Ilias likely holds a spot, with Taaffe taking up the 14 role, however Taaffe has played plenty of footy in the halves, so if he kills the opening rounds he could easily partner Walker in the halves.



It’ll likely form dependant, however my gut feels says that if the club wanted Taaffe to play halves he&#8217;d be there Round 1, with Johnston at fullback, I think Ilias is safe the more I read into it.



The tough early draw makes things even more difficult as they’ll be difficult plays in 17s.



UPDATE: Latrell returning in Round 2 rather than Round 3 is huge, and heavily dents Taaffe&#8217;s credentials. I expect him to shift to 14 in Round 2, meaning he could play very few minutes and make little to no money.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AVOIDS</h2>



Alex Johnston // $638,200 // CTW-FLB // 2021 Ave: 72.8



I’ll mention this on repeat throughout the pre-season, but I just think there’s players such as AJ and Reuben Garrick who are priced at their max value off the back of stellar seasons.



I think we need to find the mid-range, undervalued players who can do similar this season.



Once the likes of AJ and Garrick drop in price, it’ll hopefully be a fairly easy upgrade.



That being said, $638k isn’t absurd to pay, but it’s the draw that makes me want to steer well clear of AJ early on.



All going to plan, I aim to grab him for sub $600k a month or so down the track.

Squad Breakdown: Rabbitohs SC roster analysis

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