South Sydney Rabbitohs second-rower David Fifita is likely to be ruled out of this weekend's game against the Parramatta Eels after missing the club's captain's run on Wednesday morning.
The Rabbitohs have had some of the NRL's worst luck in recent years when it comes to injuries, with their Maroubra training base coming under heavy fire.
Fresh off the news that Latrell Mitchell will be sidelined for even longer after injuring his calf just days out from a return from a back injury, the club are now also likely to be without David Fifita this weekend.
News on exactly what has happened to Fifita is not forthcoming at this stage, but reports from their captain's run suggested David Fifita did not take part.
Dave Fifita not at Rabbitohs captain run this morning . Yet another injury it looks like.
— Nick Lonergan (@lono89) June 24, 2026
Fifta, who started the season strongly, has only had two games back from an injury that saw him miss time between Round 7 and Round 13.
His return in Round 14, as part of the loss to the Manly Sea Eagles, wasn't quite up to scratch, but he scored a try and made 128 metres in a heavy win over the Brisbane Broncos before last week's bye.
It followed an exceptional first five games of the season, where he breached the 150-metre barrier on three occasions.
The former Gold Coast Titan missed most of his last year at Parkwood with injury and form issues, but has discovered a new lease on life under the coaching of Wayne Bennett at the foundation club.
If he is ruled out of the clash against the Rabbitohs, it's unclear which way they will go to replace him, with Euan Aitken already named to partner him and Tallis Duncan named on Tuesday to play in the centres where South Sydney are also exceptionally short on depth given Mitchell is still joined by Jack Wighton on the sidelines.
Duncan could well shift into the second-row with reserve Moala Graham Taufa called into the side, or otherwise, Bennett could look at Brandon Smith as a stop-gap measure, calling Bronson Garlick into the side to start at dummy half.
Of the six currently named on the bench, there is no specialist second-rower, with Lachlan Hubner, Liam Le Blanc and John Radel all middle third options, Jamie Humphreys and Jayden Sullivan both spine players, and Dayne Jennings a centre who can also play on the wing.
Bennett will cut his side to 20 on Wednesday evening 24 hours before kick-off, with the clearest indication on South Sydney's plans likely to be available then.
