Parker: Why it's finals or bust for South Sydney

SEN’s Corey Parker has declared that anything short of finals in 2026 is a failure of a season for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The Rabbitohs’ last finals appearance came in 2022 and have since finished ninth in 2023, 16th in 2024 and 14th in 2025.

The Bunnies endured one of the worst injury tolls in the NRL last season but Parker is adamant that the strength of South Sydney’s squad should be enough to break their finals drought.

“There is no option but playing finals football,” Parker said on SENQ.

“You go through their roster and it’s a good list. If you go through their predicted strongest lineup, there are eight Test players that have played or are still playing Test football.

“With all that quality…if they can get some cohesion, stability, consistency and more importantly a healthy football side for 75-80% of the season, they will play finals football.

“That’s based on their talent, experience and x-factor.

“The last few seasons haven't been where they need to be. However, there have been enough excuses for them to lean on.

“This season, they need to bounce out of the blocks and make every post a winner.

“If they can do that with the playing list they have, I feel they can go on and play finals.”

South Sydney have made a number of impressive acquisitions in the off-season including Bronson Garlick from the Melbourne Storm and highly touted youngster Jonah Glover from the St George Illawarra Dragons.

The most high-profile recruit is former Gold Coast Titans second rower David Fifita who underwhelmed in his final two years at the Gold Coast.

Now under super coach Wayne Bennett, Parker believes the 25-year-old can rediscover his best form and earn a recall to the Queensland State of Origin squad.

“There’s been a lot of talk around David Fifita,” Parker continued.

“I will go into bat for Dave. I thought last year that he was really unlucky not to play for Queensland.

“I thought he should’ve at least been in the conversation. He was hampered with an injury to his ankle.

“He’s now down there at South Sydney alongside (strong players like) Tallis Duncan and Liam Le Blanc.

“There are a lot of quality forwards there.”

South Sydney begin their 2026 campaign against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on March 8.