Aitken's all Energy and High Expectations Ahead of Round One

Euan Aitken says South Sydney are in a strong position to start the season after an injury-free pre-season and the arrival of key recruits including David Fifita.

Round One Reunion at Suncorp Stadium

Aitken will face former club the Dolphins in round one at Suncorp Stadium, a contest he admits presents unique challenges. Playing against teams where he has spent significant time in his career creates additional difficulty, as those opponents understand his playing style intimately.

"It's always a bit more difficult actually to be honest, coming up against the teams you've sort of spent a lot of time at they know how you play, so yeah it's a bit of a challenge but I'm looking forward to it," he said.

Positive Pre-Season Sets Platform

Euan Aitken believes South Sydney are in a strong position heading into round one after a productive pre-season that saw most of the starting side remain on the field. The second-rower said changes to the performance staff had yielded positive results, with the Club enjoying far better availability than the injury-plagued campaign of 2025.

"It's good seeing everyone on the field for most of the pre-season which we didn't have last year, there was probably most of our starting side out for most of the pre-season on the bike so it's been a welcome change in that respect," he said.

Aitken emphasised the importance of having key players available, particularly highlighting the impact of having Cameron Murray back at full fitness. The Australian representative's consistency around training and leadership on the field provides crucial direction for the team. With new recruits settling in and the squad healthy, Aitken believes the depth at the Club is exceptional and could lead to something special if fortune favours them.

Fifita Lifts Training Standards

The arrival of David Fifita has brought an increased intensity to training, particularly in the weights room where the star forward has set a demanding standard for his teammates. Aitken revealed he has been training alongside Fifita and witnessed firsthand the competitive environment the recruit has created.

"I was training with Dave in the weights room a fair bit and yeah trying to stick with each other and I think a few other boys have found like that him and Latrell seem to have a bit of a running battle of who's doing the most weights," Aitken said.

The healthy competition between Fifita and Latrell Mitchell has elevated the entire group's approach to preparation. Aitken believes the combination of quality players on the park, which was often missing last season, will pay dividends once the competition begins. He is confident that if the team can simply hold the ball in the opening rounds, their skill level will prove too strong for any opponent.

Player Voice Through RLPA Role

Away from the field, Aitken has taken on increased responsibility with the Rugby League Players' Association ahead of upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. The second-rower has been involved with the RLPA for most of his career and is now moving into a more senior role to represent player interests.

Aitken expressed confidence that this round of CBA talks will proceed more smoothly than previous negotiations, emphasising that all parties share common goals. He believes the partnership between players and the game's administrators should focus on their shared objective of growing Rugby League and attracting new audiences.

"Everyone's got that goal to be honest, I think it makes sense for our partnership with the game the NRL players and everyone involved to keep it out of the media and have a lot smoother transition cos end of the day we're all working for the one thing it's to make this game the greatest game of all which it is," Aitken said.

He stressed that success requires all stakeholders working in the same direction, comparing it to any company where alignment produces exceptional results. For Aitken, the primary goal extends beyond negotiations to ensuring the game continues growing and inspiring the next generation of players.