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No 18th man sums up injury-ravaged season for Rabbitohs
Joel Gould, AAP • August 2nd, 2025 7:25 am
Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
South Sydney are staring at the wooden spoon after fielding a bench against Brisbane that had no 18th man.
If any fact sums up the Rabbitohs' dire run with injury in 2025 it is that they did not have enough fit players during the 60-14 loss to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium to have the player coverage that is taken for granted in the NRL.
Hooker Peter Mamouzelos was slated to be the 18th man on Friday night but he had delayed concussion symptoms and was unable to fulfil the role.
The Rabbitohs simply had no-one else that was fit and healthy.
Coach Wayne Bennett has just about seen it all in his 38 years of coaching in the premiership but nothing like this year's injury list.
"I haven't gone close to that," Bennett said post-match.
"We had eight or nine at Redcliffe last year at one stage, but we're on 13 today.
"We didn't have an 18th man tonight. The 18th man pulled out before the game.
"(Mamouzelos) had headaches from concussion two weeks ago and he'd been cleared and passed all the tests but he still wasn't well.
"We made the decision before the game not to put him on the bench."
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has not seen an injury list like this year in his long career | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
To make matters worse the Rabbitohs lost hooker Ryan Gray to a shoulder injury early in the match.
Bennett has not claimed a wooden spoon since starting coaching in the premiership competition in 1987, although he did previously in 1981 when he was coach of Brothers in the Brisbane Rugby League.
The loss to the Broncos was the ninth in a row for the Rabbitohs and also doubled as Bennett's worst losing streak as coach in the premiership competition.
The coach refused to criticise his inexperienced side, though.
"I've just had a quick count in the change rooms and our spine have 30 NRL games between them," Bennett said.
"We've been up for a long time and battling every week but I knew we were running out of gas.
"I'm not disappointed, silly as that may sound. I just know how hard they try and I can't ask for more than that."
Forward Jai Arrow, who Bennett said was outstanding, was the sixth captain the Rabbitohs have had this year.
The injuries have allowed up and comers an opportunity with tall second-rower Thomas Fletcher making his debut against the Broncos.
Bennett could see a silver lining in his side's battles, however.
"We've achieved a lot already, giving young NRL players more time than they would normally get," Bennett said.
"That will hold us in good stead next year with our depth."
The Rabbitohs are on 16 points and in last spot. They play Gold Coast away next week.
Bennett said most of his injured brigade should play before the end of the season: star fullback Latrell Mitchell is possibly two weeks away and five-eighth Cody Walker has some hope of taking the field before the final game against Sydney Roosters on September 5.
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