The Jason Demetriou era at South Sydney has drawn to a dramatic conclusion. Now the club’s search for a new head coach begins. Here’s who they’re likely targeting.
After months of turbulence, where on-field results were poor and an off-field media circus raged, South Sydney has finally pulled the plug. Jason Demetriou is no longer the head coach, his fate was confirmed by an emergency board meeting that put him, and the club, out of their misery.
For some, it was too little too late. The club’s well documented slide began almost 12 months prior to Demetriou receiving his marching orders. Speculation raged around how South Sydney went from one of the competition favourites after 11 rounds of the 2023 season to its worst-performing side over the season’s closing stanza.
Realistically, few outside the Heffron Park inner circle understand how their demise began. But, as is always the case in sports, poor on-field performances almost always culminate in a head coach losing their job. That is the status quo South Sydney adhered to in parting with Demetriou.
Now, the search is one to replace Demetriou. A club as prominent as South Sydney won’t be short of options. Their roster is, on paper, among the best in the competition, even if it’s aging and lacks a high-quality halfback. In Tallis Duncan, Tyrone Munro and Davvy Moale they possess some of rugby league’s finest junior footballers in their position.
A lot rides on their head coach selection. After 18 months of rot, the Rabbitohs fans won’t forgive sustained failure, particularly considering the international talent they possess. If reports are to be believed, there are plenty of candidates for the Rabbitohs to choose from. Though one would suspect the club have their preference.
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Who are the candidates to be South Sydney’s next head coach?
Wayne Bennett
Many rightly regard Wayne Bennett as the greatest rugby league coach ever. He’s won 62% of the NRL games he’s coached and won seven Premierships across two clubs (six at Brisbane, one at the Dragons). Loss in the 2021 Grand Final at the hands of Penrith when last coaching South Sydney meant Wayne fell agonisingly short of winning a competition with a third different side, a feat none in the game have achieved. It’s long been reported he desires this achievement. At Souths, he may have the perfect platform to do so.
At 74, Wayne would be retired in any other walk of life. Yet, according to all reports, Wayne’s rearing to return to the Rabbitohs once again at the end of this season. It’s not as if the Rabbitohs needs to be blown up and rebuilt, only tinkered with an improved. Wayne’s perfect for such a role. Someone who’s capable of managing the egos in the squad and maximise the extreme talent the Rabbitohs are blessed with.
South Sydney has put the bat signal out. It’s now up to Wayne if he wants to answer it.
Michael Cheika
Honestly, there’s not a rugby league vacancy in recent years that Michael Cheika hasn’t been linked with. Years ago, it was the Wests Tigers coaching role. Now it’s the Rabbitohs gig. A former Rugby Union World Coach of the Year, Cheika was the Wallabies coach for five years, including when they finished runners-up at the 2015 World Cup.
In rugby league circles, he was a coaching advisor to the Sydney Roosters in 2020, a season they finished fourth in, and led Lebanon at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup when they were knocked out by Australia in the quarter-finals.
South Sydney will need to consider if Cheika possesses the necessary technical understanding and interpersonal skills to get the best out of their squad.
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Sam Burgess
Midway through 2023, Rabbitohs legend Sam Burgess exited his assistant coaching role at the Rabbitohs after clashing with Demetriou over the club’s training standards. Since then, South Sydney has become the worst side in the NRL and Sam Burgess has led Warrington to eight wins in his first 11 games as a head coach.
It’s unlikely Burgess will return to the Rabbitohs, especially considering how early into his head coaching career he is. His two-year deal at Warrington does not have a get-out clause. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if, in a few years, the 2014 Premiership winner was brought back as South Sydney head coach.
Michael Maguire
Are you noticing a common theme here? Souths love going back to their exes. Michael Maguire was the man who did this impossible, breaking the club’s seemingly neverending Premiership drought back in 2014.
The man currently in charge of the New South Wales State of Origin team, it would take a lot to pry Madge away from the Blues. Yet, if the 2024 series does not pan out well for Maguire, would he consider a return to the Rabbitohs?
While the club is far from the one he coached in the early-to-mid-2010s, there is a lot to love about this South Sydney roster. Many of the club’s current stars are representative calibre players, even if they aren’t performing to that standard.
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Ben Hornby
At the time of writing, Ben Hornby’s head coaching record reads: one game, no wins, one loss, 12 points scored, 48 points conceded. Granted the former Dragons halfback’s coaching debut came against a dynastic Penrith side many view as Premiership favourites. But still, it doesn’t read well.
In the interim, Souths are likely to stick with Hornby. His modus operandi for the remainder of season 2024 is to blood the Rabbitoh’s impressive youngsters, get them in tune with the NRL, and future proof the club’s aging roster.
If Hornby can show enough coaching nous in his short, doomed stint as South’s head coach, there is a world where the club fail to land their primary coaching targets and Hornby is given the role until Sam Burgess can return from Warrington.
