Wayne Bennett’s presence is already being felt at South Sydney as interim coach Ben Hornby reveals plans to consult with the mentor teacher ahead of his likely return in 2025.
Ahead of Thursday’s 42-12 loss to Penrith, Hornby joked to the media that Bennett was trying to take his job before he had even made his first grade coaching debut, such has been Souths’ enthusiasm for bringing back the 74-year-old. to 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 spell in charge.
He was identified by Souths chief executive Blake Solly as the ideal candidate for Rabbitohs coach the morning after the Rabbitohs sacked Jason Demetriou, and Bennett confirmed his interest in the role on Wednesday.
Bennett (pictured with Jason Demetriou at Souths training in 2020) has not signed to replace his former assistant but many pundits believe he will surely return to Redfern.
Bunnies interim coach Ben Hornby (pictured left with captain Cameron Murray after Thursday night’s heavy defeat to Penrith) first worked with Bennett in 2009.
If the Souths have their way, Bennett will have signed a 2025 deal by the end of the month.
But Bennett is already making his influence known in the Pride 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 to the St George Illawarra captaincy ahead of 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 become attack coach and now interim boss.
Hornby said it was only natural that Bennett would continue to help shape his career now that he is on the bench for the first time.
The ‘super coach’ has been giving Hornby advice since taking on what is arguably the toughest job in the NRL right now.
“Wayne and I talk regularly, I’ll ask him for advice like anyone would,” Hornby said.
When asked what Bennett’s advice had been, he said, “Be me.” That’s what Wayne almost always says. Be yourself. You can’t try to be someone else. Just be you.’
After the Rabbitohs’ week of chaos, Hornby set out to keep the playing group balanced in preparation for the Panthers.
“I know it’s not possible that week, but we tried to do the best we could,” he said.
“Before the game we were excited about the game, we were going to face the premiers, we have a chance to make a statement and I thought we had done that.”
“Now it’s about taking that same desire, that same commitment, the things we showed there, and doing it for longer periods of time.”
Hornby’s strategy appears to have resonated with the playing group, with captain Cameron Murray keen to put the saga behind him.
“It’s not ideal circumstances,” he said of the week that was.
The Bunnies’ season from hell got even worse on Thursday when they blew a 12-0 lead over Penrith to be hammered 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 footballers, this is what we love to do and what happens outside and what we cannot control is irrelevant to us.”
“It’s been a tough week, but that’s football, let’s keep going.”
Murray flourished under Bennett, becoming a State of Origin player for the first time during his first spell at the club and eventually starting at lock in the losing 2021 grand final team.
But he was unfazed by speculation about Bennett’s mooted 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 our interim coach and that’s it.”
