The free agency window for 2027 is well underway, and one of the players who should be attracting plenty of interest ahead of a contract upgrade is South Sydney Rabbitohs halfback Jamie Humphreys.

The halfback, who can also line up at hooker, but made it clear during the most recent season that the number seven is his role moving forward, is off-contract with the Rabbitohs at the end of 2026.

Just 23 years of age, Humphreys joined South Sydney ahead of 2025 from the Manly Sea Eagles with frankly few expectations, but an excellent pre-season saw him win the number seven jumper, and it became clear as the campaign went on that he was their first-choice halfback.

Humphreys has always had the talent to become an NRL-level talent, and that is a view which is shared among scouts and fans on the Northern Beaches. They, of course, would have watched on with disappointment as he did it for another club.

Only injuries stopped Humphreys from having a properly fantastic season, with the Rabbitohs slumping well down the ladder in what was an injury crisis for much of the campaign.

Wayne Bennett and his recruitment staff will undoubtedly be keen to retain Humphreys, but his current deal with the Maroubra-based outfit is believed to only be worth about $150,000 per season.

That won't be nearly enough to keep him around, but there are also no prizes for guessing the state of the Rabbitohs' salary cap given other big-money deals for Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray and others around the club.

If Humphreys does take his exit from South Sydney at the end of 2026, here are the clubs who could make a play for him.

2. North Queensland Cowboys

The Cowboys are going to be an intriguing watch in the contract space over the next 12 or so months.

While Tom Dearden is contracted long-term and will play either the number six or seven role - pending who he is partnered with and what fits the team best - there are real questions around the rest of the squad.

The Cowboys have virtually as many open spots as any club for 2027 at this stage, and are looking to reshape and rebuild their roster. Todd Payten has to give the club something to cling onto if he wants to keep his job given the poor 2025 campaign.

Humphreys could be the sort of player who fits in nicely with the Townsville-based system though.

He runs the ball well and will fit in with an attack first mindset. Jake Clifford would seem a likely departure at the end of the year, and a halves partnership of Dearden and Humphreys - with Humphreys taking the lower end of the salary cap space - is an intriguing prospect.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Shane Flanagan said yesterday that the Dragons want “another half”.

    So Humphreys and Anderson make sense as a half pairing. King Togia can play 6 when one of them is injured, with the other one playing 7.

    Kyle takes over at hooker when Damien Cooke calls it a day, and until then he hones his hooker skills in NSW Cup. I’m sure Shane could sell that to his lad !