Mitchell and Murray rank as South Sydney’s highest earners, on more than $1 million a year, and shape as the two most critical on-field figures, along with Murray’s likely captaincy replacement, veteran playmaker Cody Walker. The 35-year-old five-eighth is at least expected to start against the Dolphins after being ruled out of last weekend’s Indigenous All Stars with a calf issue.

South Sydney’s success rate without Mitchell and Murray in the past five seasons is just 40 per cent, according to Champion Data.

Mitchell’s impact on the Bunnies’ fortunes has been well-documented in recent years as his game time has dwindled due to various injuries and suspensions. Without their superstar No.1, the Rabbitohs have won just 42 per cent of games since his move from the Roosters in 2020.

Mitchell has struggled with hamstring injuries in the past, having torn tendons in his left hamstring and missed significant stretches of the 2020 and 2022 seasons.

South Sydney’s win rate without Murray, captain of the club since 2022, is 47.2 per cent.

An August return for the tireless middle forward looms as Murray’s best-case scenario, with Rabbitohs officials pointing to Darius Boyd’s five-month recovery from a similar injury at Brisbane in 2015.

“One thing I do know about Cameron is it’s always difficult [to predict recovery] time frames on anything with him because he generally beats them,” South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly told Nine News.

“His recovery from the wrist injury sustained in [the 2024 Pacific Championships] internationals shows that. He’s such a professional athlete and such a determined competitor, he’ll be back on the field as soon as he possibly can be.”

NSW Origin rep Keaon Koloamatangi looms as a potential replacement at lock given he excelled in a middle role last season, while rising 22-year-old Tallis Duncan is cut from a similar cloth to Murray in terms of mobility and leg speed.

Diminutive utility Jye Gray stepped in for Mitchell in 2024 and is expected to do so again if he misses the start of the season.

South Sydney’s injury woes in the past year have sidelined a number of their best-paid stars, with Campbell Graham, Tevita Tatola, Tyrone Munro and new Dragons halfback Lachlan Ilias barely playing in 2024.

Jai Arrow, Alex Johnston and Shaquai Mitchell missed a significant number of games as well, while Mitchell and Murray sat out a combined 12 matches last year through injury.

The majority of Rabbitohs injuries were broken bones, tendon or joint issues, such as Ilias’ badly fractured leg or Munro’s broken collarbone, while Johnston also suffered a ruptured Achilles.

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Luckless centre Campbell Graham’s return from a debilitating sternum injury has been interrupted by a fractured hand, an injury he picked up two weeks ago.

He remains a chance of playing against the Dolphins, while Tatola is also running again after two foot operations and an infection that threatened his career and limited him to the first six games of 2024.

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