Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou opens up on replacing Wayne Bennett, Latrell Mitchell criticism
In his first interview as South Sydney coach, Jason Demetriou admits he won’t be the same as the Super Coach, and will put his own spin on the Grand Final runners-up.
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New South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou is refusing to become a clone of the master coach he succeeded, declaring: “I can’t sit here and try to be Wayne Bennett.”
And Demetriou took aim at Latrell Mitchell’s detractors, claiming: “I think he cops more – well I know he cops more – than most people do. I’ve never been involved with someone who can go from hero to villain so quickly.”
In his first sit-down interview since taking over from Bennett at Redfern, Demetriou also spoke about pressure, Cody Walker, Adam Reynolds and Russell Crowe.
After a long apprenticeship, Demetriou, 45, has finally graduated after assistant roles with St George Illawarra, North Queensland, Brisbane and Souths.
In his playing career, he didn’t register an NRL game but played juniors for St George and later Newtown before playing stints in England with Lancashire Lynx, Rochdale Hornets, Widnes and Wakefield Trinity. He was a Balmain Tigers fan when young.
Now Demetriou starts one of rugby league’ most high-pressure jobs – replacing master coach Bennett while working for Crowe and James Packer.
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BYE BYE BENNETT
After three seasons at Redfern, and a grand final appearance this year, Bennett has left for the Dolphins.
Few coaches have succeeded when following Bennett.
Asked if it was intimidating to take over from Bennett, Demetriou said: “No, not at all. If I feel that intimidation I’m probably going to change the way I am. I can’t do things that aren’t really me.
“It’s important I embrace the things Wayne has left but also bring my own flavour. I’m not in the position where I need to worry about anything that Wayne achieved and then challenge myself to achieve more than him.
“My involvement under Wayne has probably been different to most head coach-assistant coach roles. That’s a credit to Wayne and the way he has helped me transition into this role.
“I think we have almost been co-coaches over the last couple of years and that has put me in a good place to move from here, along with the support of some pretty good staff. It’s about turning up to work every day and doing the best I can in the privileged position I’m in.
“Wayne is into his 70s now but he is as passionate now as he was when he started. He really values those relationships he has with the playing group. He has left the club in good shape, we’re in a really good place.”
BE MYSELF
Bennett had his own highly successful style and methods and Demetriou quickly denied he would be a Bennett-clone.
“I can’t sit here and try to be Wayne Bennett. I haven’t coached 800, 900 games. I will bring my style, my flair which the players are really familiar with,” he said.
“And that’s the same message to the playing group. I’m big on the players bringing their own individuality to the team – to be themselves. I’m sure they wouldn’t expect me to be any different.
“The big thing is I don’t come in here and be a different person than I’ve been over the last three years. I can only be myself, I can’t be anyone else.
“I feel I have done my time and it’s time to do what I enjoy best. I feel it’s the right time to add a little bit to what we have been doing.
“It’s not about making changes but looking at areas where we could improve to go that one step further, as we would have done if Wayne was here next year. And it’s important to recognise the history of this club.”
SECURITY BLANKET
Everyone loves the assistant coach. He never has to make the tough calls. Now there’s no hiding.
“I’m actually looking forward to having that control,” Demetriou said. “Over the last couple of years I have probably been frustrated at times that you are an assistant.
“That’s the hardest part about being an assistant – that is it’s your job to support the head coach and we do and enjoy doing that.
“But I’m looking forward to having that responsibility and building that relationship with the players as their head coach.”
PRESSURE AND PERSONALITY
Can he handle pressure? Will it affect him? Is his personality suited to NRL coaching?
“My whole career has been like that. I was told many years ago I wasn’t going to amount to anything and nothing was going to happen,” he said. “I have gone and had a pretty successful career.
“I have been answering that type of pressure for a long time. What I do know is that I can’t let it control me. I have to be who I am and we have to think about where we want to go and how we will get there.
“I played until I was 36 which is another reason why I was late into coaching. I don’t see that as a problem. It’s all part of the journey. There are only 16 head coaching roles in the game – they aren’t easy to get. I feel as at home here at the Rabbitohs as I have at any other club.”
FAREWELL REYNO
Some Souths fans remain stumped over Reynolds’ departure, given his form this year was as impressive as any in his 10-year career. Replacing the experience, guidance and kicking game of Reynolds could be near impossible.
“He’s a loss, there’s no doubt about that,” conceded Demetriou. “You don’t have someone who has done and meant so much to your organisation as he has for the past decade.
“I will miss him, I will miss his cheekiness around the place, but at the same time, life moves on and we’ve got to move on.
“It’s important that whoever does come in, they come in and be themselves. I’m not going to bring anyone in the team to try and be Adam Reynolds. Whoever comes in and plays in that seven role – whether it’s Anthony Milford, Lachlan Ilias or Dean Hawkins – they’ve got to be themselves.
“I’m sure people said the same thing when Adam was given his opportunity years ago when Chris Sandow left.”
Asked if there was a front runner for the vacant halfback spot, Demetriou said: “Not really, no, I haven’t nailed that down yet.”
LOVED LATRELL
Will Latrell be gun shy? Could he have lost his swagger? Will he be as dominant? Mitchell continues to be haunted by a six-game suspension for smashing the cheekbone of Roosters star Joey Manu.
“Latrell knows that we love him here. He is well supported by everyone from myself all the way down to the kit man. The South Sydney people love him here and we want Latrell to feel that. He is a big part of where we’re going,” Demetriou said.
“It’s all part of maturing. People forget Latrell is 24. I think he cops more – well I know he cops more – than most people do and that’s hard to deal with at times but, overall, he handles it extremely well.
“I will say this … Latrell is one of the most remarkable young men I have coached. He is stable off the field as a father and partner. As a club, we want to celebrate the good things Latrell brings and we know what he does on the field is pretty special as well.”
Asked why he felt Mitchell copped more than anyone else, Demetriou said: “It’s a great question. I honestly don’t know. I’ve never been involved with someone who can go from hero to villain so quickly.
“He plays that kind of footy where if you’re supporting him, you’re loving it. If you’re on the other side, you’re not liking it. That’s what the game is about, that’s why fans turn up. We shouldn’t be trying to stop those guys having a presence on the field.”
INEXPERIENCED BUNNIES
Among others, Souths have lost Reynolds, Jaydn Su’A, Dane Gagai and Benji Marshall – that’s a combined total of 886 NRL games.
“Losing those guys, that’s hard to replace,” Demetriou said. “But in a salary cap, that, unfortunately, is what happens, especially when we have players that have emerged and come through our system like Cam Murray, Campbell Graham, Keaon Koloamatangi, Junior Tatola, who have forced themselves into the elite echelon of the NRL.
“It’s a loss but we are really confident in the players that we have coming through. On paper, we still have a very, very strong team.”
CONFIDENT CODY
Walker showed faith in Demetriou earlier this week by extending his tenure at Redfern until the end of 2023. The coach has denied Walker would play under more pressure – and be forced to curb his flamboyance – because of Reynolds’ departure.
“I want Cody to keep doing what he does,” he said. “It’s important he doesn’t come in and try to be Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds. He just has to do his job. Once he gets here, and we start training together, Cody will realise he’s able to do that.
“And we can simplify the role for whoever does come in (at halfback) so Cody can be the best he can be. Whoever does come in will be well supported by Cody, Damien Cook, Cam Murray.”
WAGS DRAMA
The Sunday Telegraph reported a physical altercation between two Souths WAGS that was covered up from when the team was based on the Gold Coast.
After the team’s presentation night, a nasty altercation broke out involving hair-pulling, shoving and foul language.
“We’ll address it if there’s an issue,” Demetriou said. “I know there’s not too much going on. We spent three months way together. What I will say is that the partners were outstanding and a big reason why we got to where we did.”
Pressed again on whether there was an incident, Demetriou said: “Not that I know of.”
RESPECTFUL RUSTY
Does he expect Crowe to be a silent owner? Demetriou hasn’t spoken to Crowe yet since returning to training on Monday but doesn’t anticipate any issues with the Hollywood high-flyer.
“I will work with him, for sure. Russell is a big part of why the club is where it is. I have to make sure I’m respectful to that and we are as a team as well.
“Russell has been around, he knows the club better than anyone. I will be leaning on him, for sure.”
FAMILY MAN
Demetriou and his wife, Natalie, who celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, live in the Shire with their three girls – Isabella (aged 16), Maddison (14) and Sienna (11) – and a one-year old Labradoodle named Simba.
He is trying to secure the right balance between juggling the heavy workload of being a head coach with the demands of being a dad and husband.
“That is something I learned from Wayne over the last five years – that is making sure you have that time away from your work and making sure you value the importance of the people inside your circle that aren’t involved in the game – get some time away to get clarity in how you think,” he said.
“I’m fortunate my wife has encouraged and supported me during my time in England for 13 years and my journey up and down the east coast of Australia. I’m not looking to take on this head coaching role to divorce my family, that’s for sure. They will be a big part of what I do.
“I like spending time with the kids and my dog. I enjoy taking Simba out, he’s a good distraction. It’s like having an 18-month old kid again. And I enjoy watching footy too. It wasn’t Wayne’s thing but I love it. I love the game and will be watching it until the day I leave this planet.”
SOUTHS FLAG SURPRISE ROLE FOR ROOKIE SENSATION
— Paul Crawley
Anthony Milford has only ever played two games as a starting halfback in nine NRL seasons.
But if South Sydney’s new recruit is going to make the starting team next season, it will be by beating young guns Blake Taaffe and Lachlan Ilias in the race to wear Adam Reynolds’ vacated No.7 jumper.
That is the message coming straight from new coach Jason Demetriou, who has revealed he is not considering switching star five-eighth Cody Walker from his preferred position.
There has been some speculation that the Rabbitohs may move Walker to halfback so he can take control of the team in the absence of Brisbane-bound Reynolds.
Milford has never been that organising-type half and has only played two of his 193 NRL games in the No.7 jumper, while Walker played plenty of halfback before his arrival at Redfern and most think he could probably adapt more easily.
But questioned if that was an option, Demetriou was clear: “Cody will wear the six. His role won’t change. He will stay where he is.”
It comes with the former Bronco due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday on charges of an alleged assault back in September.
Demetriou said he was looking forward to helping Milford resurrect his career after the Broncos cut him loose and he expects the 27-year-old not be content with playing off the bench.
“First and foremost it is about getting him here and happy and pushing for a starting spot, I am sure that is what he wants,” Demetriou said.
“But he knows he has got a bit of work to do to get that.
“We have good options with Milford, Ilias and Taaffe as well. So they are things that we will explore during the pre-season. It is a good problem to have.”
Asked if Milford was capable of playing that traditional halfback role, Demetriou explained: “I think it is just up to us to find what suits Milford best and how those partnerships work and then playing a style that suits it.
“It is not a matter of him coming in and trying to be an Adam Reynolds and that is the same for Lachie.
“Pre-season will give us a chance to have a look at them both and work in with Cody and Cookie and see what works best.”
That comment leads to an assumption Taaffe will be taking up the Benji Marshall vacated utility role off the bench.
Taaffe had an extraordinary end to the season after coming in to cover for the suspended Latrell Mitchell at fullback.
But Taaffe was the halfback in the Rabbitohs’ premiership winning Jersey Flegg team a couple of years back, while Ilias got a taste of the top grade this year and showed he is a player with considerable potential with a good kicking game.
But Demetriou said limited football over the past two seasons due to Covid puts Taaffe and Ilias in a tough position.
Demetriou said the one thing he doesn’t want to do is cruel the youngster’s long-term NRL careers by making either of them a quick fix.
“The downside of those guys coming through, Dean Hawkins is another one on our books next year, they haven’t had much footy over the last two years,” Demetriou said.
“So this next pre-season is going to be important to them and the type of things we do on the training field will be important as well.
“But it is a big ask for young halfbacks.
“What I have noticed over the last few years is some young halfbacks have come in too soon, and I am committed to Lachie and Taaffe having a career at the Rabbitohs, not just playing a few first grade games.”
Meanwhile, Demetriou congratulated Alex Johnston on securing his new deal that will keep the local junior at the club until at least the end of the 2025 season.
Johnston, 26, has played 166 matches since debuting in 2014.
In that period he has scored 136 tries, putting him second on the Bunnies’ all-time tryscorers list behind Nathan Merritt on 146.
But this new deal also gives Johnston a realistic chance of eventually running down the all-time try scoring champion Ken Irvine who had 212 career tries from 236 games.
Johnston has been the competition’s leading try scorer for the last two seasons, adding 30 more to his tally this year.
“It is outstanding news. He has the potential to be the all-time leading try scorer and a one club player,” Demetriou said.
“And he brings so much to the group that people don’t see as well. He is quite a character. He brings a lot of enjoyment and fun off the field.
“But more so he is a very experienced winger who has the ability to play fullback which he has shown in the past.
“Ultimately it is just good to have him.”
‘He’ll do great things’: Why players rave about new Souths coach
- Nick Campton
Ten years after he got his start as a player-coach and makeshift groundsman, Jason Demetriou has taken a winding path to one of the biggest jobs in rugby league and now faces the unenviable task of replacing the greatest coach of all time.
Coaching the high-flying Rabbitohs, and bearing the pressure, scrutiny and expectation that comes with it — let alone following in Wayne Bennett’s footsteps — will be no easy task.
For the most part, coaches that followed Bennett, at Brisbane, St George Illawarra and Newcastle, have not lasted long.
But Demetriou is a proven winner in his own way — his record over the past 10 years proves it, beginning on the other side of the world in Keighley, West Yorkshire, home of the Cougars.
Demetriou got his start with the Cougars in 2011 after a career in Super League, and wasn’t just the player-coach — he was everything the third division club needed him to be.
“Jason was out there on the roller, rolling the pitch before games. You come from Super League where it’s full time and there’s a groundsman and the kitman and all of those, but at Keighley he had to mark the lines on the field,” said Sam Obst, who played under Demetriou for the Cougars.
“I’m sure there would have been a few crooked trylines and sidelines and everything.
“It definitely would have been an eye-opener, but maybe it’s a good building block as well — it would instil good values, having to do those jobs you don’t normally have to do as a coach.”
Keighley was promoted to the second division for 2012, with Demetriou hanging up the boots, and he steered the Cougars to a respectable mid-table finish before returning to Australia as coach of Queensland Cup side, and Cowboys feeder club, the Northern Pride.
His time with the Pride was spectacular, winning 78 per cent of his matches over two seasons, and steering the club to a premiership and a State Championship victory in 2014.
“We put a score on Easts in the grand final. Cody Walker was playing for them, Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi and Cameron Munster were all in that side as well,” said Obst, who followed Demetriou to the Pride.
“Then we went down for the State Championship against a pretty stacked Penrith side and got the chocolates there as well.
“When we scored one try Jason got so excited he fist-pumped and punched the glass in the coaches box by mistake.”
From there, the NRL came calling and Demetriou joined Paul Green’s staff at North Queensland in 2015, where he played a vital role in the club’s maiden premiership, ironically against Bennett’s Broncos.
“He was outstanding. His knowledge of the game and his man management stood out to me,” said grand-final winning prop Ben Hannant.
“He’s a coach you want to play for, he knows the right time to give you a kick up the bum, he knows the right time to give you a hug.
“I think he’s the next big coach who will do great things in the NRL.
“The way he knows the game, his plans for attack, and how he holds his players accountable — he’s someone I’m very excited to see.”
After one year, Demetriou hit the road again — this time linking with the Dragons as their NSW Cup coach.
Demetriou took a team that finished 10th the year before all the way to the premiership, landing his third title with his third team in as many years before linking up with Bennett at the Broncos in 2017.
He’s been Bennett’s No. 2 man ever since, to the point where South Sydney took on the duo as a package deal in 2019.
So what’s the secret? How can the unassuming former Greek and Canadian international, who never played in the NRL, succeed where coaches like Ivan Henjak, Rick Stone, Steven Price and Anthony Seibold have failed to succeed Bennett?
According to Hannant, Demetriou’s experience in successful NRL systems in recent years puts him in good stead to not only succeed but stand out at South Sydney.
“That’s what you want. It’s not about just saying stuff, because plenty of people can give a good interview to get a coaching job,” Hannant said.
“The game changes so much, asking old, great players to come back and coach probably isn’t the way to go. Jason Demetriou is definitely one of those guys who has the skills to compete with top coaches in the competition.
“There’s probably a big difference between the top coaches in the NRL and the rest, but he’s someone who can definitely close the gap.”
Demetriou faces a tall order in not just following Bennett, but inheriting a roster which is losing Adam Reynolds, Dane Gagai and Jaydn Su’A from the Rabbitohs grand final team.
But the early signs are good — it’s worth noting that Demetriou is the kind of coach players follow, even in the wild world of second-tier rugby league.
Obst and another Keighley man, Semi Tadulala, went with him from the Cougars to the Pride and South Sydney’s squad next season will boast three players (Jacob Host, Taane Milne – and likely – Siliva Havili) who played under him at Illawarra.
The respect Demetriou gives his players, and the respect he earns in return, seems to be his secret weapon in taking on the challenge of NRL coaching.
“Ultimately, you have to have the respect of the players if they’re going to play for you. That’s something he’s always had,” Obst said.
“He respects you as well, that travels a long way with players. He’s honest, there’s no beating around the bush with him, but he has that compassion as well and the players appreciate it.
“I’m sure he’ll be the first to say he had a lot of good people around him, but he’s had success wherever he’s gone. It’s probably not a coincidence.”
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