Fresh from being named in the prestigious 2025 Australian Schoolboys team, Dayne Jennings has been rewarded with his first NRL contract, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs secure one of their brightest young outside back talents.
The 17-year-old, who primarily plays at centre, has been a standout in the 2025 SG Ball Cup competition, electrifying fans with five tries in 10 matches.
As South Sydney looks ahead to the future and the eventual departure of several key players due to age, Jennings joins a growing group of promising young talents—such as Matthew Humphries and Taj Alvarez—who have recently secured their first NRL contracts.
Jennings has earned a place on South Sydney’s development list for the 2027 NRL season and will spend the upcoming year on a New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) contract.
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The young speedster is expected to begin next season competing in the Under-19s competition, with plans to progress through the Jersey Flegg Cup and NSW Cup pathways as he aims to make his mark on the senior ranks.
Still a student at Central Coast Sports College, Jennings stands to benefit greatly from training alongside established Rabbitohs stars such as Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Alex Johnston, and Campbell Graham, gaining invaluable experience as he works towards breaking into the NRL.
“I put in (an application) to trial. Brent (Rabbitohs Pathways Recruitment Manager, Brent Hill) recognised my name from the school trials and put it straight through,” Jennings told Rabbitohs Media.
“(I might get) a game of (Jersey) Flegg (Cup this year) and I've got a game for (the) school on 13 August and the Aussie Schoolboys against PNG on 12 October. It will be tough, but it will be a good game.”