The South Sydney Rabbitohs are facing a challenging 2025 season, with injuries decimating their squad and leaving them at risk of finishing last in the NRL. Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield has called for an investigation into the club’s injury crisis, highlighting a troubling statistic about star player Latrell Mitchell. With six rounds remaining, the Rabbitohs are at the bottom of the NRL ladder, a position that could see coach Wayne Bennett facing his first-ever wooden spoon.
Injuries have plagued the Rabbitohs this season, sidelining key players such as captain Cameron Murray, who has not played since rupturing his Achilles in the pre-season. Other stars, including Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, and Campbell Graham, have also missed significant playing time. Mitchell, in particular, has played fewer games in his six seasons with the Rabbitohs than he did during his four years with the Roosters, a fact that underscores the team’s current predicament.
Injury Woes and Training Concerns
Latrell Mitchell’s recent calf injury, sustained during training, has raised questions about the Rabbitohs’ new training facilities at Heffron Park, which replaced their previous base at Redfern Oval. Rothfield, speaking on Sky Sports radio, suggested that the frequency of training-related injuries cannot be mere coincidence. He emphasized the need for an investigation into the club’s sports science and high-performance departments, noting that many injuries, including those of Murray and Mitchell, have occurred during training sessions.
“Souths need an investigation into their injuries, they really do,” Rothfield stated. “Their sports science, their high-performance. A lot of them have happened at training.”
Rothfield also criticized the decision to let go of Adam Reynolds, pointing out that since leaving the Rabbitohs for the Brisbane Broncos, Reynolds has played 20 more games than Mitchell. This statistic highlights the impact of injuries on the Rabbitohs’ performance and raises questions about the club’s decision-making processes.
Calls for NRL Schedule Changes
The ongoing injury crisis has sparked discussions about the NRL’s demanding schedule. Rothfield suggested that the league should consider shortening the regular season to protect its top players. He highlighted the intense workload faced by elite players like Mitchell, who participate in club matches, State of Origin, and international tests each year.
“It is for the elite players, for the players who play finals every year. They play State of Origin, they play trial matches, they play the All-Stars game,” Rothfield explained. “You’ve got to look at the welfare and you’ve got to look at injuries across the competition.”
Rothfield’s comments reflect broader concerns about player welfare and the sustainability of the current NRL schedule. The Rabbitohs’ injury list, which includes not only Mitchell but also Walker, Murray, Campbell Graham, and others, underscores the potential consequences of an overburdened schedule.
South Sydney’s Struggle and Future Prospects
The Rabbitohs’ injury toll has reached a point where it has been described as “laughable” by Souths veteran Jai Arrow. In their upcoming match against the Broncos, the team will be without several key players, including Mitchell, Walker, Murray, and others, due to injuries and suspensions.
“It’s pretty crazy and pretty laughable with the amount of people we have missing at the moment,” Arrow said. “But it is what it is, all you’ve got to do is keep turning up and enjoying each other’s company and turn up for each other on the field.”
The situation at South Sydney highlights the challenges faced by NRL teams in maintaining player health and performance amidst a demanding schedule. As the season progresses, the Rabbitohs will need to rely on their remaining players to step up and perform in the absence of their injured stars. The call for an investigation into their training practices and the broader discussion about the NRL schedule may lead to significant changes in how the league approaches player welfare in the future.
