South Sydney in talks with David Furner to help embattled coach Jason Demetriou

Embattled coach Jason Demetriou has turned to David Furner for some much-needed experience to save South Sydney, with the former Rabbitohs assistant coach addressing the potential return to Redfern.

David Furner is in talks about a return to the coaching ranks with South Sydney. Picture: NRL Photos

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has turned to one of the most experienced coaches in the game to help save the Rabbitohs’ season and strengthen his grip on his job.

David Furner, who spent 2017 and 2018 as an assistant at Souths but was more recently on the coaching staff at Newcastle, Canterbury and Wests Tigers, was approached by Demetriou on Sunday night about coming back to the Rabbitohs to help with the forwards.

It is understood the pair held further talks on Monday and Tuesday and a formal agreement is expected to be finalised, cleaning the way for Furner to resume his coaching career at the embattled Rabbitohs.

“There is a bit to do,” Furner said.

“For me it is an easy move - I know a lot of the staff, I know the hierarchy. I’ll be working with the forwards around their defence and things like that.

“I am keen to help out. It is good to be back in the game.”

David Furner is in talks about a return to the coaching ranks with South Sydney. Picture: NRL Photos

Souths have won only one game this season and Demetriou has been under increasing pressure to hold onto his job amid talk that seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett is being lined up for a return to the Rabbitohs.

Demetriou first reached out to Furner prior to Christmas about a potential return as part of the club’s coaching staff but those talks went cold.

With his job on the line, Demetriou picked up the phone and reached out again. Although he has been out of the NRL since leaving the Wests Tigers at the end of last season, Furner and Demetriou have a relationship that stretches back to their time in North Queensland, where Furner was on the coaching staff and Demetriou was emerging through the ranks.

Dsvid Furner was axed by the Tigers in 2023. Picture: NRL Photos

“I knew him back then,” Furner said.

“That is where it has probably started from. I am not associated with anyone at the moment and he wanted that senior coach around him.”

There aren’t many coaches more senior than the 53-year-old Furner. As well as head coaching experience at Canberra and Leeds in the English Super League, Furner has been an assistant at North Queensland, Souths, Newcastle, Canterbury and the Tigers.

He was last at Souths in 2018 where he was an assistant to Michael Maguire and then Anthony Seibold.

However, he left after two years to take over at Leeds before returning to the NRL.

“My wife is very happy that I have work - that means I am not home,” Furner said.

“I am not annoying her.”

Originally published as South Sydney in talks with David Furner to help embattled coach Jason Demetriou