The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to announce the contract extension of front row forward Mark Nicholls until at least the end of the 2023 season.
Nicholls, 31, has taken his game to new levels over the four seasons he has been with the Rabbitohs, becoming an integral part of South Sydney’s front row rotation.
Nicholls has played 110 NRL games during his career so far of which 82 have been for South Sydney, including the 2021 NRL Grand Final, since joining the Club in 2018. A country boy from Leeton in New South Wales, Nicholls is a no-nonsense, high work-rate front rower that has found his home at South Sydney. Nicknamed ‘The GOAT’, Nicholls also had the honour of captaining the Rabbitohs in the final round of this year’s regular season against the St George Illawarra Dragons and won the Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year Award for 2021.
Rabbitohs Head of Football, Mark Ellison, says Nicholls’ re-signing was key for South Sydney’s forwards stocks into the future.
“We’re really excited to have Mark staying with the Club for at least two more seasons,” Mr Ellison said.
Mark Ellison“He embodies everything we are looking for in our front row mix. He’s a very hard worker, has a low error rate, makes good metres and makes his tackles. He is one of the most reliable front rowers in the game.
“He’s been great for our Club over the past four seasons, he comes from a lovely family and is building a little family of his own now, and he is looking after himself in terms of his career after football as well which is very important here at South Sydney.
“He’s a senior player with leadership skills amongst our group and is a fantastic example of perseverance and determination to succeed.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Mark staying with our Club and we see his best football still being in front of him.”
Nicholls is excited to be a part of the Rabbitohs’ future.
“The last few years have been amazing for me and my family, both in terms of my footy and away from the field,” Nicholls said.
Mark Nicholls“I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Perrie, we had our gorgeous daughter Darcie and it’s no coincidence that I feel that I’ve played my best footy too.
“I love this Club and everything it does for me and my family. It’s an honour to wear the red and green.
“I love the group of players and coaches we have, the Members are second-to-none, and hopefully I can repay them all by helping us go one step further than we did this year by winning the premiership.”
Biography
Name: Mark Nicholls
Date of Birth: 5 January 1990
Place of Birth: Wagga Wagga, NSW
Position: Front row
Height: 194cm
Weight: 104kg
Junior Club: Leeton Raiders, Gungahlin Bulls
Previous Clubs: Storm (2017); Raiders (2012-16)
NRL Debut: Raiders vs Dragons, Canberra Stadium, 2 July 2012 (Rd 17)
NRL Games: 110 (82 for the Rabbitohs; 19 for the Storm; nine for the Raiders)
NRL Points: 24 (20 for the Rabbitohs from five tries; four for the Raiders from one try)
Rep Honours: One game for NSW Residents (2014); Two matches for the Junior Kangaroos (2010)
Awards: Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year (2021)
