South Sydney are set to field their first-choice back line for the first time this season after welcoming Cody Walker and Campbell Graham back from injury.
It has taken until round 17, but coach Wayne Bennett finally gets the chance to name a 1-7 of Latrell Mitchell, Alex Johnston, Jack Wighton, Graham, Tyrone Munro, Walker and Jamie Humphreys for Saturday’s clash against the Dolphins.
Every NRL club has been hit hard by injuries at different stages this season, but the Bunnies have only been able to field an unchanged back line once in 2025.
Halfback Humphreys was relieved to see the return of representative stars Walker and Graham, who have been out with a calf injury and back spasms respectively, as well as hooker Peter Mamouzelos, who plays his first game since dislocating his elbow at Magic Round.
“We would have liked this [full-strength line-up] before round 17, but it’s super exciting, and it’s something I’m really keen to play off the back of,” Humphreys said.
“We’ve been down on troops, all we want to do is build some consistency, and hopefully get a chance to name the same team week in week out.
Alex Johnston at Souths training on Tuesday.Credit: Janie Barrett/SMH
“I played the first five games with Cody, we were 4-1 and playing good footy, but since then we’ve not been in and out. Everyone knows how difficult it is when there’s no consistency with your spine, especially in the halves.
“What Cody brings for me is that experience and leadership. He takes a lot of weight off my shoulders and allows me to play my own game. He’s played so many games and been in so many big moments, it’s something I definitely lean on – he genuinely makes me a better player.
I want to give him time and space – Cody Walker with time and space, he nearly always makes the right decision.”
Graham suffered back spasms and missed the past three games, but will defend outside Humphries, something that comforted the hulking halfback.
“His talk and experience, it’s something that’s invaluable to me – I feel safe and feel like I can really get my job done, and know he will do his,” Humphreys said.
Humphreys, Walker, Mitchell and Wighton are all left-footers, but Humphreys played down the significance of that fact and said it was more important to get the team to the right part of the field at the end of sets.
Elsewhere, Jahream Bula’s hamstring injury means Heath Mason will slot into fullback for the Tigers, and Latu Fainu shifted into the starting halves alongside Jarome Luai for Friday’s trip to Brookvale.
Manly have made plenty of changes with Tom Trbojevic and Reuben Garrick the new-look right edge, Lehi Hopoate the No. 1, and Jazz Tevaga the starting hooker.
Jackson Hastings will feature for Newcastle when they host Canberra on Friday, while Dylan Brown returns from suspension and Joash Papalii reverts to the Parramatta bench for Saturday’s trip to Wollongong where a refreshed St George Illawarra await.
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