Souths ‘pick VERY unexpected great footballer’ to replace Jason Demetriou with coach ‘destined to be sacked this weekend’

South Sydney have reportedly identified Mal Meninga as a short-term replacement for Jason Demetriou should the under-fire coach be sacked.

After experienced NSW State of Origin hooker Damien Cook expressed frustration at being ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Cronulla, reports emerged on Wednesday that Meninga was heading a short list of alternatives to Demetriou.

The Kangaroos coach would dominate a team that has seemed at odds over the past few months and got off to a 1-4 start last Saturday to pile up the pressure on Demetriou.

Fox Sports reports that the Bunnies will cut ties with Demetriou after this weekend’s game against the Sharks and then go into full throttle in negotiations with the Kangaroos coach.

Meninga was unavailable for comment but chief executive Blake Solly insisted the club remained committed to Demetriou, who signed a three-year contract extension last October.

The Bunnies have suffered a terrible start to the 2024 NRL season

“The idea of ​​a short list is complete nonsense,” Solly said.

“Our only goal is to knock down the kitchen sink with a win on Saturday against the Sharks.”

The growing speculation about Demetriou’s replacement only adds to the speculation that Saturday’s meeting with the Sharks could be his last.

There has been talk that Rabbitohs assistant coach Ben Hornby could also take over on an interim basis, while Wayne Bennett remains unsigned beyond this season.

A break either side of the games with Cronulla and Melbourne would give the Rabbitohs time to look for alternatives should they opt to part ways with Demetriou, who has made one of the boldest decisions of his tenure in moving on from Cook.

The hooker admitted feeling angry and frustrated after being dropped from the Rabbitohs’ biggest game of the season.

Cook, the Blues’ No 9 last year, said on Wednesday he didn’t feel like he had been made a scapegoat for Souths’ woeful start to the NRL season.

And although his emotions were not directed at Demetriou, he was disappointed to have been dropped for the first time since becoming Souths’ first-choice hooker at the end of 2016.

“Of course I’m angry,” Cook said on Big Sports Breakfast on Wednesday.

Mal Meninga could reportedly take over as interim coach

‘(I’m) frustrated, angry and sad. Yesterday I had all the emotions, because I want to be on the field giving my best so that the team can get out of where we are.

‘Yesterday certainly surprised me. It was a pretty hard day.

But I can’t sit there and be depressed. “Yesterday I trained very well and gave the team a good opponent to train against.”

The 32-year-old insisted his absence would be short-lived and he could quickly return to the NRL squad following the selection of Peter Mamouzelos at No.9.

‘It’s been hard. “Obviously changes needed to be made and he (Demetriou) needs me to be better,” Cook said.

“Team leaders should lead the way and we shouldn’t be doing a good job of that.

‘I know I have more to give. “I felt like I was moving into this season and I’m sure I’ll be back.”