The South Sydney Rabbitohs are grappling with a severe injury crisis in the 2025 NRL season, leaving them at risk of finishing last on the ladder for the first time in their storied history. With six rounds remaining, the team is struggling to field a competitive side, prompting calls for an investigation into their training practices and facilities.
Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield has been vocal about the situation, highlighting a troubling statistic regarding star player Latrell Mitchell. Rothfield’s comments come as the Rabbitohs, under the leadership of coach Wayne Bennett, find themselves at the bottom of the NRL standings, a position unfamiliar to the club and its supporters.
Latrell Mitchell’s Injury Woes
Latrell Mitchell, a key figure for the Rabbitohs, has been plagued by injuries throughout the season. A recent calf tear during training has sidelined him once again, adding to the team’s mounting injury list. This marks another setback for Mitchell, who has played fewer games in his six seasons with the Rabbitohs than during his four-year tenure at the Sydney Roosters.
Questions have been raised about the Rabbitohs’ new training facilities at Heffron Park, which replaced the historic Redfern Oval. Rothfield pointed out that many of the team’s injuries, including those of Mitchell and captain Cameron Murray, have occurred during training sessions. “Souths need an investigation into their injuries, they really do,” Rothfield stated on Sky Sports radio. He criticized the club’s high-performance staff, suggesting that poor decisions were made regarding player fitness and recruitment.
Comparisons and Statistics
Rothfield highlighted a striking comparison: Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds, who departed the Rabbitohs for Brisbane, has played 20 more games than Mitchell since his move. “He has played 5,592 minutes since Souths said he was a year-by-year proposition,” Rothfield added, underscoring the discrepancy in game time between the two players.
In four years at the Roosters, Mitchell played 11 more games than he has in six seasons with the Rabbitohs.
This statistic is particularly galling for Rabbitohs fans, who have seen their team struggle without key players like Mitchell, Cody Walker, and Campbell Graham, all of whom have missed significant portions of the season.
Calls for NRL Schedule Changes
Rothfield has also suggested that the NRL consider revising its schedule to better protect elite players. The demands of club, State of Origin, and international matches place a heavy burden on top-tier athletes, contributing to the injury crisis faced by teams like the Rabbitohs.
“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 emphasized the need to consider player welfare and the increasing injury rates across the competition.
South Sydney’s ‘Laughable’ Injury Toll
Souths veteran Jai Arrow recently described the team’s injury toll as “laughable,” highlighting the extent of the crisis. In their upcoming Round 22 match against the Broncos, the Rabbitohs 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. Despite the challenges, he emphasized the importance of team spirit and resilience, stating, “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. That’s all we can do, really.”
The Rabbitohs’ situation highlights broader issues within the NRL regarding player management and the physical demands of the sport. As the season progresses, the team and its supporters will be hoping for a change in fortunes, both on and off the field.
