Wayne hard act to follow
Demetriou finding it tough post-Bennett
Following Wayne Bennett in to bat as an NRL head coach can be a career killer.
Ask Ivan Henjak or Steve Price or Rick Stone or Nathan Brown or Anthony Seibold – all of whom failed to deliver in the years after the old super coach left the Broncos (twice), St George-Illawarra and the Newcastle Knights, who won three straight wooden spoons.
Now it’s Jason Demetriou’s turn at the Rabbitohs.
The embattled South Sydney coach has emerged as an early favourite to be the first NRL coach sacked this year, such has been the disappointment of missing the finals last year and starting the new season so sluggishly.
Yes, we’ve had only two rounds but the Rabbitohs are very much under the blowtorch after two losses – even allowing for the fact Campbell Graham, Jack Wighton and Jai Arrow were missing on Thursday night against the Broncos.
So what is it about coaching after Bennett?
It’s not a curse or a coincidence.
Even as an outsider, it’s easy to see how the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker miss his influence in the sheds.
This is not a criticism of Demetriou.
Price, Henjak, Stone, Brown and Seibold were exactly the same with their senior players.
No one can manage stars and tricky egos better than the seven-time premier coach, even at 74 years of age, just through his everyday presence.
He’s been an absolute master at it.
You look at Latrell. Would the superstar fullback have been so over-hyped and dropped the F-bomb five times in 30 seconds in a Triple M interview if Bennett was still around.
You look at the Rabbitohs internally.
Would the Sam Burgess flare-up and messy departure have happened last year if Wayne was still there to settle things down.
With Latrell, it’s not that he’s playing poorly. He was outstanding in Las Vegas and had some great moments against the Broncos, including his 100th try. It’s just that he appeared a more settled and steadier person under Bennett.
The pressure on Demetriou going into the match against long-time rivals the Sydney Roosters on Friday night at Allianz Stadium is immense.
Three straight losses would make it almost impossible to finish in the top four.
That he recently signed a new contract until the end of 2026 means nothing.
All week the spotlight will be on the Rabbitohs.
Will Demetriou make young halfback Lachlan Illias the scapegoat for losses to Manly and the Broncos to give NSW Cup player-of-the-year Dean Hawkins an opportunity.
Or will he give him one more chance knowing that he’s not the only player underperforming.
Will Wighton’s presence lift Cody, Latrell and the rest of the team?
Whether Demetriou can turn it around remains to be seen.
It would put to bed the rumours floating around footy circles over the weekend that Souths will reach out to get Bennett back if things don’t improve.