Footy legend Darren Lockyer says Sam Burgess could return to coach struggling Souths after his bitter split with Jason Demetriou

NRL legend Darren Lockyer believes Sam Burgess could replace under-invested Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou if Souths’ horror start to the 2024 season continues.

The Rabbitohs were winless in their first three games and ahead of a potentially season-defining match against Canterbury, the Rabbitohs are feeling the pinch after a humiliating 48-6 defeat to the Sydney Roosters last Friday evening.

The trio of defeats at the start of 2024 came after the Rabbitohs lost seven of their last 10 matches last year and crashed out of finals contention despite leading the premiership through 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 full-back and five-eighth.

And to rub salt in the wounds, Burgess loves life on the other side of the world.

Jason Demetriou (pictured) is under pressure to perform after a string of losses

The football great got his first coaching job in the off-season with Super League side Warrington Wolves and has already taken the side well to the top of the ladder.

Lockyer believes rumors of Burgess returning to take charge at Redfern will not go away anytime soon.

“Sam was obviously a hero when he played there and he was on the coaching staff (last year),” Lockyer told Nine’s Today on Monday.

‘He went to England and he is doing well there in Warrington.

“Those rumors won’t go away as long as the Bunnies are struggling.”

Club co-owner Russell Crowe, who is also good friends with Burgess, has put his support behind Demetriou for the time being, but the coach will face heavy criticism in the coming weeks.

“No doubt (he’s under pressure) and Jason knows that,” Lockyer said.

“He dropped his halfback, Jack Wighton came back and last week they were convincingly beaten by the Roosters.

“There are a few glaring issues at the Bunnies, especially in defence: they are allowing too many points.

Lockyer (pictured) says rumors of a Burgess return won’t go away as long 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 needs to get them to play for each other again.”

With their season on life support, Demetriou limited the involvement of lock Cameron Murray and Center Wighton at the club’s Maroubra training base on Monday.

Murray has been dealing with a bursa problem in his knee, while Wighton had a badly strapped thigh.

Souths are not concerned the duo will be available to face the Bulldogs, who are fresh from a 32-0 hammering of the Titans.

Murray didn’t complete the full session but still made his impact as they tried to ease the pressure on Demetriou.

“I think the skipper summed it up at the start of training,” said Bunnies winger Alex Johnston.

“We’ll only get through this together, stick together and fight for every action when we’re out there, and things will stick.”

Burgess enjoys success in his first top-level coaching job with his Warrington Super League side topping the table

Demetriou said the Roosters defeat was the “lowest point” of his NRL coaching career, but Johnston has been here before.

He was part of the side a decade ago that got off to a slow start but ended the season with a premiership ring.

“I think it was brought up by Tommy Burgess, who has been there 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 have to win, we want to win and that is what we have to aim for this week.

“That was a pretty good year for us, so it would be nice to repeat that.”