NRL 2024: First pictures of sacked South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou, text message to players

Former South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has been spotted hours after he was dumped by the club as the mentor signed off with a classy message to the playing group. READ THE FULL TEXT

Jason Demetriou. Picture: Getty Images

Jason Demetriou has been spotted just hours after being sacked as head coach of the Rabbitohs.

The former South Sydney coach was snapped walking his dog in driving rain in Caringbah South.

Demetriou’s sighting comes after the recently axed coach sent a heartfelt message to the South Sydney playing group.

“I’m writing to let you know sadly I have been sacked,” Demetriou said in the text message. “Being your head coach has been an absolute privilege and being part of many of your professional journeys over the 5.5 years has been a blessing.

“Watching you make you debuts, hit milestones and become young fathers are memories I will forever cherish.

“As your head coach and assistant coach I’m grateful for the memories on and off the field. “The run to the 2022 finals series and pre lim (sic) alongside the pre season and transition to Heffron in 2023 was a real highlight.

“That feeling in the change rooms that led us to the top of the nrl ladder less than a year ago was some of the greatest experiences of my career. I’m sure this team is destined for more of those memories.

“Blessings to you and your beautiful family.”

Jason Demetriou taking his dog for a walk in Caringbah South on Wednesday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Demetriou, who has been at the club for five-and-a-years, developed strong relationships with the roster after helping take the side to a grand final and two preliminary finals during his tenure.

South Sydney are now set to home in on seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett who has strong ties to several players at the club, including Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.

Demetriou’s message came after the Rabbitohs board to decided to cuts ties with the coach on Tuesday.

Chair Nick Pappas confirmed that the board unanimously agreed at that meeting – which lasted another two hours – that the time had come for the club to have a change of coach, prompting the Rabbitohs to part ways with Demetriou and appoint his assistant Ben Hornby as an interim for the remainder of the year.

Jason Demetriou with Latrell Mitchell in 2023. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Bennett now looms large as the club targets the 74-year-old Dolphins coach for a return to the club. Bennett led Souths to a pair of preliminary finals and a grand final before leaving at the end of 2021 as part of a succession plan that resulted in Demetriou being handed the head coaching job.

He is off contract at the Dolphins at the end of this season and Souths’ decision to sack Demetriou clears the way for them to open negotiations with their former mentor – Bennett has always been reluctant to negotiate with clubs when a coach is in place.

It is understood Demetriou walked away with a nine-month golden handshake, believed to be worth in excess of $350,000.

“The board was unanimous that the time had come for Jason to be moved on with all his rights on his contract,” Pappas said.

“We thank Jason for his services to the club. I know he gave his very best.

“We wish him well in his future coaching endeavours.”

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have terminated the coaching contract of Head Coach Jason Demetriou today, effective immediately. https://t.co/Zi8oSR8mRppic.twitter.com/SDOYognFGS

— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) April 30, 2024

Chief executive Blake Solly added: “The board and management feel that now is the time to make a change to the leadership of our football program in terms of the head coaching role.

“There is no doubting Jason’s work ethic or his drive for success, but unfortunately that success has not been forthcoming over the past 12 months.

“We wish Jason, his wife Natalie and his daughters the very best of luck in the future and we thank him for his service to our club over the past five-and-a-half years.”

The Rabbitohs are set to target Wayne Bennett to return to the club in 2025. Picture: Getty Images

Demetriou is understood to have sent a text message to the playing group on Tuesday night saying it had been a privilege to be their coach and part of their professional journeys.

“That feeling in the change rooms that led us to the top of the NRL ladder less than a year ago was some of the greatest experiences of my career,” he wrote.

“I’m sure this team is destined for more of those memories. Blessings to you and your beautiful families.”

Demetriou had only just signed a three-year extension last October until the end of 2026 but pressure had been growing since last season, after the club dropped out of finals contention despite leading the competition in round 11.

Amid that carnage, favourite son Sam Burgess walked away over claims some of the Rabbitohs’ star players were being given preferential treatment.

Fellow assistant John Morris also departed, joining Benji Marshall’s coaching staff at the Wests Tigers.

Hornby stayed and he now gets the chance to showcase his head coaching credentials as he steps into the breach and attempts to reignite the Rabbitohs season.

It will be Hornby’s first time in charge of an NRL roster. He went close to securing the top job at his former club St George Illawarra last season and at one point was the favourite for that position.

He faces a monumental task to turn around the Rabbitohs’ season, such has been their fall from grace.

Rabbitohs assistant coach Ben Hornby will take over as Interim. Picture: Getty Images

Things had been so dire, the club considered sacking Demetriou a fortnight ago but gave him more time to try to turn around the side’s fortunes.

At the time, there were whispers that Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga would join the club on an interim basis to help them navigate the remainder of the season.

However, Meninga ruled himself out of the job after growing frustrated with the process. Demetriou then brought in Furner to act as a sounding board and strengthen his coaching staff.

On their return from the bye they were thrashed last weekend 54-20 at the hands of Melbourne and the club felt it had no choice but to act, as they stared down the barrel of a wooden spoon.

South Sydney started the season $81 in the TAB’s most losses market but are now $4 second favourites behind the Gold Coast ($4), which is almost unthinkable considering they were $9 in premiership betting.

Savvy punters weren’t convinced of their 2024 chances as Souths were the second-best backed team to miss the top eight and third-best backed to miss the top four in pre-season betting.

They have been given a much-needed boost for next season as they are on the cusp of securing talented English halfback Lewis Dodd on a four-year deal.