The Rabbitohs are poised to re-sign a trio of marquee stars, securing the club’s long-term backbone.
Meanwhile, doubts have been raised about Reece Walsh’s immediate future and there could be a change in mid-season.
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THE POTENTIAL WALSH MEDIUM SEASON SWITCH
The immediate future of Warriors star Reece Walsh is being questioned after interim coach Stacey Jones spun the ax and dropped the rising star on the bench.
Having signed with the Broncos for 2023 onwards, the New Zealand club are looking to give other players more start time.
As it stands, Walsh’s role will be reduced after the 19-round team selections and Michael Carayannis of The Daily Telegraph has made a great suggestion.
Players have until August 1 to make mid-season moves, and Walsh could be the perfect candidate to make a short-term change like Tevita Pangai Junior to the Panthers in 2021.
“If that’s how they do it, I wonder if this is the first sign Reece left the club before,” Carayannis told SEN 1170.
“We have a couple of weeks until August 1st, is it a way for them to save some cash and ship it to Brisbane sooner?
“I don’t have any emails about it, but if they don’t play with him, he may have over-requirements for the rest of the year.”
Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy has a major headache on his side after Ryan Papenhuyzen’s season ended with a knee injury.
Andrew Voss asked if Walsh could be a smoker to connect with the storm for the rest of the season.
Several key players out for round 19 | 03:59
“What about the link with Melbourne? With Ryan Papenhuyzen out injured,” Voss said.
“He’s totally off the left field and a bit of a pot, but could Melbourne pick up Walsh like Penrith did with Tevita Pangai Jr. last season?”
Although Grant Anderson will return in round 19, his elbow injury just a few weeks ago forced Bellamy to acknowledge that the club would look for recruits.
A number of injuries to his outer back have left them struggling, such as Reimis Smith and George Jennings, meaning Storm bosses may be looking for more coverage.
“This is not as crazy as it sounds because Melbourne is definitely looking for an outside winger,” Carayannis said.
“They’ve made several calls to a lot of clubs, ideally for them, just someone who needs a home at the end of the year because they don’t have the cover for a first-choice side for an entire year.
“This is not out of the realm of impossibility.”
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JOINT RABBITS TO INSURE THE SPINE
According to reports, the Rabbitohs are confident they will retain their trio of marquee players who take out the contract at the end of the 2023 season.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook will remain at Redfern, and it has been revealed why Adam Reynolds was allowed to leave.
Reynolds left the South Sydney club in 2021, with Rabbitohs powerbrokers allowing their veteran midfielder out to free up space to re-sign his long-term spine.
The Souths were heavily criticized for allowing Reynolds as well as Jaydn Su’A and Dane Gagai to walk, but now this move is poised to secure the club’s future.
Between Walker, 32, Cook, 31, and Mitchell, 25, the combined extensions are worth about $ 6 million.
As it stands, Souths No. 1 has been offered a three-year extension, while Cook and Walker have been offered two-year deals until the end of 2025.
According to reports, the extensions are far from complete, but the club is confident it will be able to keep its spine intact for years to come.
Hooker Damien Cook previously revealed he was looking for a three-year extension to the Fox League podcast, hoping to end his career at Redfern.
Should Lomax go down to the NSW Cup? | 01:21
“I want to finish my career here and I feel like I could play until I was 35 or 36. I would love three years and then leave it so I could finish South Sydney,” Cook told the Fox League. Podcast.
“I am confident and very proud of how I take care of myself and I will definitely make sure I keep giving.
“I also understand leaving the shirt in a good place, where with the transition of the players going through, I leave the club in a good position.”
Reports suggest that if the Walker and Cook couple continue to work towards the end of their new offerings, they could be offered another extension.
Cook was a late NRL player, and did not become a first-rate regular until the age of 25, meaning he could remain one of the competition’s elite until the age of 30.
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“Right now I feel pretty cool and it’s probably because of the late start,” Cook said.
“Also the transition from playing a lot of reserve where my body was able to adapt to playing a lot against men when I was young.
“I have not been beaten in the first degree since I was 18 and I have not touched wood without serious injuries in my career.
“I feel great and would love to finish my career in South Sydney.”
Meanwhile, young gun Lachlan Ilias will also receive a contract extension to remain as Walker’s long-term partner.
THE TIGERS COME BACK TOGETHER
The Tigers could reunite the full cast of their premiere winning team in 2005 after former skipper Scott Prince offered to rejoin the struggling club.
After the announcement that Sheens would take over with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah as assistants, Prince couldn’t help but reflect.
The 42-year-old, who is the only Tigers captain to lift the trophy, currently works for the Broncos as the women’s team’s assistant coach.
But now, it has offered its services for 2023 onwards.
“The band is there, except for the drums,” Prince told WWOS.
“What we did in 2005 was the highlight of my career and we are all brothers for life.
“I have already talked to Tim about what I could do at the club.
Arthur denies leaving Eels | 00:57
“I still love the Tigers and it hurts to see what they have been going through the last few years.
“I like what I do in the Broncos and they’ve been great for me, but if the Tigers had an opening training halves or something, I’d definitely consider it.”
Prince also endorsed Sheens as Marshall’s mentor, who will take over as head coach in 2025.
“Tim is one of the smartest men in football and he will teach a lot to Benji,” Prince said.
“These are exciting times and I think it will work well for the club.”