After spending the summer with the Rabbitohs top squad, South Sydney halfback Matthew Humphries has developed into one of the most dominant playmakers in the SG Ball competition this season.
With one round remaining in the nine-round SG Ball regular season, Souths sit second and face the Bulldogs this weekend.
“I started to notice Matty starting to stand out last year. He’s got got a very good temperament, he’s cool under pressure, has a great kicking game and he just doesn’t seem to get flustered,” Rabbitohs pathway coach and club legend John Sutton told Big League.
“He came and had a good pre-season in first grade and learned a lot over summer and trained really hard and I think it’s showing in his performance in SG Ball, he’s been one of their best players.”
Humphries is a Terrigal Wamberal Sharks junior and first played with the Central Coast Roosters before joining South Sydney in 2023.
Playing up an age group, Humphries was named the Bunnies’ SG Ball player of the year last season and has continued his rapid development in 2025.
“He’s taken on everything he’s learned and gone back and really drove that SG Ball side to where they are now, sitting second with one round remaining,” Sutton explained.
“He’s a great kid. He’s been coming in after games and doing some video with me and just keeping on top of his game.
“You need these young players coming through and feeling comfortable that they can push to the next level and all the halves have been around him at the club helping him on his way.
“His defence has also improved out of sight this year, that’s what I’m really happy about. He’s a little bloke, so he’ll get targeted but he’s willing to put his body in front and that’s what we want to see.”
Sutton, who knows plenty about pushing through the Rabbitohs’ system, seems confident the goal-kicking playmaker has what it takes to play at the highest level.
“He’s got a really good strike of the ball, he hits it really well and his general play kicking is really strong. He’s got it all Matty, so hopefully we see him keep progressing through the grades and if he keeps working hard, I think you’ll see him in first grade a few years time.”
