Rabbitohs Bid Farewell as Key Players have been Confirmed to Depart the Club.
As the South Sydney Rabbitohs gear up for a significant transition ahead of the 2025 season, the club has confirmed the departures of several key players, marking the end of an era. Head coach Wayne Bennett, set to take over for his second stint, will have a new-look squad as he aims to guide the team back to premiership contention.
Among the notable exits are experienced hooker Damien Cook, who will be joining the St George Illawarra Dragons, and powerful forward Thomas Burgess, who is heading to the English Super League. Their departures were announced earlier this year, but recent confirmations have added more names to the growing list of players leaving Redfern.
Utility Michael Chee-Kam, who has been linked to various other NRL clubs, will also be moving on. Known for his versatility, Chee-Kam has been a valuable asset since joining the Rabbitohs in 2022, making 38 appearances and accumulating a total of 132 NRL games in his career. His experience will be missed as the club looks to reshape its roster.
Halfback Dean Hawkins, who has served as a backup since his debut in 2021, will also be departing. He has played 14 NRL games, but opportunities have been limited during his time at Souths. Similarly, half Dion Teaupa and outside backs Richie Kennar, Izaac Thompson, and Leon Te Hau have all been confirmed as off-season departures, leaving fans wondering about their next steps.
Mark Ellison, the club’s head of football, expressed gratitude for the contributions of the departing players, stating, “As a Club, we would like to thank Michael, Richie, Dean, Dion, Izaac, and Leon for their service to South Sydney. Some of these players will have opportunities at other NRL clubs, and we wish them and their families the very best of luck in the future. They will always be regarded as proud Rabbitohs.”
Among the departing players, Kennar has the most experience with 50 NRL games, while Thompson, who debuted in 2022, has played 13 matches. Teaupa’s exit is particularly surprising, as he made his debut this year and featured in four games. Te Hau, a promising young talent, is the only one among the six who has not yet played at the NRL level.
Looking ahead, several other Rabbitohs, including Ben Lovett, Taane Milne, Shaquai Mitchell, and Isaiah Tass, are off-contract and face uncertain futures as the club plans for the 2025 season. However, the Rabbitohs have already made significant moves to bolster their squad with the signings of Euan Aitken, Lewis Dodd, and Josh Schuster, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter under Bennett’s leadership. The coming months promise to be pivotal as South Sydney navigates this transition and aims to build a competitive team for the future.