NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett reveals approach from South Sydney CEO Blake Solly about head coaching role

Wayne Bennett has revealed he has been in contact with South Sydney hours after Jason Demetriou was sacked, as the super coach takes another step towards a return to the Rabbitohs.

South Sydney CEO Blake Solly. Picture: Julian Andrews

Wayne Bennett is ready to save South Sydney.

The Dolphins super coach has broken his silence to confirm his interest in returning to Redfern to rebuild strife-torn Souths in the wake of Jason Demetriou’s sacking.

As Demetriou was spotted for the first time since his sacking, photographed walking his dog in the Sydney rain on Wednesday, Bennett spoke for the first time about his potential Redfern resurrection.

Bennett confirmed he had fielded a phone call from Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly and the parties will now ramp-up formal negotiations for the 74-year-old’s second coming at South Sydney in 2025.

“Yes, I’m interested,” he said.

“They are keen to talk to me and I’m keen to talk to them.

“Blake has since contacted me and told me he wants to talk to me at some stage.

“He mentioned they had some other coaches they have in mind.

“The Rabbitohs know how I feel.

Wayne Bennett confirms interest in exploring a return to South Sydney. Picture: NRL Photos

“They have intimated they want to talk to me so that’s the next step now, we will have a conversation somewhere down the track.”

Bennett is off-contract at season’s end at the Dolphins and while Redcliffe chiefs are keen for him to stay on in another role, the seven-time premiership winner made it clear he is not finished as an NRL coach.

The task of reuniting with Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker – and delivering Souths to the holy grail after going so close in the 2021 NRL grand final – has major appeal for Bennett.

“I want to coach on,” he said.

“I feel I have more to offer, so I’m ready to see what’s out there.

“Of course I’ll consider other options.”

Asked if Mitchell and Walker are difficult to coach, as has been suggested during Demetriou’s tenure, Bennett said: “I have nothing to say on that.

“The only thing I want to say right now about South Sydney is that I’m interested.

“I don’t know what else is going on there, but I’ll talk to them before any decision is made.

“Whether we can make it work or we can’t, I don’t know.

“I’m unemployed at the end of the footy season. I’m a free agent and Souths are now looking for a coach, so I’m keen to have a conversation and we’ll go from there.”

Bennett played a key role in the rise of Demetriou. He first hired the 48-year-old to the Broncos and the pair worked closely for five years, with Bennett handing the coaching baton to Demetriou at Souths in 2022 when he took charge of the Dolphins.

There were suggestions Bennett would baulk at a Souths return given some gaps in the club’s roster – they have a weak front-row – but the NRL’s greatest coach is up for the challenge.

“I took the job at the Dolphins and we had no roster, so that wouldn’t be a problem,” he said.

Bennett was reluctant to entertain any dialogue with the Rabbitohs until a definitive call had been made on Demetriou.

Now that South Sydney’s board has pulled the trigger on their head coach, Bennett will begin formal talks, but admits he is bitterly disappointed at the demise of a man he helped groom for success in the NRL.

“I do feel for JD,” he said.

“I haven’t spoken to Jason yet, but I will.

“It’s tough on him.

“I don’t like to see any coach getting the sack. It’s a tough job and I have a lot of time for JD.”

Bennett is adamant Demetriou is not finished as an NRL head coach and hopes he gets another chance.

“This is not the end for Jason,” he said.

“I know he can coach, I have worked with him and I know what he brings.

Former South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou (L) and CEO Blake Solly. Picture: Julian Andrews

“I’m not sure what happened there and why it happened, but they have made the call.

“I know Jason knows his football. I worked with him for four or five years, so I know what he is made of, but coaching can be complex and challenging.

“There’s so many parts to coaching. It’s not just about the Xs and Os. That’s not the only part of coaching.

“I haven’t been at Souths for three years, so I don’t know what’s happened, but I don’t think Jason will be lost to coaching.”

Solly confirmed Bennett is on South Sydney’s hit list. The master mentor has also been linked with a move to Parramatta amid speculation over the future of long-serving head coach Brad Arthur.

“Wayne is one of the coaches we will talk to,” Solly said.

“Wayne had great success here, he left the club on very good terms. We’ll speak to Wayne and if he’s available and he’s interested certainly we’ll progress that.

Pushed on whether Bennett’s prior success in bringing out the best in the Iikes of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell would count in his favour, Solly said: “It’s a strong consideration. I do know Wayne likes success.

“I know he wants to win premierships, and I know he loves the values of the club and what we stand for.

Jason Demetriou after he was sacked by Souths. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I think he’s made that pretty clear during his time here; his affection for the club, the ownership, the board and the management.”

“We will certainly be speaking to Wayne because he left the place in very good shape when he left and he was very good when he was here.

“He was a pleasure to deal with.”

Bennett spent three seasons at the Rabbitohs, leading the club to two preliminary finals and a grand final. Crucially, he was able to get the best out of a playing squad, the bulk of which remain at the club but have laboured in recent times.

Demetriou was axed on Monday night after a day of deliberation at Souths, the club’s high-powered board making the call after taking into consideration the club’s woeful end to last season and awful start to this one.

Demetriou had prepared a presentation of his own to push his cause, but it eventually fell on deaf ears as the board unanimously opted to head in a different direction after convening two meetings at either end of an emotional day for the club.

Assistant coach Ben Hornby, who has been appointed as an interim for the remainder of the season, took his first training session on Tuesday morning.