The South Sydney Rabbitohs are grappling with a severe injury crisis in the 2025 NRL season, bringing to light what has been described as a “gigantic error” by the club’s retention and recruitment staff. This misstep dates back to 2022 when the club opted not to meet veteran halfback Adam Reynolds’ contract demands, offering him only a one-year extension instead of the two years he sought.
Reynolds, now 35, left South Sydney for the Brisbane Broncos after feeling disillusioned by the Rabbitohs’ assessment that his body could not endure the long-term demands of the NRL. However, his subsequent performance has defied those expectations, as South Sydney struggles with an expanding injury list.
Reynolds Defies Expectations
According to veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield, Reynolds has debunked the myth of his supposed fragility. Speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast, Rothfield emphasized the need for Souths to investigate their sports science and high-performance practices, noting that many injuries have occurred during training sessions.
“Souths need an investigation into their injuries, they really do. Their sports science, their high-performance. A lot of them have happened at training,” Rothfield stated. “Whoever on Souths high performance staff four years ago advised their recruitment team that Adam Reynolds was a risk longer than a year has made a gigantic error in my view.”
Since joining the Broncos, Reynolds has played 74 games, 20 more than Souths’ fullback Latrell Mitchell, and only four fewer than Cody Walker. He has also recorded 78 try assists, 600 points, 3,490 possessions, and 30,412 kicking metres, surpassing both Mitchell and Walker in each category.
Injury Crisis and Its Implications
The Rabbitohs’ current injury list is extensive, with key players such as Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Brandon Smith, Campbell Graham, Cameron Murray, Jayden Sullivan, Tevita Tatola, Keaon Koloamatangi, Mikaele Ravalawa, and Davvy Moale all sidelined. Rothfield’s analysis suggests that the club’s sports science practices may require a thorough review.
Meanwhile, former player Laurie Daley has pointed to a broader issue, suggesting that the NRL season’s length could be contributing to the injury woes. “The season is too long isn’t it, 27 rounds… it’s a lot of football. 24 games, plus your Origins and your Test matches,” Daley remarked.
“You’ve got to fit them all in somewhere, I understand that. But I don’t think we need to be playing as many games in the NRL,” Daley added.
Calls for Player Welfare Considerations
Rothfield echoed Daley’s sentiment, urging rugby league authorities to prioritize the welfare of elite players who face year-round playing commitments. “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.
He continued, “As I said, they then have an international series. Then they got their six weeks off, then they get an interrupted pre-season. You’ve got to look at the welfare and you’ve got to look at injuries across the competition. Look at Souths. Latrell (Mitchell), (Cody) Walker, (Cameron) Murray, Campbell Graham, Keaon Koloamatangi.”
The Rabbitohs’ predicament underscores the importance of strategic player retention and the potential long-term impacts of short-term decisions. As the club navigates its current challenges, the lessons from Reynolds’ departure may serve as a cautionary tale for future recruitment strategies.
