Campbell Graham in 'sad' update as Rabbitohs fans rocked ahead of 2024 season

The Rabbitohs have been left rocked after star centre Campbell Graham is set to undergo sternum surgery and could miss up to six months of NRL action. Graham was set to travel to the US for the inaugural NRL season opener against the Manly Sea Eagles.

The centre was returning after a rollercoaster season having been hampered with a sternum injury towards the end of the Rabbitohs poor campaign. Graham was expected to be fit for the season opener having trained through pre-season.

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However, after undergoing issues, Graham will now have surgery and could miss up to six months. The club said in a statement they expect Graham to be available for the end of the regular season.

Graham had already undergone a shoulder procedure in the off-season, but the centre hadn't taken part in contact training ahead of round one. Now Graham will face a lengthy period on the sidelines as he looks to play finals footy.

NRL Physio Brien Seeney claimed the sternum surgery could rule him out from anywhere between four to six months. Although the Rabbitohs may look to rest Graham for as long as possible if they are set to play finals footy.

The injury means the Rabbitohs will be without their two starting centres for the opening NRL clash against Manly. Jack Wighton was suspended at the end of the year for one game in his final appearance for the Raiders, before his big move to South Sydney. Rabbitohs fans were left devastated at the news, which is a blow to the team that managed to finish outside the top eight in 2023.

Campbell Graham and Jack Wighton link-up will wait

Rabbitohs fans will now have to wait to see Graham and new signing Wighton line-up together at centre in the blockbuster partnership. Wighton was signed from the Raiders in a huge three-year deal and after plenty of speculation around where he would feature, the 30-year-old admitted he would line-up in the centres.

Wighton has played the majority of his career at five-eighth, but Souths coach Jason Demetriou has said he will be deployed in the centres as Cody Walker already fills the No.6 jersey at Souths and Lachlan Ilias will remain at halfback. However, Ennis believes at some point this year Wighton will be used in the halves or even at fullback.

Wighton is fully focused on the year ahead with Souths but has also reportedly "made himself available" for Blues selection in a stunning backflip after retiring from representative footy last year.

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