The Rabbitohs have sent an early warning to their NRL rivals with a dominant Witzer Pre-Season Challenge victory over the Sea Eagles.
South Sydney's stars were all back on deck and they delivered in the 30-6 win at Mudgee's Glen Willow Oval to complete an undefeated pre-season.
Off-season recruit David Fifita produced a barnstorming break in the opening minutes of the game, Latrell Mitchell scored a try in his move to centre, Cody Walker had three line breaks and a try in the opening 40 minutes and Cam Murray was at his energetic best as he looks to put an Achilles rupture in the rearview mirror.
Emerging halfback Ashton Ward was also impressive and put his hand up for the starting No.7 jersey while Jamie Humphreys is suspended for the opening two weeks of the season.
Manly were let down by their high missed tackle count, with the Sea Eagles missing 41 tackles throughout the contest.
Halfback Jamal Fogarty tried hard in his first appearance in a Manly jumper but there was little he could do against a rampant Rabbitohs side.
Anthony Seibold's side will now turn their attention to a Round 1 clash with Canberra at 4 Pines Park, while South Sydney will begin preparations for a date with the Dolphins on March 8.
Follow all the action from Round 3 of the 2026 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge on NRL.com's live blog.
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
Match: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles
Round 3 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
5th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
10th Position
Venue: Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles - Week 3, 2026
Full-time: The Rabbitohs have completed an undefeated Pre-Season Challenge with a dominant 30-6 win over the Sea Eagles. South Sydney controlled the contest from the opening whistle, when David Fifita made a break with his first touch as a Rabbitoh. From there, it was a commanding five tries to one victory as all the South Sydney stars stepped up. Manly's defence let them down, with Anthony Seibold's men missing 41 tackles throughout the match. Rabbitohs 30 - Sea Eagles 6.
77th minute: The Sea Eagles have controlled the past five minutes, with Joey Walsh pulling the strings, but the Rabbitohs have done everything they can to prevent a second Manly try. Wayne Bennett has emptied his bench and the youngsters have shown the same defensive attitude the starters showed in the first 60 minutes. Rabbitohs 30 - Sea Eagles 6.
Clayton Faulalo Try
70th minute: Manly are on the board and it's emerging playmaker Joey Walsh who produced superb work in the lead up to create the break. The youngster got on the outside of his opposite man before producing a superb pass and it's Clayton Faulalo who finished it off for the try. Rabbitohs 30 - Sea Eagles 6.
Peter Mamouzelos Try
65th minute: Peter Mamouzelos set up the last try, now he has one of his own after darting over from dummy half. The hooker threw a dummy and slid his way through the tired Sea Eagles defence as South Sydney kick further clear. The missed tackle count is starting to mount for Manly, who have now missed 35 tackles. Rabbitohs 30 - Sea Eagles 0.
Latrell Mitchell Try
60th minute: The Rabbitohs have their fourth and they look to be finishing with a wet sail now. Peter Mamouzelos produced a deft kick from dummy-half, Latrell Mitchell charged through and won the race to the ball to score the try. Celebrations were tempered slightly as Ashton Ward hobbled around, but it looks to just be a cramp in hot conditions in Mudgee. Rabbitohs 24 - Sea Eagles 0.
Bronson Garlick Try
57th minute: South Sydney have extended their advantage after Matt Dufty stepped passed Jamal Fogarty to create a midfield break. An offload to Jamie Humphreys followed, who then linked up with Bronson Garlick for the try. The Rabbitohs have absorbed plenty of pressure in defence and struck the moment an opportunity popped up. In more positive news, Tevita Tatola passed his HIA and is free to return if Wayne Bennett chooses to use him in the final 20 minutes. Rabbitohs 18 - Sea Eagles 0.
49th minute: Manly just can't crack this South Sydney defence this afternoon. The Sea Eagles continue to get themselves into attacking territory but they haven't been able to execute. Emerging halfback Joey Walsh has been good since he's come on to the field but they couldn't get it right on this occasion and Manly are penalised for obstruction. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
Kick-off: We are back for the second half as South Sydney look to continue their dominance of this contest. Coach Wayne Bennett has left a number of his big names on the field but there is an early blow as the independent doctor calls for Tevita Tatola to leave the field for an HIA. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
Real commitment from South Sydney
Half-time: A somewhat chaotic end to the first half after Manly generated multiple repeat sets in attacking territory. Winger Lehi Hopoate looked destined to score before he was denied by desperate cover defence. The seconds were counting down but Cody Walker wasn't content to just play for half-time. Instead the five-eighth broke through for his third line break of the half before kicking for winger Bayleigh Bentley-Hape. Manly centre Reuben Garrick raced back and eventually secured the ball as the half-time siren sounded to deny the try. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
33rd minute: South Sydney are scoring tries at one end of the field and preventing them at the opposite end with some superb goal-line defence. Manly are throwing plenty at their opponents but they don't look like finding a way through the Rabbitohs defence. South Sydney have been dealt a blow, with Sean Keppie taken for an HIA after colliding with young Manly prop Simione Laiafi. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
30th minute: The Rabbitohs have lodged a Captain's Challenge after a Latrell Mitchell strip was ruled to have travelled forward. It was a one-on-one strip, with the ball hitting the deck after Mitchell pulled it out. The vision is inconclusive, the Bunker sticks with the on-field decision but South Sydney retain their challenge. In another boost for Manly, Nathan Brown's return from the sin bin is imminent. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
28th minute: Manly are on the ropes and they've suffered another blow, with Corey Waddell taken from the field for an HIA after a collision with Jye Gray. The Sea Eagles are defending their own line yet again, with South Sydney pushing for a third try. Rabbitohs 12- Sea Eagles 0.
23rd minute: Jack Wighton has come agonisingly close to a try for a second time this afternoon, the centre latching on to a Campbell Graham offload and diving for the line in the corner. A desperate arm from Manly's Clayton Faulalo knocked the ball free and the Sea Eagles are just holding on. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
Brown sent to the bin
22nd minute: Another big moment midway through the first half, with Manly forward Nathan Brown sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Bayleigh Bentley-Hape. The penalty came after the Sea Eagles had finally worked their way into the match, but they are not on the back foot and playing with 12 men. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
Cody Walker Try
17th minute: It's a South Sydney onslaught at the moment and Cody Walker has the Bunnies' second try of the afternoon. The pressure had built after multiple repeat sets of six, Walker spotted a couple of tired forwards, stepped off his left foot and accelerated through a gap to score the try. Rabbitohs 12 - Sea Eagles 0.
13th minute: The Rabbitohs are charging and they've come agonisingly close to a second. Brandon Smith got the side on the front foot with a dart from dummy half before offloading to Cody Walker, who broke into open space. South Sydney then ran the ball on the last against a retreating defence, with Jack Wighton racing to the corner. The centre got over the line but was held up and Manly survive another scare. Rabbitohs 6 - Sea Eagles 0.
Campbell Graham Try
7th minute: It's a dream start for the Bunnies, who need just seven minutes to find the try-line. A Manly error handed South Sydney an attacking opportunity, before a penalty saw the pressure continue to build. The Sea Eagles eventually crack, with Campbell Graham finishing off a well-executed right side shift. Latrell Mitchell nails the sideline conversion and it's 6-0. Rabbitohs 6 - Sea Eagles 0.
Bunnies stars are making statements early
4th minute: It hasn't taken long for David Fifita to make his mark in the red and green jumper, the edge back-rower brushing away Jamal Fogarty and bursting through the defensive line. Fifita was eventually dragged down, Jye Gray's kick on the last went dead and Manly survived the early threat. Rabbitohs 0 - Sea Eagles 0.
Kick-off: We are underway in Mudgee, with a host of big names back on deck for the final game of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge. Latrell Mitchell lines up in his new position of centre, while Dave Fifita plays his first game for South Sydney. Manly also have a high-profile new face in the form of halfback Jamal Fogarty. Rabbitohs 0 - Sea Eagles 0.
Really excited with the talent out there - Murray
Late Mail
Rabbitohs: Two late changes for South Sydney, with Alex Johnston dropping out of the squad with a minor hamstring strain. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape will start in jumper No.23 in his place, while William Afualo is the new face on the bench in the No.2 jersey. Adam Elliott also drops out due to calf tightness, with Dean Tauaa replacing the forward on the interchange.
Seibold praises Fogarty's early impact
Sea Eagles: Just one minor change for Manly, with Navren Willett dropping off the extended bench.