The Rabbitohs are set for a “shake-up” with Fox League expert Corey Parker predicting the team will be “vastly different” in 2025 to what it’s been this season.
South Sydney were defeated by arch rivals the Roosters 36-28 in their final game of the season on Friday night. It capped off a horror year in which Jason Demetriou was sacked and the club finished second last.
Parker, who was coached by Bennett at the Broncos, has no doubt that when the mastercoach returns to Redfern he’ll have an immediate impact on the playing group.
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“Wayne will give the playing group a good old-fashioned shake-up in his true Wayne Bennett fashion. There’s no two ways about it,” he said.
“They finished 16th, they were one from 11 to start the season, they fell into a heap, they found a bit of a (winning streak) which sort of masked over a few things, they sacked the coach. It’s been a turbulent year.
“Wayne Bennett’s coming to the club, there’s some players there that I feel won’t be there next year.
“But more importantly, I think when Wayne Bennett gets his feet under the desk it’s going to be a completely different looking side, there’ll be a completely different feel about the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
“He’s been there before, he’s got a relationship with a lot of these players, he understands the players. It’s a very unique playing group to a lot of other football sides.
“In saying that (Tom) Burgess won’t be there, (Damien) Cook won’t be there, so there’s going to be some different dynamics.
“But the number one thing that Wayne will try and instil is what is required at that club to go where they need to.”
Roosters cruise to victory over Bunnies | 02:38
It’s been a season from hell for the proud club with Greg Alexander calling it a “disaster” and saying the last 18 months overall have been “dreadful” for the Bunnies.
He was also able to pinpoint the moment he knew the team was off the pace again this year.
“They won one out of their first 11 and Round 3 against the Roosters they were beaten 48-6 — so there’s trouble in paradise, you knew there was some drama then it was just a matter of time until they sacked Jason Demetriou,” he said.
And that came as a surprise for Alexander, who had tipped them to make the grand final before the season kicked off.
“I just thought they could move past the dramas. I knew there was a bit of a stench around the place but obviously I got that wrong. I thought they could turn things around,” he said.
The Rabbitohs’ troubles began mid-2023 when they went from the top of the table in Round 11 to finishing ninth.
Demetriou’s coaching methods came under fire after Sam Burgess claimed Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker got special treatment. The allegations were denied and Burgess was axed from his role as assistant coach.
Demetriou wasn’t safe either though and ultimately he was shown the door in May.
But as James Graham said, “everyone thought they were going to regroup and they’d get back to winning ways” because “they’ve certainly got the talent at their disposal” — and they bolstered their roster with the signing of Jack Wighton.
However, this season ended up being even worse. There were few silver linings — one was though recruiting Bennett back to the club after he took Souths to a grand final in 2021.
“I think Wayne’s approach when he comes in is to challenge them,” Graham said.
“Challenge them as individuals, challenge them as units — left edge, right edge, middles — to be so much better and fully committed to the cause because there’s been times watching South Sydney this year (where) they choose when they want to play. It’s not all the time, it’s not for 80 minutes.”
Souths end an era on low note | 07:26
Parker knows Bennett well and believes the 74-year-old won’t need to do much early on because just his presence alone will change the environment.
“The moment he walks into that building there’ll be a completely different feeling with that team,” he said.
“Players understand Wayne, they know what sort of lightheartedness he can bring, he’s jovial, he can have a bit of fun, he gets the players.
“The moment he walks in there’ll be a vibe, a yahoo, he’ll probably crack a rubbish joke or two and all of a sudden it’s back to normal again and they’ll get on with their job.
“And then he’ll start to implement and instil his values and systems here and there. But it will be a vastly different side to what we’ve seen over the last 18 months.”
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