The ones who got away: South Sydney Rabbitohs

Club loyalty certainly isn’t what it used to be, and now the salary cap, ineffectual contracts and the lure of the dollar means that players change clubs on a regular basis.

Sometimes fans are happy to see a player go, but losing a top player when they’re in their prime or a prospect with loads of potential is no fun at all, particularly when you see that player lining up for the opposition in the following season.

In this, the ninth article in the series, I’ll pick a team of the best players who got away from South Sydney since 2000.

The only criteria are that the player named must have made his debut for Souths, left the club after 2000, and then played with another NRL club, rather than just retired or headed to obscurity in either the ESL or rugby.

(Details in brackets are the year the player debuted for Souths and the number of games played for the club.)

1. Wade McKinnon (2002, 26 games)

McKinnon was fast and a great ball-runner, and he hit the ground running with Souths in his debut season, the same year that Souths re-joined the NRL, notching up 20 games in the top grade.

Things didn’t go as well the following year for him and he left for Parramatta in 2004, where he played the best football of his career. A solid first grader.

2. James Roberts (2011, 10 games)

A talented player with discipline issues, Roberts looked the goods in his debut season before he was shown the door in 2012, joining the Panthers.

He re-joined the club for two seasons in 2018 but failed to impress. Roberts will go down as player who missed his opportunities.

3. Dylan Walker (2013, 62 games)

Walker had a great start in the game after debuting as an 18 year old and played some outstanding football for Souths, winning a premiership in 2014 and playing four Tests for Australia in the same year.

Discipline problems in 2015 saw him move across the harbour to Manly where he was embroiled in further issues. Walker could have been anything.

Dylan Walker. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

4. Siosifa Talakai (2016, 11 games)

The human wrecking ball scored a try with his first touch in first grade in 2016 and began the following season strongly before injury brought his season to an end.

He left Souths during the 2018 season, firstly heading to Penrith and then to Newtown, before joining Cronulla in 2020 where he established himself as every opposing centre’s worst nightmare. One that got away from the Rabbits.

5. Lee Hookey (1999, 17 games)

A gifted player and South’s junior who debuted for the club as a 19 year old and quickly established himself in first grade, primarily on the wing.

He headed to the Dragons in 2000, when Souths were forced out of the competition, and had three very strong seasons, including scoring 18 tries in 25 games in 2002.

He returned to Souths in 2003 and gave them good service before heading to Penrith in 2006 where he finished his first grade career. Certainly a loss for Souths, but unique circumstances made the decision to leave for him.

6. Luke Keary (2013, 65 games)

After debuting in 2013, Keary had firmly established himself as South’s first choice 5/8 towards the end of 2014 and was part of their grand-final victory that year.

After an argument with Souths co-owner Russell Crowe in 2016 Keary joined the Roosters in 2017 and went on to win back to back premierships in 2018 and 2019, and a Clive Churchill medal. A big loss for Souths.

7. Adam Reynolds (2012, 231 games)

A Souths legend, top flight half back and record point scorer for the club, Reynolds left for the Broncos in 2022 after 10 years at Redfern when he and the club couldn’t agree on contractual terms. Souths loss has certainly been Brisbane’s gain.

(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

8. Josh Starling (2012, 7 games)

Primarily a bench player during his time with Souths, Starling hit his straps after transferring to Manly in 2014. A solid performer, but just another first grader.

9. Issac Luke (2007, 188 games)

Luke was at the top of his game when he left Souths for the Warriors in 2016 and had played 41 Tests for NZ. He was a tough, skilful and feared competitor, but fortunately for Souths, they had the Cameron McInnes, Robbie Farah and Damien Cook to take his place.

10. Manase Manauokafoa (2005, 71 games)

Manase was a huge weapon who primarily played off the bench and had the ability to dominate the opposition. He left Souths for the Cowboys in 2009 where his form faded, and he finished his career in England. Just another first grader.

11. Angus Crichton (2016, 55 games)

After making his debut at the age of 20 in 2016, Crichton was one South’s best in 2017 in 2018, and played 3 games off the bench in NSW’s victorious origin campaign in 2018.

He joined the Roosters the following year, was part of their premiership winning team, and firmly established himself in the NSW squad. A big loss for Souths.

Angus Crichton. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

12. Eddy Pettybourne (2007, 91 games)

Pettybourne was a solid performer for the Rabbitohs and never took a backward step, but his career stagnated to some extent after he left Souths to join the Tigers in 2013. He went on to become on of rugby league’s journeymen, currently playing for his 10th club.

13. Cameron McInnes (2014, 39 games)

McInnes was always going to be a very good player but it seems he had hot competition for his preferred hooking role the whole time he was at Souths.

Firstly, star hooker Issac Luke, then Damien Cook and finally Robbie Farrah who signed with the Rabbitohs in 2017 resulting in McInnes leaving for the Dragons the same year. A strong club player who would have given great service to Souths.

That’s an interesting line up. None of the outside backs blossomed after leaving Souths, with the exception of Talakai and McKinnon, halves Keary and Reynolds were big losses for the Rabbitohs and forced out of the club, while forwards Luke, Crichton and McInnes were all high quality players who were sorely missed.