Rabbitohs halfback Jamie Humphreys opens up on contract future, Perth Bears roster

Jamie Humphreys may be wearing the No.7 jersey for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but the talented halfback remains without a contract for the 2026 season, along with a number of other players.

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Off-contract alongside the likes of Adam Elliott, star five-eighth Cody Walker and former Warriors outside back Moala Graham-Taufa, Humphreys’s future remains up in the air.

This comes after the Rabbitohs recently stalled talks with the playmaker - despite previously being locked in advanced discussion with him over an extension - following the arrival of Payne Haas from the Brisbane Broncos.

Currently on a salary of around $150,000 a season after making the move to the club from the Manly Sea Eagles, Humphreys has declared that in an ideal world he would love to remain at the club beyond 2026.

“I love this squad. I love being here. I love the fans. I love representing the history of the club and what it means to put on the South Sydney number seven jersey,” Humphreys said on Tuesday.

“It’s a big job to fill and it’s one that I feel like I’m getting more comfortable in every week. Still sort of new in my career and feeling really comfortable and growing in confidence each week.

“And long-term I’d love to stay here.”

However, if a deal isn’t struck between the two parties, he is open to the prospect of playing for the Perth Bears, who have expressed a keen interest in him over the past couple of months.

“Oh yeah, of course,” Humphreys added when asked if he was open to the NRL’s newest expansion side.

“It’s an interesting prospect with your team coming in. What they’re building there seems really special, and I’m sure they’ll succeed. I’ve got no doubt about that with Mal leading from the front there.

“Like I said, I’m focused on my job here at Souths but of course those things are going to come up in the future as well.”

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Focused on taking on the winless Dragons this weekend on Saturday afternoon, the halfback admits that the outside noise on his future isn’t getting to him at the moment and is just keen to play football.

“To be honest, I’m just sort of focusing on each week I get tot play in the Souths jersey. That’s my main focus week in, week out,” Humphreys added

“I’m not trying to look too far ahead. It’s hard sometimes. Obviously those things you want to get sorted pretty quickly but at the same time I’ve only played three games this year.

“My focus is just on playing consistent footy and doing my absolutely best for Souths every opportunity I get.”

Meanwhile, Humphreys’ teammate Sean Keppie also spoke on his future as he runs off-contract at the end of the season.

“I’m not trying to look that far ahead. I think we’ve got such a good team here. I’m just trying fit in wherever I can,” Keppie said.

“Do my part and hopefully off the back of that something comes but like I said I’m just trying to do my role for this team, put my best foot forward and get some wins.”

However, the front-rower would love the opportunity to play with form schoolmate Payne Haas who will make the move from Brisbane down to the Rabbitohs next season.

“I played with him a while ago. I was in school and played schoolboys together but he’s a great player,” he added.

“We’ve got such a good team so I think him coming next year will be real good for the Rabbitohs and if I can be here to do that with him, it’ll be pretty awesome.”

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