Wayne Bennett dodges questions over Souths, Eels links as coaching rumours swirl
With Jason Demetriou fighting for his coaching future at Souths Wayne Bennett has been quizzed about links to the Rabbitohs — as well as suggestions he could take over at Parramatta.
NRL
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Wayne Bennett has labelled Jason Demetriou “a good coach” and savaged clubs for not taking more responsibility while dodging questions about a return to the Rabbitohs or Parramatta takeover.
Demetriou is fighting for his coaching future amid South Sydney’s crash to last place on the NRL ladder following the opening five rounds of the 2024 season.
The Rabbitohs have reportedly identified Immortal Mal Meninga as a potential caretaker coach for the remainder of the year if Demetriou is axed while Bennett has been linked with a return to Redfern from 2025.
The Dolphins coach has a long association with Demetriou, taking his former assistant from the Broncos to Rabbitohs in 2019 as part of a succession plan at Souths.
Bennett, 74, said Demetriou was a good operator and coaches were unfairly made scapegoats when clubs were in crisis.
“I have no idea what is going on at Souths, other than what I hear,” he said ahead of Friday’s Broncos-Dolphins derby at Suncorp Stadium.
“I know Jason is a good coach and something has gone amiss. That is their problem and they will have to sort it out.
“The coach takes all of the responsibility and the club takes none. That is the tragedy of all this stuff.
“That is the job we take on. We know that is our life and we also know it can go pear shaped very quickly and that is what has happened there.”
After being sacked by the Broncos in 2018, Bennett guided Souths to two preliminary finals and the 2021 grand final loss to Penrith during a three-year stint in charge of the Rabbitohs.
The seven-time title winner will vacate the Dolphins’ top job at season’s end as part of a succession plan for assistant Kristian Woolf to take over.
Bennett’s availability has seen him speculated as the No. 1 candidate to take over Souths if Demetriou is punted.
Bennett was noncommittal when asked about a potential return to Redfern, even suggesting he could remain at the Dolphins, who are keen to retain him in some capacity.
“I am here until the end of the season and I have made no decisions about going anywhere or doing anything so we will wait and see,” he said.
“Everyone is having an opinion on it. My opinion is the one that matters but I’m not sharing it with anyone, so keep guessing guys.
“Don’t try and predict the future. That’s the only tip I’m giving you.
“I’ll see what I want to do and what’s happening in my life. I could still be here next year. Who knows?”
Bennett has also been linked with Parramatta as Eels coach Brad Arthur comes under-pressure following a lean start to the season and a decade without premiership success.
Bennett rejected suggestions he nearly previously joined the Eels but hailed the influence of former Parramatta coaches Jack Gibson and Ron Massey.
“Not even nearly. I haven’t even walked past the ground,” he said.
“I have got a fair idea about what I have done in my life. You need to go and read another book and see what that one says because Wayne Bennett has never been near the Eels in his coaching career.
“I loved Jack Gibson and Ron Massey ... both wonderful men. They were big influences on my life and my coaching life but that doesn’t mean that is going to get me to the Eels.”
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