Wayne Bennett’s history of roster renewal has every other club watching South Sydney

Classy hooker Damien Cook might be the first big name feeling like he could be soon emptying his locker at the Rabbitohs - but history tells us he won’t be the last - writes David Riccio.

Will established stars Damien Cook (L) and Cody Walker (R) survive Wayne Bennett's (C) arrival at the Rabbitohs?

The Rabbitohs’ clear path forward under super coach Wayne Bennett next season is one thing.

The uncertainty right now over their playing roster and key staff is a completely different story.

As Bennett’s history of moves from one club to the next has proven, it’s about to get a little hectic in the burrow.

Classy hooker Damien Cook might be the first big Souths name feeling like he could be soon emptying his locker.

But he won’t be the last.

The entire game knows it.
Rival clubs are watching closely, preparing their own salary cap in preparation to feed on Bennett discards.

The winds of change at Souths are coming from two directions.

There’s the club’s tight salary cap and an inability to get busy in the market unless they create change.

Yet to be re-signed and without a contract next year are Michael Chee-Kam, Dean Hawkins, Ben Lovett, Taane Milne, Isaiah Tass, Leon Te Hau, and Izaac Thompson.

Damien Cook might be the first big name moved on by the Rabbitohs. Picture: Getty Images

With only 2025 remaining on their deals are Siliva Havili, Jacob Host, Lachlan Ilias, Alex Johnston, Haizyn Mellars, Davvy Moale, Tyrone Munro, Cody Walker and Cook.

The looming pressure on Cook stems from the current salary cap, which is loaded with $700,000-plus money-earners including Cameron Murray, Jack Wighton, Latrell Mitchell, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jai Arrow, Walker and Cook.

Prop Tevita Tatola and centre Campbell Graham sit just behind the top crop on the pay scale.

The exit of Thomas Burgess - on just over $700,000 this season - has allowed the club to use a smaller portion of that money to secure playmaker Lewis Dodd from St Helens in the English Super League.

Ilias is also destined to move before his 2025 contract expires given the arrival of Dodd.

That won’t be enough though for Bennett to put his own touch on the roster, which he’s been doing at his previous clubs for years.

It’s why already, we’re picking up stories linking Souths to Dragons forward Jack de Belin, who the experienced mentor has coached before.

In 2012, when Bennett moved from the Dragons to the Knights he took Darius Boyd, Adam Cuthbertson, Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott with him. Soon after, he even brought back veteran Craig Gower for a run.

Wayne Bennett. Picture: NRL Images

In 2015, Bennett moved from Newcastle back to the Broncos and got busy rattling the cage again. He tapped Ben Barba, Ben Hannant and Jake Granville and brought in Anthony Milford, Adam Blair and Boyd.

Then when the 74-year-old moved to Souths for the first time in 2019, he spent the first two seasons bringing in players he knew, including Corey Allen, Jayd’n Sua and James Roberts.

He even brought in Benji Marshall, who he had coached in the Kiwis, for a run.

Then when Bennett left the Rabbitohs bound for the Dolphins in 2023, it came as no surprise that he took hardworking prop Mark Nicholls and attacking half Kodi Nikorima with him to launch the new franchise.

What makes the next few months at Souths all the more interesting is what is unfolding at the Dolphins.

Bennett’s success over the first two year at the Dolphins, where he has them sitting inside the top-four with a squad that boasts a smattering of brilliance, but largely experienced NRL-hardened workers, could be his greatest achievement as a coach.

However, it’s also proof of Bennett’s template towards building a roster; that he doesn’t need a side loaded with superstars to draw results.

It’s both exciting for Rabbitohs fans and equally concerning for a Bunnies squad loaded with highly paid stars.

Originally published as Wayne Bennett’s history of roster renewal has every other club watching South Sydney