NRL 2024: What Jason Demetriou’s axing as South Sydney coach means for struggling powerhouse Parramatta Eels

With the axe falling on Jason Demetriou at South Sydney, the spotlight now turns to Parramatta, adding a layer of intrigue to the Rabbitohs’ pursuit of Wayne Bennett.

Eels coach Brad Arthur. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

The axing of South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou turns the blowtorch onto another struggling mentor in Parramatta’s Brad Arthur, adding a layer of intrigue to the Rabbitohs’ pursuit of Wayne Bennett.

Demetriou and Eels coach Arthur started the week as the NRL’s most under-pressure coaches.

Now, Demetriou no longer has a job.

Arthur has the unwavering support of Parramatta powerbrokers but with the Eels facing another season of finals oblivion, the coach’s job security is looking tenuous.

The Eels are languishing in 14th on the NRL ladder and now have to turn their season around without both general Mitchell Moses (foot) and skipper Clint Gutherson (knee).

It feels like an uphill battle for Arthur. One he must conquer to not only silence detractors but the rumours – which refuse to go away – about Bennett lurking in the shadows waiting for a chance to pounce.

The axing of South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou turns the blowtorch onto another struggling mentor in Parramatta’s Brad Arthur. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly has made Bennett the No.1 priority and has already started work to get the deal done and Bennett has declared his interest in taking over from Demetriou.

It leaves Parramatta at risk of missing out on the coach that is arguably best suited to replace Arthur if the club does eventually part ways with the coach.

Interestingly, South Sydney are also monitoring Arthur’s situation at the Eels.

For many pundits, Bennett returning to South Sydney on unfinished business, after taking the side to the 2021 grand final, is a foregone conclusion.

But Bennett, who has won seven titles, is a shrewd operator – one that would know Parramatta is actually the more attractive proposition.

The situation at South Sydney is dire.

The side has only won two games since late August last year, there is speculation the playing group is fractured and talk management is not on the same page.

The best football appears to be behind the likes of Cody Walker and Damien Cook while Latrell Mitchell remains an enigma and the club is betting on an untried NRL commodity in St Helens halfback Lewis Dodd to lead a revival.

Parramatta are in a far better shape overall. Ironically, a lot of that is on Arthur.

Boasting the likes of Moses, Gutherson, Junior Paulo and youngsters like Dylan Brown and Will Penisini, the Eels should be in a premiership window.

Demetriou and Eels coach Brad Arthur started the week as the NRL’s most under-pressure coaches. But now Demetriou no longer has a job. Picture: AAP.

No one is better at taking an experienced, but balanced side that is ripe for the picking to the next level than Bennett.

The club identified the outside backs as a position that needed strengthening and have now added Zac Lomax, arguably the form outside back in the NRL, to the mix.

It took over 12 months to land the right player, but the club managed to achieve what it set out to do.

Unlike South Sydney, Parramatta also have a seriously promising crop of young talent coming through.

The likes of playmakers Blaize Talagi and Ethan Sanders lead a cohort of impressive youngsters that also includes hooker Matt Arthur, centre Richard Penisini and forwards Charlie Gymer and Sam Tuivaiti.

The lure of winning a title at the Eels and achieving a feat no other coach has been able to since 1986, is hard to refuse for a coach like Bennett.

The option of choosing Parramatta is likely to be taken from Bennett with Parramatta unlikely to make a move on Arthur any time soon.

It begs the question, if not Arthur or Bennett, then who?

Should the Eels make a play for Wayne Bennett? (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Jason Ryles is an option but is unlikely to leave the Storm even if Craig Bellamy does coach for another season. Michael Maguire is committed to the NSW Blues for at least two seasons.

Cronulla and Queensland assistant Josh Hannay is highly regarded and seen as the next NRL head coach in waiting.

But given the pressure the Eels gig comes with, and the very big personalities in the roster, the job is better suited to someone with plenty of experience.

While Arthur is safe for now, the club can’t deny that serious consideration must be given to a change of personnel.

Not at the coaching level but in the roster.

Once a formidable proposition, Parramatta’s forward pack is well below the mark in 2024.

The Eels rely heavily on the likes of Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Joe Ofahengaue to generate go forward momentum and less on outside back carries out of yardage.

But the added workload is denting the effectiveness of the side’s power game, especially in the second half of matches.

Instead of big middles bending the line, it has exposed the Eels of lacking agility and mobility in the forward pack – a cornerstone in the modern game.