Emotional reunion as Rabbitohs touch down in America

The South Sydney Rabbitohs arrived in Los Angeles ahead of their NRL season opener to strong support from locals.

The Rabbitohs are the first of the league’s four teams to touch down on American soil with the 2024 premiership to kick off in Las Vegas on March 3.

At the airport the team was met by American Rabbitohs fanatic Kaine Charleston —who came with a gift after the club supported him through his cancer battle.

“I’m supposed to be at chemo now but my doctor let me off,” Charleston told Australian media at the airport.

“It was touch and go but my numbers are good so he said, ‘Go see your guys’. So we came straight from the hospital to here.

“I just wanted to see them off and say welcome and how much they mean to me.”

The rest of the club’s stars, including Latrell Mitchell, set off on the long commute on Tuesday.

“It’s not as bad as going to England so I should be all right. We’re looking forward to it,” Thomas Burgess said of the flight to the states.

After slipping out of the competition’s top eight last season, the Rabbitohs are ready to make amends with a successful campaign.

South Sydney Rabbitohs arrive in Los Angeles graphic.

“It’s probably been the longest pre-season I’ve had since being with Souths in my 12 years so if that’s something to go by, and it definitely sets up the season,” Burgess said.

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou echoed the sentiment of having a strong season, encouraging his players to look beyond the bright lights of Vegas.

“We’re not here for a holiday. We’re here to work and the players know that,” he said.

“But we want to enjoy the experience as well, be respectful of the area that we’re in, and we understand the interest so we’ll soak that up for eight days and then look forward to getting into Vegas.”