How Wayne Bennett is already helping Souths turn things around despite not yet signing to replace Jason Demetriou…
Wayne Bennett’s presence is already being felt at South Sydney as interim coach Ben Hornby reveals plans to consult with the master mentor ahead of his likely 2025 return.
Before Thursday’s 42-12 defeat to Penrith, Hornby joked with the broadcast media that Bennett was trying to accept his job before he had even made his first-year coaching debut, such was Souths’ eagerness to bring back the 74-year-old. at the club.
Current Dolphins coach and seven-time NRL premiership winner Bennett led the Rabbitohs to their last grand final in 2021, the culmination of a successful three-year tenure in charge.
He was identified by Souths general manager Blake Solly as the ideal Rabbitohs coaching candidate the morning after the Rabbitohs fired Jason Demetriou, with Bennett confirming his interest in the job on Wednesday.
Bennett (pictured with Jason Demetriou at Souths training in 2020) has not signed to replace his former assistant – but many experts believe he is a certainty to return to Redfern
Bunnies interim coach Ben Hornby (pictured left with captain Cameron Murray after Thursday night’s big loss to Penrith) first worked with Bennett in 2009.
If the South wins its case, Bennett will have signed a deal for 2025 by the end of the month.
But Bennett is already making his influence known at the Pride of the League as Hornby plans to follow the coach’s advice for the rest of the season.
Bennett and Hornby have a long history of collaboration; Bennett appointed Hornby as St George Illawarra captain before his first of three seasons in charge and the duo won what remains the joint venture’s only premiership a year later in 2010.
Bennett also helped the Rabbitohs hire Hornby as a development coach in 2020. The 44-year-old has since risen through the ranks to attack coach and now caretaker boss.
Hornby said it’s only natural that Bennett will continue to help shape his career now that he’s in the hot seat for the first time.
The ‘supercoach’ has been giving Hornby advice since taking charge of what is arguably the toughest job in the NRL today.
“Me and Wayne talk regularly, I’ll ask his opinion like anyone would,” Hornby said.
When asked what Bennett’s advice was, he replied: “Be me. That’s what Wayne says almost every time. Be you. You can’t try to be someone else. Be yourself.’
After the Rabbitohs’ week of chaos, Hornby made it a point to keep the playing group at the same level in preparation for the Panthers.
“I know it’s not possible in this kind of week, but we tried to do it the best we could,” he said.
“Before the game we were excited for the game, we were playing the premiers, we have an opportunity to make a statement and I thought we did that.
“Now it’s about taking that same desire, that same commitment, what we showed there, and doing it over longer periods of time.”
Hornby’s strategy appears to have resonated with the playing group, with captain Cameron Murray keen to put the saga in the past.
“It’s not ideal circumstances,” he said of the week that unfolded.
The Bunnies’ hellish season got even worse on Thursday as they squandered a 12-0 lead over Penrith to be crushed 42-12 (pictured, Souths prop Tom Burgess)
“I’m not going to sit here and lie and say it was easy, but in saying that, it probably wasn’t as hard as everyone thinks.
“We are football players, this is what we love to do and what happens outside and what we can’t control doesn’t matter to us.
“It’s been a tough week but it’s football, we’ll move on.”
Murray flourished under Bennett, becoming a State of Origin player for the first time during his first spell at the club and eventually starting in the losing 2021 grand final.
But he was unfazed by speculation about Bennett’s rumored return.
“Wayne, or whoever coaches us next year, will coach us next year. We’re worried about next week,” he said.
“Benny is here as interim coach and that’s it.”
