Cameron Murray: 2026 Year in Review
Cameron Murray produced a captain’s season for South Sydney in 2026, leading from the front across 20 NRL appearances while once again delivering on the State of Origin stage.
The numbers reflected another typically tireless campaign from the Rabbitohs skipper. Murray finished the regular season with five tries, 48 tackle breaks and 11 offloads, while making 715 tackles at over 95% efficiency and averaging 112 running metres per game. Whether setting the standard defensively or taking the tough carries through the middle, Murray was at the heart of South Sydney’s work throughout the year. That influence was on full display when he returned from Origin duty in round 17 against the Parramatta Eels. Murray ran for 176 metres as the Rabbitohs powered to a 32-12 victory, immediately reasserting his presence through the middle.
Against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round 24, the captain produced another enormous workload, making 56 tackles and running for 119 metres across 73 minutes in South Sydney’s 22-6 win.Then came a remarkable individual performance against the Gold Coast Titans in round 26. Murray crossed for two tries, laid on another two, ran for 178 metres, made 42 tackles and broke the line three times as the Rabbitohs recorded a 42-22 victory. It was a complete performance from the skipper and one of the standout displays of his season.
Representative honours were another highlight of Murray’s 2026 campaign, with the Rabbitohs captain featuring in all three Ampol State of Origin matches for New South Wales.
Murray was right in the thick of the action throughout the series, helping the Blues to victory in Game I at Accor Stadium before adding a try assist in Game II at the MCG. He then crossed for a try in the Game III decider at Suncorp Stadium as NSW sealed a 2-1 series victory.
Across the three matches, Murray finished with 107 tackles at 96.4% efficiency, 245 running metres and a try, taking his Origin career to 18 appearances.
His performances at Club level were recognised at the Red and Green Ball, where Murray capped his season by claiming the George Piggins Medal as South Sydney’s best and fairest for the first time, while also being voted Players’ Player of the Year by his teammates.
It was fitting recognition for a season in which Murray continued to set the standard for the Rabbitohs. Across Club and representative football, the skipper combined consistency, work rate and leadership with some of his biggest individual performances of the year, adding an Origin series victory and two of South Sydney’s major individual honours to an outstanding 2026 campaign.
