NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett signs 3 year deal as Rabbitohs coach, denies role in Brad Arthur sacking

Wayne Bennett has denied playing a role in Brad Arthur’s sacking at Parramatta, admitting that while he met with the Eels, his heart was always set on returning to the Rabbitohs.

Wayne Bennett has broken his silence on Parramatta’s secret pursuit, insisting he did not knife sacked Eels mentor Brad Arthur as the Dolphins coach vowed to bring the glory days back to South Sydney.

Bennett’s return to Redfern is officially on, with South Sydney announcing a three-year deal for the Redcliffe mentor on Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after Arthur was terminated by the Eels.

Parramatta bosses made a secret 11th-hour play to poach Bennett, meeting with the NRL’s greatest coach at his Warwick farm in a desperate last-ditch bid to ambush the Rabbitohs.

The Eels first met with Bennett on May 2, a day after the club’s board authorised the furtive pursuit of the super coach, who would have privately known Arthur was a dead-man walking during talks with Parramatta chiefs.

But Bennett is adamant he did not play a role in Arthur’s demise, revealing he never gave Parramatta powerbrokers any indication he wanted the blue-and-gold post to compel them to pull the trigger on their coach.

It's official. Wayne Bennett is returning to South Sydney after signing a three-year deal with the Rabbitohs. Picture: NRL Imagery

“That (Arthur’s sacking) was never discussed,” Bennett said.

“Parramatta did make contact with me and I met with them.

“I respected their wish to keep it confidential, but they have since made the decision to speak about it – that was their initiative, not mine.

“I never left anybody (at Parramatta) in any doubt that my preference was to go back to South Sydney and I’m very pleased that’s happening.

“The deal is done, I am pleased we have sorted things out and we can now focus on the rest of the season.”

Bennett insists Arthur’s sacking was never discussed in his discussions with Parramatta. Picture: NRL Imagery

Parramatta ostensibly blindsided Arthur by negotiating behind his back for 17 days and when he was officially terminated on Monday evening, it sparked suspicions Bennett could renege on the Rabbitohs.

The 74-year-old was close to inking a $3.1 million deal with South Sydney after talks with CEO Blake Solly on Monday and Bennett says not even Arthur’s dismissal just hours later triggered a potential change of heart.

Bennett likes the political landscape at Redfern. Renowned for his strong governance and desire to preside over a football program free of front-office meddling, Bennett has run his own race at the Dolphins and says he will get the same high-level backing at Souths.

Bennett is also driven to take the Pride of the League to the holy grail after falling at the final hurdle in the 2021 grand final against Penrith in his last game in charge of Souths before moving to the Dolphins.

Bennett coached the club from 2019-2021, Picture: Annette Dew

“I know the people there, I like the club and what it stands for,” Bennett said.

“I still know a number of the players there and I have no concerns about the roster.

“When I came to the Dolphins, we didn’t even have a single player, so that’s a much tougher rebuild than what I’m facing at South Sydney.

“I know what Souths have with their front office. I wouldn’t be going back if I didn’t leave the club on great terms.

“There’s probably some unfinished business.

“When I left, we just made the grand final, but we had done the three years and they went their way and I went my way.

“Turning Souths around … it’s not just me, it’s the entire club. You need the chairman’s support, you need a good CEO and good people around you, and after that you can get things done.

“The Dolphins haven’t interfered at all and it’s been a great time here.

“That’s really important. Let me do my job and if I can’t do it, we’ll make other arrangements, but don’t interfere with me.”

Bennett has shot down suggestions that Latrell Mitchell is difficult to manage.

Bennett scoffed at suggestions Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell is difficult to manage and has too much power at the club.

“Latrell was recruited when I was there the first time and I have a lot of time for Latrell,” Bennett said.

“I will have no problems working with anybody at Souths, including Latrell.”

Souths chairman Nick Pappas backed Bennett to reinvigorate the Rabbitohs following the recent sacking of Jason Demetriou, his former assistant at the Broncos and successor at Redfern.

“On behalf of the board of the Rabbitohs, we look forward to welcoming Wayne back to the club, and to finishing off what we got so close to achieving in 2021,” Pappas said.

Bennett is confident Kristian Woolf is ready to take over as the Dolphins top job in 2025. Picture: NRL Imagery

The Dolphins have been a revelation under Bennett. They face the Warriors this weekend entrenched in the top four, but Bennett says he has no regrets only agreeing to a two-year deal, insisting his assistant Kristian Woolf is ready for the top job in 2025.

“No. I was the one that gave myself that time frame,” he said.

“I didn’t know where I would be in two years and suddenly be there (at the Dolphins) and not want to coach anymore.

“I had to be honest with myself and the club. I have no regrets at all.

“I am pretty good at moving on. It’s always hard coaching against the teams you have coached before, but it doesn’t stop you doing what you have to do.

“You just do your job. I went to the Dolphins to set the club up, get it started in the right way and make sure the Dolphins had a future without instability, which can destroy clubs.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett signs 3 year deal as Rabbitohs coach, denies role in Brad Arthur sacking