NRL news 2026: Rabbitohs facing roster turnover, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton contracts, Wayne Bennett future, analysis

South Sydney are fighting to keep their NRL top-eight spot, but the foundation club could be facing some even bigger hurdles come November.

With five rounds remaining, the Rabbitohs are sitting in seventh spot, but are level on points with the ninth-placed Cowboys, who have a bye up their sleeve.

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Souths face a tough run into September, including a round 24 showdown with the Bulldogs and matches against two top-four sides, the Warriors and Roosters.

If they make the finals, it would be a rather incredible achievement given the fact the Rabbitohs have been without a host of key stars throughout the year.

But whenever their 2026 campaign does come to an end, Souths will be rapidly approaching their most important off-season in recent memory.

The club’s salary cap situation is a point of intrigue heading into the November free agency period, with just five members of their current squad - Ashton Ward, Cameron Murray, Jye Gray, Lachlan Hubner and Tevita Tatola - signed for 2028.

Incoming recruit Payne Haas will also be at the Rabbitohs for the next two years - the perfect replacement for Dragons-bound prop Keaon Koloamatangi.

There are a stack of high-profile Bunnies stars who are set to become free agents in November, which could force the likes of chief executive Blake Solly and head of recruitment Mark Ellison into some difficult decisions.

Of the names unsigned for 2028 and beyond, the most notable is Latrell Mitchell - the club’s equal-highest paid player on an estimated $1.1 million per year.

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Mitchell is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NRL when he’s fit and firing, but has managed just 95 appearances in seven years at Redfern.

The superstar centre will turn 30 next year and will potentially be asked to take a significant pay cut to remain in the red and green due to his output since his arrival.

He could probably get more money elsewhere from a club willing to risk Mitchell’s injury history in order to land a marquee signing, but his connection to Souths is clear. It’s difficult to imagine a world where he doesn’t extend.

While clearly the biggest fish in the pond, Mitchell isn’t the only well-compensated Rabbitohs player who hasn’t produced value for money.

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Campbell Graham was once an elite centre, but his horrid run with injuries over the past few years have seen the local junior struggle for consistency.

The former Kangaroos representative is earning approximately $700,000 for this season and next, but the club may not be in a rush to extend him.

Jack Wighton is on a decent wicket too and could earn up to $900,000 next year due to a back-ended, long-term contract he signed when leaving Canberra.

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The former State of Origin star brings great versatility and has been strong in patches for the Rabbitohs, but turns 34 at the start of next year.

David Fifita is still getting some of his $1 million salary subsidised by the Titans, but his current club will need to decide whether he’s brought enough to the table in what has been a disrupted start to his life in Sydney.

Other players who are off-contract at the end of 2026 include Brandon Smith, Tallis Duncan, Euan Aitken, Jayden Sullivan and Tyrone Munro, who has not played a game this year after being subject to the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.

Duncan is an absolute must-sign for Souths, having proven himself in multiple positions and emerging as a future representative star.

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The 24-year-old has gone from strength-to-strength and fans would be up in arms if he hits the open market, where rival clubs would be waiting to pounce.

The versatile utility said he is focusing on football for now, but admitted he would be “here forever” if it was his call during a press conference on Wednesday.

Wighton, one of the club’s most experienced players, urged Souths to extend him.

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“He’s the club’s future, he’s probably the club’s next captain if you ask me and the club would be foolish if they didn’t prioritise him,” Wighton said this week.

Even in the shorter term, there are some significant calls to be made at Souths.

Cody Walker, the club’s long-term five-eighth, has still yet to officially sign for next season and will likely take a financial haircut to go around again.

“I haven’t made up my mind,” he told media on Wednesday.

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In-form fullback Matt Dufty isn’t even on an NRL contract, but is keeping Gray out of the side and has more than earned a new deal at the Rabbitohs.

Dufty has put up an average of 225 run metres in his 10 games this year, while also laying on five try assists and scoring another two himself.

Adam Elliott, Liam Le Blanc, Sean Keppie and Jamie Humphreys, who was heavily linked with a move to the Perth Bears before it fell through, are also off-contract.

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The playing roster isn’t the only question mark lingering around the club either, with coach Wayne Bennett still unsigned beyond next year.

Uncertainty has continued to swirl around Bennett, who is yet to confirm his own plans and whether he will continue past his current deal.

Bennett will turn 77 at the start of next year and while the wily super coach hasn’t shown signs of slowing down, he simply can’t do this job forever.

His long-time understudy, Ben Hornby, recently knocked back advances from St Helens to become the Super League club’s head coach to stay put at Redfern.

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Read into that what you will, but Hornby is clearly the next cab off the rank at the Bunnies, especially after narrowly missing out on the top job at the Dragons.

There is a belief that Bennett will continue to coach - especially with the impending arrival of Broncos, NSW and Samoan superstar Haas - but until it’s made official, the club are still in a holding pattern when it comes to their future.

South Sydney are still a live chance of competing for the premiership this year, with some key names returning from injury this weekend and Mitchell still a week-by-week proposition as he manages back and calf issues.

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If they can get “Trell Mit” back on the park, anything is possible.

Whether the Bunnies’ biggest star and some of his teammates are at the club for the long haul is up in the air leading into a crucial off-season.

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