Jason Demetriou has been fired as coach of South Sydney following a dismal 12 months of results at the NRL club.
The club’s board convened twice on Tuesday, ultimately determining there was little option but to sever ties with the third-year coach after his last-placed Rabbitohs won only one of seven games to begin the year.
A club statement pointed to a “less-than-satisfactory series of results” over the past two seasons as grounds for the termination. Demetriou was also in charge when the side crashed out of finals contention in 2023.
“The board and management feel that now is the time to make a change to the leadership of our football program in terms of the head coaching role,” said chief executive Blake Solly.
“There is no doubting Jason’s work ethic or his drive for success, but unfortunately that success has not been forthcoming over the past 12 months.”
Assistant coach Ben Hornby, once tipped as head-coaching material by Demetriou himself, will take charge of Thursday’s clash against reigning premiers Penrith and for the remainder of the season.
Solly will front the media in Maroubra early on Wednesday morning, with Hornby expected to follow after the team’s captain’s run.
Demetriou had survived swirling rumours about his job security by guiding the Rabbitohs to a spirited 34-22 loss to high-flying Cronulla in their last game before the bye in round seven.
But Souths hit a new low in round eight, conceding the most points in any game of Demetriou’s tenure as they were thrashed 54-20 by Melbourne.
Demetriou held his final training session in the pouring Sydney rain on Tuesday as the board met for the first time to deliberate his future.
The coach had arrived at Rabbitohs headquarters before 7am and was seen embracing players at training as his fate hung in the balance.
As he left at 1pm, Demetriou told reporters he was not aware of any coaching changes and admitted the ongoing speculation had been trying.
“It’s not easy but it is what it is,” Demetriou said.
“It’s a big club, we’re not performing, so questions have to be asked. I understand that, I respect it.”
Souths had tied Demetriou to a two-year contract extension only last October, though it is understood a clause in that deal entitles him to only nine months of wages as his payout.
The Rabbitohs finish Demetriou’s 58-game full-time tenure with a 50 per cent winning record, but only a 25 per cent record across his last 20 games in charge.
Souths had led the competition through 11 rounds last year but things began to unravel spectacularly after star player Latrell Mitchell suffered a long-term calf injury.
During the slump that followed, Demetriou came under fire for allegedly giving the club’s star players preferential treatment, with club legend and assistant coach Sam Burgess leaving amid the rumours.
The Rabbitohs missed finals for the first time since 2017 by losing a must-win clash against rivals the Sydney Roosters in round 27, and have not been in the top eight since.
During their poor start to 2024, South Sydney have been heavily linked with ex-Rabbitohs coach Bennett, Demetriou’s former mentor who is due to leave the Dolphins at the end of the season.
Bennett, who led South Sydney to the 2021 grand final, was coy when quizzed about his coaching future beyond this year.
TIMELINE OF JASON DEMETRIOU’S SOUTH SYDNEY TENURE
2021 – Wayne Bennett nominates assistant coach Jason Demetriou as his successor, with the Rabbitohs prioritising the future of Lachlan Ilias and opting to let veteran halfback Adam Reynolds go.
2022 – In Demetriou’s first full season in charge, Souths recover from a 1-3 start and a long-term hamstring injury to star player Latrell Mitchell to finish seventh on the ladder. Demetriou is criticised for hooking Lachlan Ilias mid-game in a big loss to St George Illawarra, but Ilias is not dropped. Souths lose 32-12 to eventual premiers Penrith in a grand-final qualifier. Tevita Tatola, Campbell Graham and Keaon Koloamatangi all have breakout seasons under Demetriou.
April 2023 – Eyeing a maiden NRL premiership, Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton signs with Souths for 2024, a huge coup for the already stacked Rabbitohs.
May 2023 – Souths begin Demetriou’s second year in charge with an 8-3 record, leading the competition in mid May and establishing themselves as premiership favourites with bookmakers.
*Latrell Mitchell pulls out of NSW camp for State of Origin I with a calf injury that ultimately sidelines him until mid-July. The Rabbitohs flounder without their star player, winning only two of seven games while he is sidelined and dropping to ninth on the ladder.
August 2023 – Assistant coach Sam Burgess announces he will leave to coach Super League side Warrington next season. He quits while Souths’ finals hopes are still alive, amid accusations – denied by Demetriou – that Mitchell and Cody Walker are given preferential treatment. Fellow assistant John Morris follows Burgess out in the off-season.
September 2023 – As suspended Mitchell watches on, the Rabbitohs lose to bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters in round 27 to officially miss the finals for the first time since 2017. Since 1908, no side has ever led the season as late as round 11 and missed finals.
February 2024 – Resting a host of stars, Rabbitohs belt St George Illawarra 28-6 in the pre-season Charity Shield and head to their season opener in Las Vegas on a high.
March 2024 – Souths are handily beaten by Manly in their first game of 2024, losing 36-24 in a sign of the poor defence that will define them for the opening two months of the season.
*Jack Wighton misses the first two games of the season through suspension, becoming one of a handful of players sidelined early in 2024. Campbell Graham, Tevita Tatola, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Munro and Jai Arrow are among other players to spend time out through injury.
*After back-to-back losses to start the year, Demetriou drops Lachlan Ilias, who in 2023 said would be “the best halfback the club has had for a long time”. Ilias later suffers a long-term leg injury playing reserve grade, dashing any hopes of an NRL return.
*The Rabbitohs lose 48-6 to the Sydney Roosters in their first game with Dean Hawkins as halfback. Demetriou calls the defeat “the lowest point” in his coaching career.
*The Rabbitohs overcome Canterbury 20-16 in their traditional Good Friday game, but the win is far from resounding as both sides score the same number of tries.
April 2024 – During the Rabbitohs’ 34-4 loss to the Warriors, Latrell Mitchell comes under fire for elbowing halfback Shaun Johnson in the face while running the ball. He receives a three-game ban.
*Demetriou enters the round-six clash with high-flying Cronulla seemingly under pressure to keep his job and drops State of Origin hooker Damien Cook in an effort to spark the side. Souths have to defy three mid-game injuries and are gallant in a 34-22 loss to the Sharks. Demetriou holds his job.
*During their round-seven bye, the Rabbitohs appoint David Furner as an assistant to Demetriou, hoping the former Canberra coach can help resolve the side’s leaky defence. Souths have leaked more than 32 points on average per game across their first six matches.
*Souths lose 50-24 to Melbourne on Anzac Day, renewing pressure on Demetriou.
*Souths sign English halfback Lewis Dodd and grant Ilias permission to negotiate with rival clubs.
*On April 30, the Rabbitohs (1-6) hold two board meetings in one day and eventually sack Demetriou.
Source: AAP
