Inside Souths

Signed Haas, still chasing 2014.

Souths sit second on rating in late August at 12 and 9, a season reading like the turn after three lean years: 13th for win rate over the last three seasons, off the back of five straight finals appearances to 2022. The history needs no introduction, 21 premierships, more than anyone, the most recent in 2014. Wayne Bennett came back in 2025 on a deal through 2027, and the club has since landed the signing of the era: Payne Haas, lodged for 2027 to 2029, an exit Brisbane's own coverage has spent a month processing. The money came from somewhere. Keaon Koloamatangi took a five-year Dragons deal PerthNow put at $5 million, and Alex Johnston left for PNG weeks after taking the try-scoring record, per PerthNow. Bennett has meanwhile called a Latrell Mitchell contract theory a terrible idea, which is about as warm as Bennett gets.

• Blackcourt League Investments holds 75 per cent, the Crowe, Packer and Cannon-Brookes interests a third each; members hold the rest plus a protective share.
• Football club revenue $45.1 million, profit $2.7 million before tax in 2025, including a one-off $1.75 million NRL expansion payment.

Checked 21 August 2026 · Evidence high

At a glance

• Home crowd, 2026: 20,693 across 13 home matches, up 2,663 on 2025
• Members, 2025: 21,435, published by South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Following: 1,768,213 across 5 platforms
• Brand value, 2024: $73M, 3rd of 17 clubs
• Who owns the club: Blackcourt League Investments 75% (Crowe, Packer and Cannon-Brookes interests, a third each); the members' company 25% with a protective share
• Accounts we can see: A members'-company summary of the operator's 2025 year; no operator statements
• Training base: Heffron Centre, Maroubra · open since 2023
• Head coach: Wayne Bennett through 2027

Ownership & Financials

• Blackcourt League Investments Pty Limited has owned 75% of South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Limited since the June 2006 restructure, with interests associated with Russell Crowe, James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes holding a third of Blackcourt each since November 2021; the members' company owns the other 25% and a preferential share over the team's name, logo, colours, jersey and home ground.
• Member Co's audited 2025 annual report summarises the Football Club's year to 31 October 2025: revenue of $45.1 million, expenses of $43.2 million, profit before tax of $2.693 million including a $1.75 million NRL payment for the PNG expansion ($942,000 without it), net assets of $8.667 million and cash of $8.418 million.

Following & Sponsorship

• Major Partner: MG Motor

Leadership

• Blake Solly, Chief Executive Officer
• Jason Clark, NRL Football Manager
• Nicholas Pappas AM, chair
• Nicholas Pappas AM, chair

Football Department

• Wayne Bennett, Head Coach
• Ben Hornby, NRL Assistant Coach
• Steve Antonelli, NRL Assistant Coach
• Wayne Collins, NSW Cup head coach
• Scott Kenna, Jersey Flegg head coach
• Nathan Hogan, SG Ball head coach
• Kell O'Brien, Harold Matthews head coach
• Brad Costello, Tarsha Gale head coach
• Vai Alaia, Lisa Fiaola head coach

Training Base

• Rabbitohs Centre of Excellence, Heffron Centre, Maroubra: A $25.7 million centre of excellence at Heffron Park, opened on 30 May 2023, with gyms, medical and recovery spaces, a theatrette, a playing field, administration and a community base for Souths Cares. The members' company holds a 21-year head lease from Randwick City Council and sublets the facility to the Football Club and Souths Cares.

Pathways

• South Sydney's men's ladder runs from local clubs and the Black Rabbits selection system through Harold Matthews, SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and the club's own NSW Cup side to NRL. The women's ladder runs Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale and the club's NSW Women's Premiership team, and stops there: the club holds no NRLW licence.
• On 17 November 2025 the club named 2026 coaching staff for its NSW Cup (Wayne Collins), Jersey Flegg (Scott Kenna), SG Ball (Nathan Hogan), Tarsha Gale (Brad Costello), Harold Matthews (Kell O'Brien) and Lisa Fiaola (Vai Alaia) teams, and referred to its Harvey Norman Women's Premiership side.
• The Black Rabbits system, launched in 2022, selects mid-to-late-teen players for positional and performance coaching under Head of Pathways David Furner and Pathways Recruitment Manager Brent Hill, with an affiliation with Keebra Park State High School on the Gold Coast; the 2022 intake of Duncan, Munro and Lovett all reached the NRL system.
• The club fields a NSW Women's Premiership team and holds no NRLW licence; the NSW Government described the Heffron Centre in 2023 as a base for the club's future NRLW team.

Results

• All-time win rate: 51.9% (All first-grade games), 5th of 17
• Last 10 seasons: 54.4% (2017–2026), 5th of 17
• Last 3 seasons: 41.1% (2024–2026), 13th of 17
• Team Rating: 80.2 (2026 season), 6th of 17
• Premierships: 21 (Since 1908), 1st of 17
• Finals seasons: 52 (Since 1908), 2nd of 17

Sources

• 2025 Annual Report — South Sydney Members Rugby League Football Club Limited — South Sydney Members Rugby League Football Club Limited
• Mike Cannon-Brookes purchases one-third share of Blackcourt League Investments — South Sydney Rabbitohs
• ABN Lookup — South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Limited — Australian Business Register
• ABN Lookup — South Sydney Members Rugby League Football Club Limited — Australian Business Register
• ABN Lookup — Blackcourt League Investments Pty Limited — Australian Business Register
• Rabbitohs changes to football department for season 2026 — South Sydney Rabbitohs
• 2026 Rabbitohs pathways coaching staff announced — South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Rabbitohs sign Wayne Bennett as head coach for three seasons from 2025 — South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Rabbitohs Centre of Excellence officially opened — NSW Government (Office of Sport)
• The Black Rabbits system: breeding the next generation of Rabbitohs talent — South Sydney Rabbitohs

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