The South Sydney Rabbitohs head into 2026 as one of the competition's most intriguing wildcards.
Not surprisingly, many pundits have them marked as a genuine smokey for the finals, with Zero Tackle even naming them among five teams capable of winning the premiership. With Wayne Bennett back in charge, that belief carries weight.
Souths remain stacked with star power, and the biggest upside is that many of those stars have barely played together at full fitness over the past few seasons. Cameron Murray's season-ending pre-season injury in 2025 came at a time when he was shouldering an enormous workload, often playing fatigued without losing his class. As frustrating as that year out would have been, it may prove a blessing in disguise. A player of his calibre will not take long to get back to his best.
Campbell Graham, after sternum issues and repeated setbacks, looks set to finally get a clean run. Latrell Mitchell's shift to centre could be pivotal. Reducing his fullback workload may allow him to stay on the park longer, after struggling to string together extended injury-free runs. Cody Walker, used sparingly off the bench late last season, may also benefit from that freshen-up, while the arrival of a fit and motivated Brandon Smith and a reinvigorated David Fifita adds serious punch through the middle.
There have been setbacks, including the loss of Tyrrell Munro to off-field issues, but the Rabbitohs still boast elite class across the park. Alex Johnston is closing in on the all-time try-scoring record held by Ken Irvine, a milestone he could realistically pass early in the season. Add a hardened forward pack, emerging youth, and Wayne Bennett's ruthless standards, and South Sydney have all the ingredients to be a genuine problem in 2026.
For that to happen, though, these five players must lift their impact, consistency, and availability.
3. Brandon Smith
Why his role is so important
When Brandon Smith left the Melbourne Storm, nearly every club in the competition was interested in his signature. The Sydney Roosters won that race, but his time there never fully delivered what many expected. Some doubted whether Smith was a genuine eighty-minute hooker and saw him as better suited to an interchange impact role as a middle forward. Either way, at his best he is one of the hardest working, most aggressive and most competitive players in the NRL.
Smith now moves to South Sydney, where he reunites with Wayne Bennett, the coach most widely regarded as the master of simplifying roles and unlocking the best football out of elite players. With a full preseason at the Rabbitohs, Smith is expected to play a major role at hooker, particularly given South Sydney do not currently have a stack of proven NRL-ready hookers in the squad. His energy, competitiveness and ability to put the side on the front foot from dummy half will be crucial to the balance of the Rabbitohs' spine.
South Sydney have also signed Bronson Garlick as depth and backup. Garlick is the son of former Roosters hooker Sean Garlick, who is also the founder of Garlo's Pies. Bronson Garlick came through the Bulldogs system and has spent the last few seasons at the Melbourne Storm as a squad player and depth option.
His presence gives South Sydney cover and flexibility, but Brandon Smith is clearly the man expected to drive the ruck for this team in 2026.
What needs to improve
The biggest improvement area for Smith is consistency and discipline in his role execution. At times in recent seasons he has tried to do too much, played outside the system, or let frustration impact his decision making. His service from dummy half must be clean and reliable, particularly with high-class playmakers like Cody Walker and Jack Wighton outside him.
Smith also needs to show that he can sustain his intensity for longer minutes without fatigue undermining his effectiveness. There have been stretches where his aggression and energy have dropped as games wore on, leading to handling errors, penalties or defensive lapses. His off-field indiscretions have also drawn scrutiny in the past, and while he remains one of the great characters of the NRL, he needs to keep his focus squarely on football.
It has been widely reported that he has returned in excellent physical condition, looking fitter than he has in years. If that proves true across the season, it will go a long way toward fixing the inconsistency that has followed him since leaving Melbourne.
Why his improvement matters
South Sydney do not need Brandon Smith to be a miracle worker.
They need him to be a high-energy, high-tempo hooker who plays his role, gets the ball cleanly to his halves, and takes his opportunities when defenders are slow or disorganised around the ruck.
If Smith finds his best football under Wayne Bennett, South Sydney instantly become more dangerous through the middle. His aggression, competitiveness and relentless work rate can change the momentum of games and put opposition packs under sustained pressure. If he can play long minutes at the tempo he thrives on, stay disciplined, and maintain his fitness across the season, South Sydney may have landed a genuinely elite player at a very good price.
In a side stacked with attacking weapons out wide, the quality and consistency of service from dummy half will shape everything the Rabbitohs do. Brandon Smith's ability to stabilise that position and bring his best football back will be one of the defining factors in whether South Sydney live up to the massive hype surrounding their 2026 campaign.
