South Sydney Rabbitohs halfback and utility Jamie Humphreys has revealed he has no idea where the idea he had signed with the Perth Bears for 2027 came from, while also admitting he wants to re-sign with South Sydney.
Off-contract at the end of 2026, it was believed from early in the year that the signing of Payne Haas, the push to have Cody Walker play one more year, the arrival of David Fifita, and a range of other factors would stop the Rabbitohs from being able to retain Humphreys as part of their salary cap.
The star halfback has fallen out of the run-on side for Wayne Bennett this year, but has been a focal point of the bench rotation, and is a big part of South Sydney's plans despite a deal still not being signed.
The rumours linking him to Perth came at a time when the club were desperate to add more players, particularly in the spine, and the news the deal had fallen over came as a bitter blow to head coach Mal Meninga and his recruitment staff.
But now, Humphreys, speaking to News Corp's Newswire, has revealed he was never that close to signing, although was interested, and suggested the Rabbitohs is where he wants to be.
“I don't know where that came from,” he told the NewsWire when asked about the Bears reports.
“I didn't want to speak on it because that creates more talk. I didn't really say too much, so I guess anything that was written can't really be taken for fact because I never said it.
“It definitely was something I was seriously interested in doing, and I was excited by the prospect of it.
“It's just the more I went throughout this season and the more I spoke to Wayne (Souths coach Wayne Bennett) and other guys who I trust and value their opinion, it made the decision that it wasn't for me at that time.
“Not to say that it wouldn't be in a few years if I was a bit older.
“I'm happy with the decision I made, and hopefully we'll get something sorted soon (at Souths). That'd be ideal.”
Humphreys, who toured Perth mid-season, admitted he was impressed with what he saw and heard in Perth, but said the timing just wasn't right for him.
Meninga has since signed a host of players, and now has 28 locked away for the club's first season.
Toby Sexton and Tyran Wishart are likely to be the club's first halves combination, although are under pressure from younger players Niwhai Puru and Jack Cole, while Tyson Smoothy returns from the English Super League to likely be the first hooker for Perth.
Humphreys confirmed that he was hopeful of a deal being signed with the Rabbitohs, even though it hasn't been yet.
“We'll just focus on finals footy for me, and anything that happens off the back of that we'll get sorted out," he said.
“I'd love to stay at Souths. I've made no secret of that. It's somewhere I'd like to be, and I'm still hoping that's something we can do.”
The 24-year-old, who was a highly rated Manly junior, has declared for England at the World Cup this year and now has 36 NRL games of experience under his belt.
