Wayne Bennett has confirmed he is interested in a fairytale return to the Rabbitohs as South Sydney bank on the seven-time NRL premiership-winning coach.
Souths chief executive Blake Solly has indicated Bennett is “at the top of the list” of potential successors to Jason Demetriou, who was sacked on Tuesday after 12 months of poor results.
It was reported on Wednesday that chief operating officer Brock Schaefer had chosen to follow Demetriou out the door after nearly a decade at the club.
The Rabbitohs hope to appoint a new coach for 2025 within weeks and have promised a “thorough process” to find an experienced campaigner.
“We’ll take as much time as we need, but we’d probably prefer to get it done in weeks, not months,” Solly said Wednesday.
Wayne Bennett has confirmed he wants to return to coaching the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The Bunnies parted ways with Jason Demetriou on Tuesday amid a poor start to the season.
‘(The new head coach) will have experience. They don’t necessarily have to have coaching experience in the NRL.
“(But) we are not going to go with a coach who has not coached the first team before.”
Bennett was Demetriou’s predecessor and guided the Rabbitohs to a narrow grand final defeat against Penrith in 2021, his final season in charge.
The core of the club’s current squad was on the books during Bennett’s three seasons at Souths, all of which extended to at least the preliminary finals.
The 74-year-old will leave his position with the Dolphins at the end of the season.
AAP understands Bennett informed the Dolphins on Wednesday that he was interested in speaking to the Rabbitohs.
It appears unlikely that Souths assistant Ben Hornby will be considered interim coach for Thursday’s clash with Penrith and the rest of 2024.
Former Wallabies boss Michael Cheika, most recent Souths coach Michael Maguire and Super League guru Steve McNamara have been mentioned as other options.
But speaking on 2GB, Solly said Bennett was “top of the list” of potential signings, although the club had yet to make a formal approach.
“Wayne had great success here and left the club on very good terms,” Solly told reporters on Wednesday.
“We will speak to Wayne and if he is available and interested we will certainly move forward with that.”
‘He left the place in very good condition when he left.
‘It got us through some really tough times during COVID, a bit of a shake-up of the playing group when John (Sutton), Greg (Inglis) and Sam (Burgess) all retired.
“It was a pleasure to work with him.”
Bennett mentored Demetriou, but his stint as head coach did not work out well.
Solly said Bennett’s proven ability to get the best out of fullback Latrell Mitchell and five-eighth Cody Walker made him worthy of high consideration.
The star couple is enduring miserable individual campaigns.
Solly acknowledged the Rabbitohs had a “unique playing group” that required careful management.
Burgess, an assistant to Bennett and Demetriou, looks unlikely to return to Souths in 2025.
The legendary Rabbitohs forward left the club last season amid reports of a row with Demetriou over perceived preferential treatment for Walker and Mitchell.
He now coaches English club Warrington and his contract expires at the end of 2025.
“We don’t want to disrupt that,” Solly said.
“My opinion is that (Warrington) is Sam’s chance to show the world that he can coach. We wish him every success in this.”