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Most potent in history: Souths' left edge ready to roll
Scott Bailey, AAP • February 20th, 2026 3:39 pm
Latrell Mitchell's move from full back to left centre will give the Rabbitohs a massive edge | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
South Sydney are set to unleash the most potent edge in premiership history, as Wayne Bennett prepares to roll out a left-side attack boasting almost 500 tries between them.
The Rabbitohs will be close to their full-strength side for Sunday's clash with Manly in Mudgee, with Latrell Mitchell's move to left centre confirmed.
David Fifita is also listed to start in the second row, expected to play on the left side next to veteran five-eighth Cody Walker.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett has loads of talent to roll out on the left edge this season | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Souths have for a long time had one of the most dangerous left sides in the competition, as evidenced by Alex Johnston's pursuit of Ken Irvine's try-scoring record.
But never before has it been this lethal.
Johnston (210), Mitchell (120) and Walker (100) have all hit three-figures, while new recruit David Fifita has 50 tries to his name in the second row.
Combined, the quartet's 480 is the most in history, well clear of the next best of the modern era when the Roosters had 412 tries in their left edge in late 2023.
"If it is the left edge everyone's talking about, there's a lot of talent there," Souths captain Cameron Murray told AAP.
"But that's far from guaranteeing that it's going to be a successful edge. You've got to prove it.
"We've got to work out how to play to each other's strengths out there and play as good as we can and get the most talent out of every single person on that edge.
"Everyone knows that talent doesn't win games. Culture and enthusiasm and competing and developed combinations - they all play a part."
Skipper Cameron Murray says application over talent will win Souths games | Photo: Mark Kolbe/AAP
Over the past 15 years, Souths have had the likes of Luke Keary, John Sutton, Greg Inglis and Dane Gagai feeding Nathan Merritt, Robert Jennings and Johnston.
But there is an argument this year's edge is their most dangerous, with Johnston now two tries away from equalling Irvine's long-standing record of 212 tries.
Mitchell was the NRL's best centre when he won back-to-back premierships playing on the left for the Roosters, before going to fullback on moving to South Sydney.
And in Fifita they have a genuine x-factor in the second row, adding a different dynamic to what the Rabbitohs have had in the past with his size and skillset.
The 25-year-old led all forwards for tackle busts in 2024 and provided the third most offloads, before an injury-ravaged final season at Gold Coast last year.
"He's his own player and he's got a lot of incredibly talented strengths and is one of those guys that can create something out of nothing," Murray said.
"It just adds another weapon to that edge. Hopefully we can get the combinations right and get everyone playing to their strengths."
Latrell Mitchell's skillset is freakish | Running It Straight
