Jye Gray, the young Rabbitohs fullback, has silenced his critics as he heads into Round 5 of the season.
Gray’s former coach has claimed that the young fullback has proven the Broncos wrong after the club allowed him to sign with South Sydney, choosing to prioritize Reece Walsh in their academy. Brisbane had always seemed focused on Walsh, especially after he joined from the Titans’ development program at a young age.
Walsh then moved to the Warriors, spending two years in New Zealand, before returning to the Broncos in 2023. He had an immediate impact, helping Brisbane reach the NRL grand final, where they lost to Penrith, after an outstanding individual season. However, Walsh has struggled with consistency recently, with his 2025 season proving to be up and down under new coach Michael Maguire. Meanwhile, another young Queensland fullback has stepped up in the NRL.
Gray, who made his debut for the Rabbitohs midway through last year, has been a revelation in 2025. He has been the standout player for South Sydney across the first four rounds, starting in the No.1 jersey in Latrell Mitchell’s absence. And in a major development this week, Gray is set to keep the fullback position as Mitchell returns. Despite the potential for this to be a temporary role, Gray has proven to be the in-form fullback of the competition.
It has since come to light that both the Titans and Broncos let Gray slip away, allowing him to join South Sydney. Gray was part of the Titans’ junior development system before moving to the Broncos, where he played alongside Walsh and Blake Mozer in the juniors. However, the Rabbitohs recognized Gray’s potential and offered him a deal far superior to what the Broncos had on the table. His former Burleigh Bears coach, Michael Witt, expressed doubt that the Broncos truly appreciated Gray’s talent.
“The Broncos had him but I don’t think they thought he’d go to the next level,” Witt told The Courier Mail. He also praised Gray for proving his critics wrong and highlighted his humble nature as a key asset to the South Sydney team.
“He was electric, exactly like he is now,” Witt added. “He was always small, and a lot of people told him he was too small to make it. He’s proven them all wrong. He’s smart, too. He picks his moments and times. He was always a class above.”
Gray’s stellar performances have earned him the Dally M lead after a sensational start to the 2025 season, with the Rabbitohs currently 3-1 despite missing both Cameron Murray and Mitchell. Gray has been involved in everything positive for South Sydney, scoring two tries to open his campaign. His energy has been a key part of his performances, particularly his 311 metres against the Dragons in Round 2. His defense has also been exceptional, with standout efforts against the Sharks and Panthers.
This has prompted Rabbitohs fans to urge coach Wayne Bennett to keep Gray at fullback even when Mitchell returns. While Bennett initially indicated Mitchell would reclaim the fullback role in Round 5, Gray has retained the position due to several injuries in the backline.
Meanwhile, despite Walsh’s dip in form to start 2025, he remains determined to play for Queensland and Australia. The Queensland fullback is in a battle with Kalyn Ponga for the Maroons No.1 jersey, and Walsh is also considering whether to represent Australia or New Zealand on the international stage, given his dual eligibility. Walsh, however, has made it clear he wants to play for Queensland and eventually secure a spot in the Kangaroos squad.
“My heart was always set on Australia and Queensland,” Walsh said. “I grew up here, and I’ve always wanted to represent that side. I do love the Maori side of where we’re from, and I’m still learning a lot. But it’s always been my dream to play for Queensland and Australia. First, I’ve just got to keep showing up for the Broncos and working hard.”
