Damien Cook has been dropped by the Rabbitohs for their clash with the Sharks on Saturday night as the club weathers its worst start to the season in over a decade.
The veteran Blues hooker trained with South Sydney's reserves team on Tuesday before he was dumped from the club's top 17 when the team list was announced.
Cook moves to the reserves, with 23-year-old rookie Peter Mamouzelos coming into the side as starting hooker.
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Siliva Havili has been named in the No.15 jersey, meaning Cook is unlikely to play any part in Saturday's match.
Cook's demotion headlines a trio of sweeping changes at South Sydney as embattled coach Jason Demetriou scrambles to remedy the club's poor start to 2024.
With superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell suspended for three weeks, Jye Gray will make his NRL debut in his place.
Cook is the second big-name player to be dropped by Demetriou this season after halfback Lachlan Ilias was axed last month to make way for Dean Hawkins.
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The match has been talked up as a must-win for Demetriou with reports the fixture against the Sharks is a final test of the club's direction under his leadership.
9News and Sydney Morning Herald reporter Michael Chammas reported on Sunday that the club has called for an internal review of its football operations under Demetriou following the game.
However, according to 9News reporter Danny Weidler, Demetriou has not been informed by the club that he is facing the axe amidst the team's form slump.
In some good news for Souths, winger Tyrone Munro will return from a shoulder injury to make his first appearance this season.
The Rabbitohs have only won one of their five games so far in 2024 and find themselves anchored at the bottom of the league's ladder in 17th position.
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