Are the Rabbitohs capable of a premiership tilt?

Denan Kemp has discussed whether South Sydney has the capability of winning it all if they're fully fit.

As a result of their injury crisis throughout the last season, the Rabbitohs only won nine games in 2025 (the equal worst win total in Wayne Bennett's coaching career), seeing them finish 14th.

But with more luck on the injury front in 2026 compared to last season, the Rabbitohs have been more consistent in their form, seeing them remain within the top eight since Round 1 with the second-best attack in the competition.

When asked by a caller if the club could challenge for the title when they're all healthy, the former Broncos and Warriors winger believes their spine needs to improve to be in the mix.

“You look at that team full strength, it is unbelievable,” Kemp explained on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“I will say, though, I just need to see more footy of this spine together.

“When I compare that spine to some of these other top-tier spines, and I go, ‘OK, let's say they've gotta play, the Dolphins’.

“You've got JMK (Jeremy Marshall-King), who is the Kiwis’ No. 9. You've got (Kodi) Nikorima, who you could argue Cody Walker is better than Nikorima.

“You've got Isaiya Katoa versus (Ashton) Ward. Katoa is substantially better at this stage. Ward, he's young, he can grow into it.

“Then you've got Hammer versus Jye Gray.

“That's where I just need to see a little bit more from the Rabbitohs of them playing together to get a better judgment.”

Chad Townsend would agree, believing they’ll need to have their list as healthy as possible to form any challenge, which includes having superstar Latrell Mitchell on the pitch.

“If you get there, they need to be healthy, and that's what affected them so much last season,” Townsend added.

“They missed Cam Murray all last season. Lattrell has had his troubles. He hasn't played 20 games for Souths at all in his South Sydney tenure.

“The keys are to get their best players on the park, because Lattrell was not only the best centre in the game, (but) he was almost the best player in the competition when he was playing earlier in the season.”

The Rabbitohs are up against the Penrith Panthers this Friday at CommBank Stadium.

Kick-off takes place at 8pm AEST.