Souths make major change to coaching crew

The Rabbitohs have made a significant change to their coaching staff with the experienced David Furner returning to the club as an assistant in charge of the team’s struggling defence.

All the reports were that South Sydney was expected to get rid of head coach Jason Demetriou during the team’s bye week, with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga tipped to take over for the rest of the season before Wayne Bennett returned in 2025.

But a spirited performance against Cronulla has bought him more time, with the players overcoming a stack of injuries to put in a gritty 80 minutes for their coach.

Furner worked with the Rabbitohs in 2017 and 2018 and has been at a number of clubs since he left the Raiders in 2013.

He will be in charge of the team’s defence, with fellow coaches Ben Hornby, Joe O’Callaghan and John Sutton continuing in their roles as assistant, development and pathways coaches supporting the head coach.

Souths make major change to coaching crew

“I’m really happy to have David joining our crew. He will add a lot to our coaching staff and, most importantly, our players,” Demetriou said, having also worked with Furner when the Cowboys won the 2015 premiership.

“We’re looking for ways to improve our performances and we think that having an experienced coach like him coming in to concentrate on the team’s defence will be a positive.

“We’ve worked together previously and had great success at the Cowboys, and he knows what our club is all about having worked here before.

“I’m looking forward to having him here alongside myself, ‘Benny’ (Hornby), Joe (O’Callaghan) and ‘Sutto’ (Sutton) as we prepare for our next game against Melbourne and the rest of the season.”

The Rabbitohs are last on the ladder and have conceded the most points, with games against the Storm and Panthers coming up after the bye.

“David is a highly experienced coach who has worked well with Jason previously, helping to deliver the Cowboys their first premiership in 2015,” Rabbitohs head of football Mark Ellison said.

“He understands our club having coached here previously and his role will allow Jason to free himself up to concentrate on the many and varied roles of a head coach, including mentoring his players and coaching staff to get this season back on the right track.

“We’re delighted to have ‘Furnsy’ back in the fold here at South Sydney.”