Jason Demetriou expects to hang onto his job despite another loss to Cronulla Sharks: ‘Nobody has told me otherwise’

Jason Demetriou insists he expects to keep his job as South Sydney coach despite the plucky Rabbitohs’ failure to secure a pressure-relieving win against Cronulla.

With one man left on the bench at half-time, Souths did well to stay in the game before going down 34-22 at the Accor Stadium on Saturday evening.

But as excited as they were with captain Cameron Murray (concussion) among the injured, the Bunnies remain last on the ladder with five wins from their past 19 games.

Souths chairman Nick Pappas had said before the match that they needed to show renewed confidence, stability and determination to win.

Souths did well to stay in the game before going down 34-22 at the Accor Stadium

Otherwise the club would have to ‘think carefully’.

How bosses judge the latest loss and their final eleven months of football will now determine Demetriou’s fate ahead of the Rabbitohs’ farewell next weekend.

When asked whether he still expected to become a coach after the defeat, Demetriou replied: ‘I expect so. No one told me otherwise.

“We’ll review the game, come by, and if not, we’ll figure it out.”

Demetriou was also adamant that he was proud of his side, who managed to fight back from a 16-point deficit in the second half and make it a six-point ballgame late on.

It came despite early injuries to Tevita Tatola (possible broken foot) and Tyrone Munro (collarbone), and with debutant Jye Gray impressing at wing-back either side of his own HIA.

But still the drums were beating at Redfern, in a week when club bosses were forced to deny claims that a shortlist of contenders had been drawn up to replace Demetriou.

“It’s not ideal, and don’t get me wrong, you don’t want to go through this,” Demetriou said.

Souths now sit bottom of the table after six games, but Demetriou says he is proud of their recent performance

Demetriou says he understands the pressure as Souths are not getting results

‘But the reality is that it is top sport, we are a huge club, I am disappointed that our members and supporters hear some things that are not just correct.

‘But I understand why the noise is there. It is results-oriented and we are not achieving results.’

Meanwhile, Mal Meninga has denied being approached by Souths for the top job.

“I haven’t had any discussions with the club at all, but for whatever reason I seem attached to this,” Meninga explained in Fox League.

Demetriou said he would take time with his family on Sunday but insisted he had not let the scenario get him down.

‘I’m not going to walk around with my head down. “I have no reason to do that,” he said.

“I have done my very best to get into this position as head coach of one of the biggest rugby league clubs in the world.”

The most worrying thing for Souths on Saturday was still their defense.

Since topping the NRL ladder last May, they have now scored 26 points or more in 15 of those matches.

With Latrell Mitchell suspended, Alex Johnston injured and Damien Cook dropped for the Bunnies, Ronaldo Mulitalo stepped up for Cronulla.

The Sharks winger scored a double in the win, while also setting up two tries.

His first came when he returned to the infield to beat three men from a scrum and another after Braydon had robbed Trindall in front of him with substitute Jack Wighton in line.

Mulitalo’s play of the night was a freakish assist, as he jumped high to collect a Nicho Hynes bomb and get a load away while falling for Teig Wilton to score.

And after both sides traded tries after the break to make it 22-12, it was Mulitalo who set Cronulla 16 clear when he knocked back a Trindall kick for Wilton to get his second.

Burgess and Isaiah Tass then both scored in the space of six minutes late to give Souths some hope, but a four-pointer from Blayke Brailey sealed the match and put Cronulla first on the ladder.