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Gilbert wary of undermanned Rabbitohs ahead of NRL Round 1

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Dolphins NRL captain Tom Gilbert

Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert is not underestimating the Rabbitohs ahead of their Round 1 clash on Friday evening, despite South Sydney missing several key players to start the 2025 NRL Premiership.

With fullback Latrell Mitchell and skipper Cameron Murray both sidelined through injury, NRL betting sites have the Dolphins as $1.54 favourites to begin their season with a win.

But the presence of seven-time premiership coach Wayne Bennett at Souths is something Gilbert is wary of, given how well he led the Dolphins through injury struggles in 2024.

“There’s probably been no discussion from us on Souths being down on strength,” Gilbert said on Monday.

“Wayne was here last year when we lost a lot of players throughout the year and we know what a wonderful job he can do under pressure and those kind of things.

“Cameron Murray and Latrell are class players, but I’ve no doubt that they have a lot of depth in that squad that blokes can fill in.

“So we’ll have absolute respect in our preparation for the Rabbitohs this week.

“We know what any Wayne Bennett side can do so we’ll respect them and do the best we can to do the prepare for that.”

Gilbert believes that while the Dolphins are still very much a team made in Bennett’s image, the veteran coach will be more focused on what his new club needs to do on Friday.

“Wayne played a huge role in our club,” Gilbert said.

“The funny thing is the way we play this year will be a by-product of the stuff he’s done over the last two years.

“He coached us and mentored us for two years, so he knows us well enough.

“One thing I’ll say is Wayne will worry about the Rabbitohs too.

“That’s his biggest strength – he’s not worried about what’s out there.

“As us we’ll respect that and we respect them as a team and as a club.”

Ahead of their opening fixtures this season, both the Dolphins and Rabbitohs are at long odds to win the premiership across leading NRL bookmakers.

Marantelli Bet has the Dolphins on the second-to-last line of betting at $51, while South Sydney are around the middle of the pack at $34.

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Topics: Dolphins, Featured, NRL, Rugby League, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Tom Gilbert

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