2016 South Sydney Rabbitohs season

The 2016 South Sydney Rabbitohs season is the 107th in the club's history. Coached by Michael Maguire and captained by Greg Inglis, they are competing in the National Rugby League's 2016 Telstra Premiership.

2016 South Sydney Rabbitohs season
NRL Rank	12th
2016 record	Wins: 9; draws: 0; losses: 15
Points scored	For: 473; against: 549
Team information
CEO	Shane Richardson
Head Coach	Michael Maguire
Captain	Greg Inglis
Stadium	ANZ Stadium
Top scorers
Tries	Alex Johnston (11)
Goals	Adam Reynolds (43)
Points	Adam Reynolds (95)
← 2015 List of seasons 2017 →

Pre-season

The South Sydney Rabbitohs pre-season will consist of:

• Auckland Nines tournament playing the Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm in the round robin on 6 and 7 February.
• The 33rd Charity Shield against the St. George Illawarra Dragons on 13 February.
• A pre-season trial against the Gold Coast Titans at Pizzey Park on 20 February.

Also during the pre-season on 13 February (the same date of the Charity Shield) the All Stars match will be played originally consisting of the following Rabbitohs; Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Chris Grevsmuhl (Indigenous All Stars) and Sam Burgess, Tom Burgess (World All Stars). However, as of 9 February, Johnston and Grevsmuhl withdrew with injuries and Sam Burgess chose not to participate. Adam Reynolds has since been added to the World All Stars team.

Auckland Nines

South Sydney started the year with the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines. They were captained by 2014 Premiership winning captain John Sutton. This years nines tournament saw Damien Cook, Michael Oldfield, Hymel Hunt and Cody Walker make their rabbitohs debuts along with a number of under South Sydney NYC players playing. South Sydney started with a win over the Sydney Roosters, Souths won the match 14–13 to extend their Nines winning streak to 7 strait matches. Alex Johnston, Kirisome Auvaa and Michael Oldfield scored tries with new recruit Damien Cook kicking the winning goal. South Sydney then faced the Melbourne Storm where they lost 18–12. John Olive, Hymel Hunt and Damien Cook scored tries in the match. On day 2 of the nines, Souths needed to either beat or draw with eventual champions the Parramatta Eels. Souths lost the game 24–11 with Bryson Goodwin and Cameron McInnes scoring tries along with a goal from Damien Cook.

Squad list

South Sydney Rabbitohs 2016 Squad

First team squad								Coaching staff
Kirisome Auva'a – CE, WG Nathan Brown – PR, SR George Burgess – PR Sam Burgess – LK, PR, SR Tom Burgess – PR Paul Carter – SR, LK, HK Jason Clark – SR, LK, PR Damien Cook – HK, FE, FB Angus Crichton – SR, CE Bryson Goodwin – CE, WG Jack Gosiewski – SR Aaron Gray – CE, WG Brock Gray – SR, PR		Brett Greinke – SR, CE Hymel Hunt – CE, WG Greg Inglis (c) – FB, CE, FE Alex Johnston – FB, WG Luke Keary – FE, HB, HK Cameron McInnes – HK Ed Murphy – CE, WG Zane Musgrove – PR Michael Oldfield – WG, CE Adam Reynolds – HB Patrice Siolo – SR, LK John Sutton – FE, LK, SR Siosifa Talakai – CE, SR		Tautalatasi Tasi – WG, SR Kyle Turner – SR David Tyrrell – PR Cody Walker – FE, HB Cheyne Whitelaw – LK				Head coach Michael Maguire Assistant coaches Wayne Collins (assistant coach) Kurt Wrigley (assistant coach) Ben Gardiner (NSW Cup coach) David Penna (NYC coach) Ben Lowe (coach) Scott Geddes (coach) Matt King (coach) Eddie Farah (physiotherapist) Harry Harris (head strength and conditioning coach) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Injured Updated: 20 December 2015 Source(s): Rabbitohs Squad 2016

2016 gains

Player	2015 Club	Until End of	Notes
Sam Burgess	Bath Rugby	2018	[1]
Damien Cook	Canterbury Bulldogs	2017	[2]
Hymel Hunt	Melbourne Storm	2016	[3]
Dane Nielsen	Bradford Bulls	2017	[4]
Michael Oldfield	Catalans Dragons	2016	[5]

2016 losses

Player	2016 Club	Notes
Isaac Luke	New Zealand Warriors
Ben Lowe	Retirement	[6]
Chris McQueen	Gold Coast Titans	[7]
Darren Nicholls	Brisbane Broncos	[8]
John Olive	Gold Coast Titans	[9]
Glenn Stewart	Catalans Dragons	[10]
Tim Grant	Wests Tigers	[11]
Dylan Walker	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	[12]

Re-signings

Player	Club	Until End of	Notes
Jack Gosiewski	South Sydney Rabbitohs	2017	[13]
Cody Walker	South Sydney Rabbitohs	2019	[14]
Jason Clark	South Sydney Rabbitohs	2018	[15]
Greg Inglis	South Sydney Rabbitohs	2020	[16]

2017 gains

Player	2015 Club	Until End of	Notes
Brett Greinke	Brisbane Broncos	2017	[17] (Mid season)
Robert Jennings	Penrith Panthers	2018	[18]
Tyrell Fuimaono	Parramatta Eels	2018	[18]
Braidon Burns	Penrith Panthers	2018	[18]
Connor Tracey	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	2018	[18]
Robbie Rochow	Newcastle Knights	2017	[19]
Robbie Farah	Wests Tigers	2018	[20]

2017 losses

Player	2016 Club	Notes

2016 NRL Season

Highest Winning Margin – 42 points (Round 2 Vs Newcastle Knights)

Closest Winning Margin – 2 points (Round 10 Vs Parramatta Eels)

Highest Losing Margin – 50 points (Round 21 Vs Canberra Raiders)

Closest Losing Margin – 1 point (Round 13 Vs Gold Coast Titans), (Round 22 Vs Melbourne Storm)

Most Points Scored by Souths in a Match – 48 (Round 2 Vs Newcastle Knights)

Least Points Scored by Souths in a Match – 0 (Round 17 Vs North Queensland Cowboys)

Most Points Scored against Souths in a Match – 54 (Round 21 Vs Canberra Raiders)

Least Points Scored against Souths in a Match – 6 (Round 2 Vs Newcastle Knights), (Round 25 Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Longest Winning Streak – 4 Matches, Round 23 – Round 26

Longest Losing Streak – 9 Matches, Round 13 – Round 22

Significant rounds

• Round 1 (Vs Sydney Roosters), Damien Cook and Hymel Hunt Rabbitohs debut games.
• Round 1 (Vs Sydney Roosters), Zane Musgrove, Cody Walker NRL first grade debut games.
• Round 4 (Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Michael Oldfield Rabbitohs debut.
• Round 5 (Vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Luke Keary 50th NRL first grade game (all for SSR).
• Round 5 (Vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Sam Burgess 100th NRL first grade game (all for SSR).
• Round 5 (Vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), South Sydney Rabbitohs 35, 000th point scored (try scored by souths junior and hooker Cameron McInnes).
• Round 8 (Vs Brisbane Broncos), Dane Nielsen Rabbitohs debut game.
• Round 9 (Vs Wests Tigers), Patrice Siolo Rabbitohs debut game.
• Round 10 (Vs Parramatta Eels), Jack Gosiewski NRL first grade debut game.
• Round 11 (Vs St George Illawarra), Bryson Goodwin 150th NRL first grade game.
• Round 11 (Vs St George Illawarra), Bryson Goodwin 500th NRL first grade point.
• Round 11 (Vs St George Illawarra), Adam Reynolds 800th NRL first grade point.

Player appearances

FB=Fullback	C=Centre	W=Winger	FE=Five-Eight	HB=Halfback	PR=Prop	H=Hooker	SR=Second Row	L=Lock	B=Bench

No	Player	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
1	Greg Inglis	FB	FB	FB	FB	FB	FB	FB	FB	FB	FE	FE	Bye	FE	FE		C	C	Bye				FB	FB	FB	FB	FB
2	Alex Johnston	W	W	W							FB	FB		W	W	W	FB	W		W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W
3	Bryson Goodwin	C	C	C	C		W	W	W	C	C	C		C	SR						C
4	Hymel Hunt	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C														C	C	C	C	C
5	Aaron Gray	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W					C	W	W	C		C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C
6	Cody Walker	FE	FE	FE	FE	FE	FE					W		FB	FB	FE	FE	FB		FB	FB	FB	FE	FE	FE	FE	FE
7	Adam Reynolds	HB						HB	HB	HB	HB	HB		HB	HB			HB			HB	HB	HB	HB	HB	HB	HB
8	Sam Burgess	PR	L	L		PR	PR	L	L	L	L	L		L	L	L	L	L		L	L	L	L	L	L	L	L
9	Cameron McInnes	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	B	B	H	H		H	H	H	H	H		H	H	H
10	David Tyrrell	PR	PR	PR	PR	B		PR	PR	PR				B	PR	PR	B	B		PR	PR
11	Paul Carter	SR	SR	SR	SR		B	B	SR		SR	SR		SR	SR	B				Sacked
12	John Sutton	SR														SR	SR	SR		FE	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR
13	Kyle Turner	L	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR		SR	SR	SR		SR	B	SR	SR	SR		SR	SR	C	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR
14	Damien Cook	B	B	B	B	B	B		H	H						B		B		B		B	H	H	H	H	H
15	Jason Clark	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B		B	B		B	B	B	B	B		B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B
16	Chris Grevsmuhl	B			B	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR		Released: Penrith Panthers
17	Zane Musgrove	B																		PR	PR	PR		B	B
18	Luke Keary		HB	HB	HB	HB	HB	FE	FE	FE	B	B	B		HB	HB	FE	HB	FE	FE
19	George Burgess		PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	B			B	B						B	B	PR	PR	B	FR	FR	FR
20	Nathan Brown		B	B	L	L	L	B	B	B	FR	FR	FR	B	B	FR	FR	SR	B	B			B	B	B
21	Kirisome Auva'a		B	B	B	C	C	C	B	C	C	C	C	C	C			Sacked
22	Michael Oldfield				W	W					W									W
23	Thomas Burgess					FR	B	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR	PR		B	PR	PR	PR	PR
24	Dane Nielsen								C	W	W	W	W	C	W
25	Patrice Siolo									B						B	x
26	Jack Gosiewski										B	B	B							B		B	B
26	Siosifa Talakai													B	B	C
27	Ed Murphy																C		C
28	Joe Burgess	Contracted to Sydney Roosters															W	W	W	W	x	W	W	W	W	W
29	Tautalatasi Tasi															B	B
30	Angus Crichton																	B	B	SR	B	B	B	B	B

= Injured

= Suspended

/ = Unable to play due to State of Origin camp.

Player	Appearances	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Total Points
–	–	–	–	–	–

Representative honours

Domestic

Pos.	Player	Team	Call-up
FB	Greg Inglis	Indigenous All Stars	2016 All Stars match
HB	Adam Reynolds	World All Stars	2016 All Stars match
PR	Thomas Burgess	World All Stars	2016 All Stars match
CE	Aaron Gray	NSW City	2016 City vs Country Origin
BE	Nathan Brown	NSW Country	2016 City vs Country Origin
CE	Greg Inglis	Queensland	2016 State of Origin
HB	Adam Reynolds	NSW	2016 State of Origin

International

Pos.	Player	Team	Call-up
CE	Greg Inglis	Australia	2016 Anzac Test
CE	Kirisome Auva'a	Samoa	2016 Polynesian Cup
WG	Michael Oldfield	Tonga	2016 Polynesian Cup
CE	Greg Inglis	Australia	2016 Four Nations
LK	Sam Burgess (C)	England	2016 Four Nations
PR	Thomas Burgess	England	2016 Four Nations
PR	George Burgess	England	2016 Four Nations

Individual honours

George Piggins Medal	Jack Rayner Players' Player Award	Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year Award	John Sattler Rookie of the year Award	Roy Asotasi Members’ Choice Award	The Burrow Appreciation Award	NYC Best and Fairest Award	NYC Players’ Player
Sam Burgess	Sam Burgess	Jason Clark	Cody Walker	Cody Walker	Kyle Turner	Maia Sands	Maia Sands

Controversies

Luke Keary Vs Russell Crowe in Coffs Harbour

In January, Keary was involved in an ugly bust-up with actor and Rabbitohs club co-owner Russell Crowe in a boozy pre-season bonding session at Crowe's farm in Nana Glen, New South Wales. It was revealed that Keary was furious at Crowe after he berated him, Cameron McInnes and some of the younger players. Keary defended them then Crowe told him that he not worth the money of his contract, sending Keary into a rage towards Crowe then at senior Rabbitohs leader Sam Burgess for reportedly not sticking up for the younger players. After that he was ordered by Crowe to leave his property, so left catching a taxi at about 3:00am.^[21][22] Keary later signed a contract to join rivals the Sydney Roosters from the start of 2017.

Chris Grevsmuhl walking out on the Club

In January, it was revealed that Grevsmuhl had signed a 2-year contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2017. On 20 May, Grevsmuhl joined the Panthers mid-season after being released from the remainder of his Rabbitohs contract.^[23] He said that he was unwilling to play under Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire any further. Grevsmuhl said, "He’s a mind-game specialist. He breaks you down mentally. He questioned why I was there, the effort I was putting in, and questioned why I was talking to other clubs.^[24]

Kirisome Auva'a Sacking

On 13 July 2016, Auva’a was sacked by the Rabbitohs for a second breach of the NRL’s Testing Policy for illicit substances. While Auva’a, did not return a positive test for an illicit or hazardous substance in this instance, he contravened the rules as set out in the NRL Policy. Under the terms of the policy, the Rabbitohs had the right to terminate the troubled star’s contract for a second breach. In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, South Sydney said they would “continue to offer welfare assistance and support to Kirisome”.^[25][26]

Paul Carter Sacking

In July 2016 (while contracted with the Rabbitohs) Carter was sacked because he failed to attend a training session following a weekend bender.^[27] This was not Carter's first breach of conduct with the club.

Following Carter's sacking by the Rabbitohs, he checked into an alcohol rehabilitation centre in Thailand.^[28]

Cody Walker contract saga