Sam Exempt... Now the fun starts

[Graham]

The $1 million Sam Burgess salary cap exemption has opened the door for South Sydney to launch the club's biggest recruitment raid in almost a decade, with the uncertainty around Cody Walker's future also opening the door for Latrell Mitchell.

South Sydney will have cash to splash the next few seasons after the NRL approved the medical retirement of Burgess, meaning the remaining years of his contract will be excluded from the cap.

The Rabbitohs could have even more money to play with if Walker turns down a recent two-year extension the club put on the table, with contingency plans around Adam Doueihi moving to five-eighth already being considered.

The Rabbitohs have previously distanced themselves from talk around Mitchell, however NRL.com understands club powerbrokers are now considering their options at fullback should Doueihi be required to move into the halves.

Mitchell is believed to be keen to explore the possibility of playing fullback again after switching to the centres at the Roosters over the past two seasons following the arrival of Kangaroos star James Tedesco.