NRL legend Darren Lockyer believes Sam Burgess could replace Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou if Souths’ horror start to the 2024 season continues.
Winless in their first three games and ahead of a potentially season-defining game against Canterbury, the Rabbitohs are feeling the pressure following a humiliating 48-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters last Friday night.
The trio of losses to start 2024 came after the Rabbitohs lost seven of their last 10 games last year and crashed out of final contention despite leading first place for 11 rounds.
Rabbitohs legend Burgess left the club under a dark cloud last year amid an alleged dispute over the alleged favorable treatment of star players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, with Demetriou siding with his fullback and five-eighth.
And to rub salt in the wounds, Burgess loves life on the other side of the world.
Darren Lockyer says Sam Burgess (pictured) could replace embattled Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou if Souths’ shock start to the 2024 season continues.
Jason Demetriou (pictured) is under pressure to perform after a series of defeats.
The football great took his first top-level coaching job during the off-season with Super League side Warrington Wolves and already has the team pretty high up the ladder.
Lockyer believes rumors that Burgess will once again take the reins at Redfern will not go away anytime soon.
“Sam was obviously a hero when he played there and was on the coaching staff (last year),” Lockyer told Nine’s Today show on Monday.
“He went to England and is performing well there at Warrington.
“Those rumors won’t go away as long as the Bunnies are fighting.”
Club co-owner Russell Crowe, who is also a good friend of Burgess, has supported Demetriou for the time being, but the manager will face immense scrutiny over the coming weeks.
“He’s certainly under pressure and Jason knows it,” Lockyer said.
“They dropped their halfback, Jack Wighton came back and the Roosters still beat them convincingly last week.
“There are some glaring problems for the Bunnies, particularly on defense: They’re giving up too many points.”
Lockyer (pictured) says rumors of Burgess’ return won’t go away as Souths struggle
Burgess (pictured left) turned his back on Souths under a dark cloud last year amid an alleged dispute with Demetriou (right).
“I think JD has to make them play for each other again.”
With his season on life support, Demetriou limited the participation of lock Cameron Murray and center Wighton at the club’s training base in Maroubra on Monday.
Murray has a bursa problem in his knee, while Wighton had a badly injured thigh.
The Souths aren’t worried about the duo being available to face the Bulldogs, who are fresh off a 32-0 thrashing of the Titans.
Murray didn’t complete the full session but still made his impact felt as they tried to ease the pressure on Demetriou.
“I think the captain summed it up at the beginning of training,” Bunnies winger Alex Johnston said.
“We’re just going to get through this together, stay together and fight for every play when we’re out there and things start to click.”
Burgess is having success in his first top-flight coaching job, with his Warrington Super League side at the top of the table.
Demetriou said the Roosters’ loss was the “lowest point” of his NRL coaching career, but Johnston has been here before.
He was part of the team 10 years ago that got off to a slow start but finished the season with a premiership ring.
“I think it was mentioned by Tommy Burgess, who’s been around as long as I have, if not longer,” Johnston said.
“He said that in 2014, after our first four games, we had only won one and we are in a similar position.
“We need to win, we want to win and that’s what we have to aim for this week.”
“That was a pretty good year for us, so it would be nice to replicate that.”