Anthony Seibold's first year in charge was a successful one for the Rabbitohs – so successful that Seibold was headhunted as Wayne Bennett's successor at Brisbane.
Bennett then took over a Redfern, creating an intriguing time for a Rabbitohs side that's looking as strong as it has since the club's drought-breaking premiership in 2014.
Here are four players worth watching at Souths this year plus the squad's NRL Fantasy prices.
Damien Cook
The Dally M Hooker of the Year was the runaway success story of the 2018 NRL Fantasy season, starting underpriced after sharing the No.9 jersey with Robbie Farah in previous seasons and then becoming the standout scorer with a massive 64.7 points per game – five better than the next best, previous Fantasy king Cameron Smith.
That means Cook starts 2019 as easily the most expensive player available but if you want the best captaincy option available to make full use of those double points on offer, he's your man.
Cameron Murray
Hard-working lock Murray is a super Fantasy scorer in the making – he's just been denied a big-minute role at Souths in previous seasons. The departure of Angus Crichton could present that chance to him now, with Sam Burgess a chance of switching from lock to an edge role allowing Murray to start in the No.13.
Murray scored just under 52 points a game from 58 minutes when starting last season, but he played the bulk of the season from the interchange which means his price tag is based on his season average of 40.7. If he starts, he'll be a cut-price keeper.
Greg Inglis
He's still a walk-up starter for Queensland but Inglis isn't quite the force he once was following his injury-wrecked 2017 campaign.
Still, he lifted from the start of the State of Origin series – his first as skipper – averaging 45 points in the second half of the regular season despite injury restricting him to just four games in that time.
That's a 10-point improvement on his season average (and his 2019 round one break even) of 35.
His Fantasy form dipped a little in the finals, with a two-try 57 against Melbourne followed by two scores in the 20s, but the potential remains for GI to become a cut-price keeper with versatility to cover both centre and winger/fullback.
Corey Allan
The one surprise name in an otherwise star-studded Prime Minister's XII side that defeated Papua New Guinea in October, the highly rated Allan made the switch to South Sydney after playing for Souths Logan Magpies in the Intrust Super Cup in 2018.
A genuine fullback who is a chance of pushing Alex Johnston to the wing next season, Allan scored nine tries and added six assists in seven games for a Magpies team that missed the finals, and could get even more attacking chances in a Rabbitohs outfit
Rabbitohs player prices & positions
Damien Cook $969,000, HOK
Adam Reynolds $729,000, HLF
Sam Burgess $671,000, 2RF, FRF
John Sutton $616,000, 2RF
Cameron Murray $595,000, 2RF
Cody Walker $595,000, HLF, WFB
Dane Gagai $555,000, CTR, WFB
Greg Inglis $524,000, WFB, CTR
Thomas Burgess $519,000, FRF
Robert Jennings $516,000, WFB
George Burgess $485,000, FRF
Alex Johnston $440,000, WFB
Campbell Graham $391,000, WFB
Mark Nicholls $358,000, 2RF, FRF
Braidon Burns $323,000, WFB
Adam Doueihi $320,000, HLF
Tevita Tatola $310,000, 2RF, FRF
Liam Knight $305,000, FRF
Billy Brittain $228,000, HOK
Cory Denniss $228,000, WFB
Kurt Dillon $228,000, FRF
Kyle Turner $228,000, 2RF
Mawene Hiroti $228,000, CTR, WFB
Matt McIlwrick $225,000, HOK
Dean Britt $223,000, 2RF
Bayley Sironen $212,000, 2RF
Connor Tracey $212,000, HLF
Corey Allan $212,000, WFB
Jacob Gagan $212,000, WFB
Rhys Kennedy $212,000, FRF
kicks off on January 30. Make sure you are prepared by creating an official NRL account (if you haven't already).
Five key matchups of the Rabbitohs' 2019 draw
