How Wayne Bennett is already helping Souths turn it around despite not signing on to replace Jason Demetriou… yet
Wayne Bennett’s presence is already being felt in South Sydney, with interim coach Ben Hornby revealing plans to consult with the master mentor ahead of his likely return in 2025.
Before Thursday’s 42-12 defeat to Penrith, Hornby joked with the broadcast media that Bennett was trying to take over his job before he had even made his senior coaching debut. Such was Souths’ eagerness to bring back the 74-year-old. to the club.
Current Dolphins coach and seven-time NRL premiership winner Bennett guided 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 Rabbitohs’ ideal coaching candidate the morning after the Rabbitohs sacked Jason Demetriou, with Bennett confirming his interest in the job on Wednesday.
Bennett (pictured with Jason Demetriou at Souths training in 2020) has not signed up to replace his former assistant, but many pundits believe he will definitely return to Redfern
Interim Bunnies coach Ben Hornby (pictured left with captain Cameron Murray after Thursday night’s big loss to Penrith) first worked with Bennett in 2009
If 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 at the Pride of the League as Hornby plans to take cues from the coach for the remainder of the season.
Bennett and Hornby have a long history of working together; Bennett appointed Hornby captain of St. George Illawarra before 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 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 as he sits in the top spot for the first time.
The ‘super coach’ has been offering advice to Hornby since taking over arguably the toughest job in the NRL at the moment
“Me and Wayne talk regularly, I’ll ask for his advice like anyone would,” Hornby said.
When asked what Bennett’s advice had been, he said, “To be me.” That’s what Wayne says almost every time. Be yourself. You can’t try to be someone else. Just be true to who you are.’
After the chaos week at the Rabbitohs, Hornby made it a point to keep the playing group level-headed in preparation for the Panthers.
“I know it’s not possible in a week like that, but we tried to do it as best we could,” he said.
‘Before the game we were excited about the game, we were going to take on the Premiers, we had a chance to make a statement and I thought we did that.
“Now it’s about taking that same desire, that same dedication, the things we showed there, and doing that 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 conditions,” he said of the week that was.
The Bunnies’ hellish season got even worse on Thursday when they blew a 12-0 lead over Penrith and were defeated 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 football players, this is what we like to do and what happens on the outside and over which we have no control is not relevant to us.
“It’s been a tough week, but that’s football, we move on.”
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.
But he was unfazed by speculation about Bennett’s proposed return.
“Wayne, or whoever is going to coach us next year, will coach us next year. “We are worried about next week,” he said.
“Benny is here as our interim coach and that’s that.”