2016 South Sydney Rabbitohs season

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.

2016 gains

More information Player, 2015 Club ...

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]

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2016 losses

More information Player, Notes ...

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]

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Re-signings

More information Player, Club ...

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]

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2017 gains

More information Player, 2015 Club ...

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]

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2017 losses

Domestic

More information Pos., Player ...

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

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International

More information Pos., Player ...

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

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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