SOUTH SYDNEY fans yesterday ignored bookies' predictions that the club would vie with Canberra for the wooden spoon next year, with about 1000 Rabbitohs season-ticket holders queueing to renew their seats after the NRL draw was announced.

Souths will again kick off their season against Sydney Roosters in the opening round starting on March 13, which also features a first-up trip to Melbourne for Wayne Bennett at the Dragons, before his return to Brisbane four weeks later.

Manly and the Storm were installed as equal $4 favourites in the first betting market on the premiership issued by CentreBet.

Brad Walter