NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett rips into South Sydney Rabbitohs players during first team meeting

Three days after the Dolphins played their last regular season game, Wayne Bennett held his first meeting with South Sydney players, delivering a blistering review of the players’ performances in 2024.

Incoming Rabbitohs’ coach Wayne Bennett has ripped into the South Sydney playing squad during a first-up team meeting last Wednesday at the club’s Maroubra headquarters.

Those in the room claim Bennett took aim at the players’ work ethic, commitment, speed and fitness.

“Wayne didn’t f..k around,” said one well-placed source. “That’s how Wayne operates.”

There are even suggestions a fired-up Bennett told the players that rival clubs didn’t fear the Rabbitohs.

Players were contacting each other over the weekend to discuss Bennett’s spray.

Bennett didn’t waste any time in letting his concerns be known at his new club.

His final game as Dolphins coach was on Sunday, September 8. Just three days later, Bennett was at Souths headquarters meeting with the underperforming Rabbitohs.

Wayne Bennett has wasted no time in looking to fix the problems at South Sydney.

Player agents have said their clients were left in little doubt about what Bennett thought of their efforts over the past year.

Some at the club feel it was the kick in the backside South Sydney players needed to hear.

Bennett’s salvo was the talk of South Sydney’s playing group over the weekend. Club officials weren’t present in the room – just players.

Another South Sydney source added: “Wayne certainly spoke to the players. He was very direct. Has Wayne ever been less than direct?”

It is also understood Bennett also held a one-on-one meeting with suspended Latrell Mitchell last week.

Bennett has returned home to Brisbane before making a permanent move to Sydney in coming weeks.

Despite meeting Souths players, Bennett officially remains contracted to the Dolphins until October 31 although his team was eliminated from the premiership after a round 27 loss to Newcastle.

Souths ran a dismal 16th this season with seven wins from 24 games.

Despite the club’s horrible year, Souths fans have high expectations for 2025 given Bennett has rejoined the Rabbitohs.

The TAB will offer long odds about South Sydney’s premiership chances next season.

“TAB opens its 2025 premiership market on grand final night but we can already see a Souths improvement on the cards,” said TAB’s Rohan Welsh.

“The Bennett factor will be immense and with a better run of injuries and suspensions they still have the bones of a strong squad with Cam Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton the core to build around.

Wayne Bennett held a one-on-one meeting with Latrell Mitchell. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“We would expect them to go up at around the $21 mark to win the title and be good value to make the top eight. You could easily see them in that six to eight position given they have the right run.

“But then again, TAB priced them as $9 third favourites to lift the trophy this season and it went horribly wrong for them, so it’s not as if Wayne doesn’t have some significant work to do there to bring them back up-to-speed.”

Bennett coached Souths to the 2021 grand final. During his stay in Sydney, the eight-time grand final-winning coach was spotted walking on Coogee Beach.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett rips into South Sydney Rabbitohs players during first team meeting