- Jason Demetriou’s job is safe in the short term
- Souths’ emphatic loss gave coach more time
- The coach says he couldn’t be prouder of the team.
South Sydney’s emphatic defeat to Cronulla will give Jason Demetriou more time as Rabbitohs coach, and Cody Walker insists the players remain willing to fight for their embattled mentor.
Ravaged by injuries and with only one man on the bench for the second half, Souths suffered their fifth defeat of the season on Saturday night.
But the fact that they were able to stay with the table leaders in the second half was enough to keep the Wolves at bay, with no immediate call being made on Demetriou’s future.
Despite being rested next week, Demetriou still faces a tough road ahead, with games against Melbourne and Penrith in the coming fortnight before the club’s draw becomes clear.
South’s spirited defeat to Cronulla will give Jason Demetriou (pictured) more time as Rabbitohs coach.
The Souths suffered their fifth loss of the season on Saturday night against the Sharks.
South Sydney’s next scheduled board meeting will be held between those two games.
Chairman Nick Pappas said before the Sharks game that he needed to see some renewed determination and resilience, and Souths achieved both on Saturday night.
Walker, a star five-eighth, said the team had played with Demetriou in mind.
“We always try to go out and fight for the shirt and fight for the coach,” he said after the game.
‘We have enormous respect for JD and the great work he does. We wanted to prove it. I thought we did that.
“You can see the effort and energy.”
Captain Cameron Murray should return from concussion for Souths’ next game against Melbourne on April 25, but Tyrone Munro (collarbone) and Tevita Tatola (foot) remain serious doubts.
Demetriou said on Saturday night he hoped to remain coach for the Anzac Day clash, despite a run that has brought him just five wins in 19 matches since his team topped the table last May.
No immediate call will be made on Demetriou’s future following the loss.
Souths chief executive Blake Solly backed Demetriou to remain in the role following the team’s loss to Cronulla.
The Rabbitohs’ defense continues to be a big problem: they have conceded 26 points or more in 15 of those games.
Demetriou said he had every reason to be impressed by Saturday’s effort.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the boys,” he said.
“As a coach, what you want (the players) to do is show up and fight for each other and fight for their shirt and show what the club means to them. “We saw that (against Cronulla).
‘I will not walk with my head down. I have no reason to do so.
“I have worked hard to get to this position as head coach of one of the biggest rugby league clubs in the world.
‘I’m excited to turn it around. If that changes, time will tell.”
Demetriou also offered an explanation for leaving a press conference after 27 seconds on Friday, following four questions about his future.
The Souths coach had been the subject of reports that the club was considering Mal Meninga as a possible interim replacement for the remainder of the year.
“I’m going out to do a press conference with the noise that’s going on and the things that have been said and done,” Demetriou said.
‘There’s no point in me standing there answering questions about it. It’s no use to the players, it’s no use to me.
“So I said what I had to say and ended the interview.”
South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly told the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday: “I think Nick Pappas (Rabbitohs president) said on Saturday what it would take to get that time (for Demetriou) and I think the team said it. demonstrated.”
‘It was a brave performance in really difficult circumstances. “Clearly there’s always room for improvement, but the character and performance match exactly what Nick said we needed to see on Saturday.”