Souths boss lifts lid on renewed Bennett pursuit
South Sydney boss Blake Solly has confirmed Wayne Bennett is a leading candidate to return and coach the Rabbitohs.
His comments came about 13 hours after Jason Demetriou was sacked as head coach following two extraordinary board meetings at Heffron Park on Tuesday.
Demetriou was an assistant coach under Bennett when the Bunnies made the 2021 NRL grand final, ultimately losing to Penrith.
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But Demetriou was dumped after winning only one of seven games to start 2024, following a horror finish to the 2023 season when they fell from the top of the ladder to miss finals.
Solly fronted media on Wednesday morning and confirmed Bennett’s proven ability to work with superstar players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker will be a “strong consideration”.
Wayne Bennett with Latrell Mitchell
Bennett will finish as head coach of the Dolphins at season’s end and is yet to sign a deal anywhere for 2025 and beyond.
“Wayne is one of the coaches that we will talk to,” Solly said.
“Wayne had great success here, left the club on very good terms.
“We will speak to Wayne and certainly if he is available and interested we will progress that.
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“I know Wayne likes success, I know he wants to win premierships, and I know he loves the values of the club and what we stand for.
“He left the place in very good shape when he left, and he was great while he was here. He got us through really difficult times when he was here.
“He was a pleasure to work with.”
Rumours circulated last year that Demetriou was struggling to handle Mitchell and Walker, whose individual auras often overshadow the rest of the team.
Solly says the Bunnies want an experienced coach who can get the whole squad back on track.
“We want someone who fits this playing group and can get the best out of them,” he said.
“It’s a unique playing group… we want a coach that can get them to perform at their best consistently, and a coach that understands the heritage and history of this club, that’s really important.”
Solly is happy to let club legend Sam Burgess focus on his role as head coach of Super League club Warrington, saying “we don’t want to disrupt that”.
He said no one at the club has approached league icon Mal Meninga about a role, or David Furner who joined as an assistant coach only a fortnight ago.
Long-time assistant Ben Hornby has been instated as interim head coach and Solly said he will consider a permanent role if Hornby is keen on it.
The Rabbitohs face the Panthers on Thursday night.