South Sydney Rabbitohs: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing

Wayne Bennett's dramatic arrival at South Sydney marks the union of the code's most successful coach and club.

With 28 premierships between them, Bennett and the Rabbitohs will be hopeful of adding at least another title during the mentor's three-year contract at Redfern.

The 69-year-old certainly has a fantastic foundation to build off given Souths were only one game away from the grand final last season.

The majority of the Rabbitohs' 2018 squad remains together and there is no reason they can't be heavyweights again.

Angus Crichton is one of two notable departures, the representative back-rower having moved across town to the Sydney Roosters.

Winger Robert Jennings is another absentee, bizarrely still unsigned to any club despite scoring 19 tries from 21 games last year.

South Sydney's strength in '18 was their forward pack. When they dominated in the middle, speedy hooker Damien Cook could dart from dummy-half and terrorise defenders around the ruck.

It's a scary thought that the Rabbitohs' big men could be even more dominant this season under Bennett's guidance.

He has a strong relationship with the Burgess brothers – Sam, Tom and George – and is a noted man manager who instils belief.

There are many parallels between the former Broncos coach's switch to South Sydney and his move to the St George Illawarra Dragons a decade ago. 

The Dragons had an immensely talented squad but fell agonisingly short of the ultimate success prior to Bennett taking charge in 2009.

Bennett was able to lift the team to the next level immediately. St George Illawarra finished as minor premiers in Bennett's first year at the helm and won the competition in 2010.

Given his record, you wouldn't count against Bennett doing something similar with South Sydney and bringing the club their second premiership in five seasons.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS PRE-SEASON NEWS

Before pre-season training had even begun, South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis was charged with drink-driving hours after being named captain of the Australian side.

He was stripped of the national leadership but avoided a conviction for the offence.

Amid this drama, there was the uncertainty around who would be coaching the Rabbitohs in 2019.

Most thought ex-Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett, who had already signed to Souths from 2020, would immediately swap posts with then-Souths mentor Anthony Seibold, who had inked a deal to succeed Bennett at Brisbane.

But the matter dragged on. One week it was all but certain Bennett was coming; the next Seibold was going to see out the 2019 season.

The farcical situation eventually ended when Bennett was axed from Brisbane and the coaching switch went ahead.

Bennett's assistant at the Broncos, Jason Demetriou, was also punted from Red Hill and landed at the Rabbitohs.

Not long after Bennett joined South Sydney, NSW and Australian hooker Damien Cook extended his stay until 2023 on a monster contract.

The 32-year-old Inglis announced he would retire from the NRL at the conclusion of the 2020 season.

He will reach 300 games in his final year if he stays fit.

George Burgess rejected a lucrative offer from Parramatta in January to continue his career at the Rabbitohs.

Barely a week later, twin brother Thomas confirmed he will remain with the club until the end of the 2023 season.

It was later reported that George had approached former coach Seibold over a possible move to the Broncos.

Come late February, South Sydney finally put the issue to bed, issuing a statement saying they won't release George.

Inglis was dealt a blow when his reconstructed left knee flared up, forcing him out of Souths' trial matches as well as the All Stars game.

He is in doubt for the opening rounds of the season proper though is confident he will play round one.

Reports emerged that Inglis was a whopping 15kg above his regular playing weight but Bennett moved to quash the speculation.

South Sydney snuck under Manly’s guard to lure aggressive young front-rower Tom Amone to the club on a two-year deal.

Standing 181cm and weighing in at 110kg, Amone was named the Sea Eagles’ Intrust Super Premiership player-of-the-year in 2018.

The Rabbitohs also snared two of the country's hottest teenage rugby union prospects, Joseph Suaalii and Lachlan Ilias, on multi-year contracts.

The pair will play junior reps for the club this season and are tipped for NRL success down the track.

Souths stalwart John Sutton was honoured with a testimonial match during the Rabbitohs' pre-season trial against the Penrith Panthers at Redfern Oval on February 23.

PRE-SEASON TRIALS

February 17 – Rabbitohs 52 def. Riverina All Stars 10

February 23 – Rabbitohs 8 lost to Panthers 28 (John Sutton testimonial match) 

March 2 – Rabbitohs vs Dragons (Charity Shield)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD

South Sydney have one spot remaining in their NRL squad and have until June 30 to fill it.

Fullback Corey Allan is the club's most exciting recruit.

Poached from Brisbane, Allan was selected for the Prime Minister's XIII team last year despite being yet to feature in an NRL match.

He will be pushing for a place in the Souths' starting side.

Liam Knight, Tom Amone, Kurt Dillon and Bayley Sironen add depth to the forwards.

Aside from Angus Crichton (Roosters) and Robert Jennings (unsigned), Jason Clark (Warrington) and Tim Grant (Panthers) have also departed Souths.

COACH: Wayne Bennett

Additions (Players who weren't in 2018 top 30):  Kurt Dillon (Cronulla Sharks), Bayley Sironen (Wests Tigers), Corey Allan (Brisbane Broncos), Tom Amone (Manly Sea Eagles), Jacob Gagan, Mawene Hiroti, Rhys Kennedy, Billy Brittain

Losses:  Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Jason Clark (Warrington Wolves), Tim Grant (Penrith Panthers), Tyrell Fuimaono (Penrith Panthers), Hymel Hunt (Newcastle Knights), Jesse Arthars (Gold Coast Titans), Robert Jennings (unsigned), Vincent Leuluai (unsigned)

Re-signed:  Sam Burgess (2022), Thomas Burgess (2023), Braidon Burns (2019), Damien Cook (2023), Adam Doueihi (2021), Jacob Gagan (2019), Mark Nicholls (2019), John Sutton (2019), Tevita Tatola (2019), Connor Tracey (2019), Cody Walker (2020)

Off-contract beyond 2019:  Dean Britt, George Burgess, Braidon Burns, Jacob Gagan, Mawene Hiroti, Matt McIlwrick, Mark Nicholls, Bayley Sironen, John Sutton, Tevita Tatola, Connor Tracey, Kyle Turner

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS' BETTING ODDS

At $9 (via TAB on 21/2/19), South Sydney were fourth in the betting to win the premiership. It would be their first title since 2014.

Reigning Dally M Hooker of the Year, Damien Cook, is rated a $17 chance of taking out the Dally M Medal and is the club's shortest-priced player.

The Rabbitohs are $1.40 to finish in the top eight, $2.40 to make the top four and $81 to suffer the most losses.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS' 2019 DRAW

Games played on

Thursday: 4

Friday: 8

Saturday: Nine

Sunday: 3

Teams they play twice

Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra Dragons, Manly Sea Eagles, New Zealand Warriors, Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, Wests Tigers

It's a big year for...

Damien Cook.

Cook went from a fringe first grader to arguably the best dummy-half in the world last year.

But a big challenge awaits him this season with teams now aware of his tricks.

Opposing defences will be focused on slowing down the play-the-ball and compressing around the ruck to nullify Cook's potent running game.

Cook knows he will be a marked man and has conceded he needs to develop in other areas to continue his dominance.

The No.9's ability to back up from his breakout season will have a huge effect on how dangerous the Rabbitohs are in 2019.

MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING

As of 21 February, the Rabbitohs had the second-most members committed for the 2019 season with 27,906.

They are well on target to surpass their 2018 total of 29,189.

Membership packages can be viewed here.

General tickets for the season are available here.