Wayne Bennett opens door to a Sam Burgess return at South Sydney as supercoach heaps praise on favourite footy son’s exploits with Warrington Wolves
- Wayne Bennett is open to Sam Burgess returning to Souths
- Burgess left after a feud with Jason Demetriou last year
- Bennett was full of praise for Burgess’ exploits with Warrington
Wayne Bennett has hailed Sam Burgess’ debut season as head coach, opening the door for a possible return to South Sydney for his favorite footy son.
Bennett, 74, confirmed his return to the Rabbitohs in 2025 after signing a $3.6 million deal that will keep him in the game until he is 77.
The super coach appeared in the media on Tuesday to discuss the move, and inevitably attention turned to Burgess’ performances in England, where he has taken Warrington Wolves to third place in the Super League.
Burgess worked under Bennett during his first spell at Souths but quit under Jason Demetriou last year, claiming the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker were given preferential treatment.
Wayne Bennett has opened the door for a return to South Sydney for Sam Burgess
Burgess left last year due to a disagreement over the treatment of star players
But Bennett is seemingly willing to gloss over that minor speed bump if Burgess is ever willing to return, although he insisted the Englishman needs his own space to develop as a coach.
“Sam is doing a great job at Warrington, and he needs the time and space there to do that,” Bennett said. ‘We’ll see what the future brings. He’s a damn good person.’
Ben Hornby is currently in charge of the Bunnies on an interim basis until the end of 2024, and Bennett said there is room for Hornby on his staff if he chooses to stay.
“Absolutely, 100 percent,” he said when asked whether he would let Hornby stay on. ‘We are good friends.
He has done a fantastic job in his first role as head coach at Warrington Wolves
“We won a premiership together [at St George Illawarra in 2010]. We’re on the same page in terms of our opinions on the game.
‘He’s also strong enough to tell me when I’m not okay, and vice versa. I have a great relationship with him. He is a very good coach.
‘He is not my opponent [this year]. He’s got the easiest coaching job in the NRL at the moment in the sense that I’ll be there with him next year, he’s trying to keep the club together. [and] he is doing very well as he waits for the new coach to arrive when the new season starts.”