South Sydney’s ‘non-negotiable’ amid $1.4m debate as ‘tough decisions’ hinge on finals fate

South Sydney’s finals performance is likely to dictate some “tough decisions” as the club faces the prospect of having a staggering 18 players free to negotiate with rival clubs on November 1.

The Rabbitohs, who face Newcastle in a do-or-die elimination final on Friday night, will have to come from sixth place to win the NRL Premiership this season under Wayne Bennett and the future direction of the club came under spotlight from Fox League’s NRL 360 panel on Thursday night.

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Key names set to become available to rival clubs include Latrell Mitchell, David Fifita, Tallis Duncan and Campbell Graham.

Speaking on NRL 360 about the impending roster decisions for the Rabbitohs, Fox League’s Paul Crawley believes hard calls will be made but one player is a non-negotiable.

“I think Souths are at a stage now where some tough decisions will be made,” Crawley said.

“The one bloke I think probably ends up being a non-negotiable on that list, there’s a few but at the top of the list.

“I can’t see Latrell going to another club and people will say well, he’s not earning his value and often injuries and everything else has held him back,” Crawley said.

“But Bennett has also been a coach over time where he knows the sort of players he wants there.”

“He knows what wins football games and this bloke can win football games.”

Mitchell who has played 97 games for the Rabbitohs since joining South Sydney from the Sydney Roosters in 2020.

This season, Mitchell has appeared in 11 games, scoring 12 tries.

For Braith Anasta, the impending decision around Mitchell is simple.

“I think he’ll re-sign for sure,” Anasta said.

“I think he suits Souths and Souths suit him and Wayne the same.

“They’ve got a combination of partnership and relationship, and I think he loves it there generally to play there but also he loves it off field.”

Anasta also pondered whether Souths’ exiting this finals this week would make them rethink their roster approach.

In response, former Souths star Luke Keary said the club’s priority should be building enough quality through their spine to compete for a premiership.

“With South Sydney, you’re 1, 7, 6 and 9, if you don’t have quality there, you cannot win a competition,” Keary said.

Keary spoke to what Souths already have on their list and who are the priorities.

“You’ve got Matt Dufty, who’s been over in Super League,” Keary said.

“You’ve got young Ashton Ward, who’s a very young half. That needs to be their priority, not their centres, right?

“They’ve got Jack (Wighton) and Latrell (Mitchell), terrific players, two of their highest paid players.

“I feel like your money should be in your spine,” Keary said.

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With several big-money players coming off contract, South Sydney could be forced to make sacrifices elsewhere to strengthen their spine.

When asked by Anasta if the Rabbitohs would have to sacrifice one or two players to target a halfback, Keary believed “they will”, but admitted he doesn’t know “who it will be”.

Anasta also highlighted the importance of Mitchell staying healthy given his salary, particularly during South Sydney’s finals campaign.

“That’s why they need Latrell to aim up and to play more games,” Anasta said.

“Because of the money he’s getting paid in the centres, when they are sacrificing a seven, as we speak, they’ve chosen that.

“Will it bite them, will it not? We don’t know.”

“It could work. They could win the comp this year and it’s a masterstroke. But if they go out this week or next, it’s a big, big question mark what they do moving forward.”

With the impending decision for Latrell, the conversation quickly turned to the figure he may demand and what he is worth after another season disrupted by injuries.

“The question we’ve discussed in this show before is, at what price does Latrell re-sign for,” Dean Ritchie said.

“I think Reedy sat there before and said $1.4 (million). I don’t think I could pay Latrell $1.4 at the moment, given his injuries.”

For Anasta, the window for premierships could be the factor that shifts the club one way or another when the window opens in less than two months.

“When you’ve got a window of opportunity to win a premiership, you know that as a team and as players too,” Anasta said.

“I mean, has any of these guys won comps?

“So, they’re going to fight for it and they’re going to want to, no matter what.

“So, it’s going to be interesting.”

The Rabbitohs will face the Newcastle Knights on Friday evening to kickstart their finals campaign, with their premiership push potentially having major ramifications for the club’s roster heading into 2027.

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