Demetriou may only have three games to preserve his job.
Jason Demetriou must improve his struggling South Sydney side in the next three home games against Canterbury, the New Zealand Warriors, and Cronulla, or risk losing his job. That is the simple reality for the Rabbitohs coach, whose team is at the bottom of the table after three matches after losing 48-6 to arch rivals the Sydney Roosters on Friday.
After the defeat, Demetriou said, “It’s probably the lowest point of my career right now,” but insisted he was still the best man for the job. Souths officials are secretly behind Demetriou and have given him everything he needs to succeed.
The club, on the other hand, expects to finish in the top four every year, which will not be possible this season unless the coach swiftly turns things around. If you include the second part of last year, Souths have won only four of their last 16 NRL games. Only the Wests Tigers, who have won the previous two wooden spoons, have won less games during that time.
If Souths lose against the Bulldogs on Good Friday, it will be their worst start to a season since 2008, when they lost their first seven games and ended 14th in a 16-team league. It doesn’t get any easier for the Rabbitohs from there. They get a bye in round seven, then face the Storm in Melbourne before visiting three-time reigning champions Penrith.
The players have trained hard and remain a close bunch; they all attended a multicultural breakfast at Heffron Park on Saturday, but they have struggled with confidence on game day. Demetriou’s contract was extended late last year to the end of 2026, but he will have to deal with speculation over his immediate future, including reports that his predecessor, Wayne Bennett, may be approached about a return to replace him. There have been no discussions about hiring an interim coach, as the management believes Demetriou can turn things around in 2024.
Senior Souths officials including Demetriou declined to comment on Saturday. The coach’s immediate selection dilemma is at halfback, and whether to drop Dean Hawkins or reinstate Lachlan Ilias after one game in reserve grade, where he performed well in Friday night’s 28-12 victory against the Roosters.
Jye Grey is also doing everything he can in the NSW Cup to earn a spot in the NRL, and he may play fullback. His inclusion could allow Latrell Mitchell to shift into the centre position while Campbell Graham recovers from another injury. Cameron Murray, Souths’ tireless skipper, has saved the team from further embarrassment.
Recruit Jack Wighton pulled up with knee pain, but will be fine for the Canterbury game, where Stephen Crichton awaits. “I trust this group because they are caring and supportive of one another… We don’t want to be in this situation, but we have to accept it and battle our way out,” Demetriou stated on Friday night. “I know this group, and I know they will get through it.
“I’ve been with this group for a long time; I understand it, and I’m confident we’re all on the same page and working together.” We just need to turn things around, and I’m confident I can do so. “Ultimately, what I say makes no difference to what people are going to say, and the only thing that’s going to make a difference is results.”
Meanwhile, the Roosters have asked to the NRL to get Sam Walker cleared to play against Penrith on Thursday night, after the bunker ruled him out on Friday owing to category-one concussion symptoms. Walker passed two concussion tests in the sheds and simply had a sore neck, despite the fact that players are automatically removed if they exhibit category one symptoms.
The Roosters’ chief medical officer and his NRL counterpart will consult before reaching a decision on Walker’s availability.