What Happened to South Sydney Rabbitohs?

The South Sydney Rabbitohs, established in 1908, hold the distinction of being one of the founding clubs of the New South Wales Rugby Football League and the most successful professional team in Australian rugby league history with 21 premierships. After a period of exclusion from the competition in the early 2000s, the club was famously readmitted following a passionate community campaign. This resurgence was further bolstered by the high-profile ownership involvement of actor Russell Crowe, who, alongside James Packer, acquired a significant stake in the club in 2006 and 2014 respectively. In 2021, tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes joined the ownership group, purchasing a one-third share, with Crowe and Packer also holding one-third each, and the remaining 25% owned by club members.

The club enjoyed a golden era in the 2010s, breaking a 43-year premiership drought in 2014 with a memorable Grand Final victory. They continued to be strong contenders, reaching the Grand Final again in 2021. However, the 2023 season saw a downturn, with the Rabbitohs missing the finals despite being second at the midway point.

The 2024 NRL season proved to be particularly challenging for the Rabbitohs, as they finished 16th on the ladder with a record of 7 wins and 17 losses. Jason Demetriou began the season as head coach, but Ben Hornby took over as caretaker coach during the year. This difficult period continued into the 2025 season, which was described as a 'disastrous collapse' under Head Coach Wayne Bennett, who had returned to the club. The team finished 14th out of 17, recording 9 wins and 15 losses, largely attributed to a significant injury toll that saw players miss over 275 weeks combined. Key players like Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray faced absences, and new signings like Lewis Dodd underperformed.

Heading into the 2026 season, the Rabbitohs made several changes to their football department in October 2025, including promotions and new appointments aimed at charting a path back to the top four. Under Wayne Bennett's continued guidance, the 2026 season saw a notable improvement. The team qualified for the NRL Finals, demonstrating a stronger performance than the preceding two years. However, their finals campaign was short-lived, as they were defeated by the Newcastle Knights in Week 1 with a score of 20-10. Despite the early finals exit, individual players shone, with Tallis Duncan earning selection in the 2026 Players' Dream Team, and young halfback Ashton Ward having a 'coming-of-age' season. Captain Cameron Murray also delivered a strong performance, leading the team through 20 NRL appearances. As of September 2026, Head Coach Wayne Bennett was also inducted as a Life Member of the Queensland Rugby League and has been vocal about proposing rule changes to the NRL regarding the bunker system.