Campbell Graham is unlikely to return for South Sydney this year, with interim head coach Ben Hornby confirming the centre was yet to pick up a ball, let alone train with the team, since undergoing sternum surgery.
Hornby delivered the news following the team’s fourth-straight victory of the season, after downing the Sea Eagles 14-0 on a slippery night at Accor Stadium.
Campbell Graham is unlikely to return for the Rabbitohs this year.Credit: Getty
“He hasn’t been training with us at all, he hasn’t touched a ball,” Hornby said. “He’s still a long way off, Campbell, if at all.”
Graham hasn’t played a game for South Sydney in 2024 after having surgery for a sternum injury sustained last year.
Hornby said it was a similar situation for winger Tyrone Munro who fractured his collarbone against the Sharks in round six.
“He’s the same. At the moment there’s no return date for either of those guys,” Hornby said. “They could be back in four, five weeks, but the likelihood is that they’re probably not coming back, either of them [this year].”
The Rabbitohs will benefit from the bye next week, with Cameron Murray and Latrell Mitchell set to return from Origin duty for South Sydney’s game against the Eels in round 18.
Jack Wighton takes a carry against Manly on Saturday night.Credit: Getty Images
But despite missing two of their star players, the Rabbitohs managed to just do enough to nudge over the line tonight.
“They came with nothing to lose, and we’re probably running on a bit empty at the moment I reckon,” Hornby said.
“The last couple of weeks has taken its toll. Just to see us tough it out right til the end and get a reward at the end to top off a great night [was pleasing] … we’ve been working really hard at training to try and improve our defence, and we feel like we’re making some pretty good strides there. Our attack’s probably not firing on all cylinders either, but we’re doing enough to get over the line.”
The Sea Eagles put up a noble fight, with an inexperienced bench and 13 players out due to injury or Origin duty, but it was clear they lacked the polish that skipper Daly Cherry Evans usually brings to the side.
Coach Anthony Seibold said Tom Trbojevic would return after the bye, along with Reuben Garrick, Josh Aloiai and hopefully Lachlan Croker.
“There’s quite a few guys [to come back], and in key positions as well, but I don’t want to take away [from the team that played on Saturday],” Seibold said.
“We came here to get a result, and unfortunately we weren’t quite good enough tonight. But I was really proud of the group and I thought we fought really hard, but we just didn’t quite have that cohesion.”
When questioned whether Trbojevic would be given the fullback role back upon his return, Seibold joked he would put him in the No.22 jersey so no one would know.
“I’ve had some private conversations [with Trbojevic], but I’m not willing to sort of share those private conversations,” Seibold said.