Why Nobody Will Want To Face The Rabbitohs In The NRL Finals
South Sydney might not enter the 2026 NRL Finals as one of the premiership favourites, but there is a strong argument that they could be the team nobody wants to draw in September.
The Rabbitohs have spent much of the season dealing with injuries and changes to their side, yet they have continued finding ways to win and are now starting to get some important pieces back. Their victory over Canterbury in Round 24 was another step in the right direction and, with David Fifita hitting form and Latrell Mitchell still to return, South Sydney suddenly look capable of causing serious problems in the finals.
There are more complete teams above them on the ladder, but very few possess the same amount of attacking talent. If Wayne Bennett can get his best players fit at the same time, Souths are exactly the sort of side capable of making a run from outside the top four.
David Fifita Is Starting To Look Dangerous
Perhaps the most encouraging development for South Sydney has been the form of David Fifita.
Against Canterbury, Fifita went looking for the football, getting close to 20 carries and 150 metres while producing an individual performance that comfortably stood up against Viliame Kikau on the opposite edge. It was the sort of involvement that has sometimes been missing from Fifita's game, but when he's fit and demanding that much football, there aren't many more damaging back-rowers in the competition.
His move to the right edge also gives South Sydney better balance. Rather than loading Cody Walker, Mitchell, Alex Johnston and Fifita onto the same side of the field, the Rabbitohs can now threaten a defensive line on both edges.
Cody Walker Is Peaking At The Right Time
Cody Walker's recent football might be just as important. At his best, Walker has always been one of the smartest attacking players in the NRL, but the frustration has been the moments where emotion and niggle take him away from what he does so well. Over the past month or so, that hasn't been the story.
Walker has looked composed and focused on his football, and South Sydney are benefiting from it. His ability to sum up a defensive line and choose the right kick or pass remains elite, and with the amount of strike Souths can potentially put around him in September, his decision-making becomes even more important.
There is also something very Wayne Bennett about a veteran playmaker finding his best football as the season reaches the point that actually matters.
South Sydney's Depth Has Kept Them Alive
The Rabbitohs haven't reached this point with their ideal team on the park every week, which might ultimately prove valuable.
Matt Dufty was outstanding against Canterbury, running for nearly 300 metres while scoring twice and creating another try. Jye Gray has already shown what he offers at fullback, yet Dufty's performances have given Bennett another legitimate option heading into the finals.
Tallis Duncan has also become an important part of the pack, while Souths have continued winning despite missing some of their biggest names.
The Rabbitohs Are Built To Cause Problems In September
There are legitimate reasons South Sydney won't be everyone's premiership pick. Teams finishing outside the top four have a much harder road through September and the Rabbitohs will likely need to beat several quality opponents without the luxury of a second chance.
Fifita is finding form, Walker is playing some of his best football of the season and Mitchell potentially comes back into a side that has learned how to win without him. Throw in Johnston, Duncan and the options Bennett now has at fullback, and the Rabbitohs suddenly have plenty of ways to hurt teams.
This weekend against the Warriors should tell us plenty. South Sydney are walking into one of the toughest assignments in the competition against a side with genuine premiership ambitions, which makes it an ideal test of just how dangerous the Rabbitohs really are.