South Sydney chief executive David Tapp has defended the National Rugby League club's financial outlay on Terry Hill, describing it as a worthwhile investment.

Hill, one of the Rabbitohs' major off-season signings, retired due to knee problems after appearing in only one trial game.

The former Test centre, who made his first-grade debut with the Rabbitohs in the ARL more than a decade ago, was paid nearly $80,000 for his five-month stint at Redfern.

Tapp defended that investment and the club's decision to sign the 32-year-old, who had struggled with injury in recent seasons.

"From the club's perspective the money the club paid for Terry it believes has been well worthwhile," Tapp said.

"I kid you not, the contribution of the guy off the field has been remarkable.

"We had a sponsors' function...where he got up and told all the sponsors in the room that if they wanted him to come to their business, if they wanted him to go to their kids birthday party he would and he'd take the players along.

"How many other players would do that? That's the type of bloke we're talking about.

"His contribution here in five months has been outstanding and it's as good a money as this club has ever spent."

Hill, who had stints with Easts, Wests, Manly and the Wests Tigers before re-joining Souths, started training with the Rabbitohs in November.

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