South Sydney have sacked coach Jason Demetriou following the membership’s dismal begin to the 2024 NRL season.
The Rabbitohs board convened twice on Tuesday, deferring a call on Demetriou’s future till a second assembly within the night, when chairman Nick Pappas might be looped in from London.
After that second assembly, third-year coach Demetriou was informed he could be terminated after the facet’s 1-6 begin to 2024.
The perennial heavyweights additionally crashed out of finals rivalry below Demetriou’s watch final yr, dropping seven of their final 10 video games.
The membership has but to publicly affirm its coach for Thursday’s conflict in opposition to reigning premiers Penrith, although both of the membership’s assistant coaches Ben Hornby and David Furner could be a logical candidate.
The Rabbitohs’ interim coach is anticipated to entrance the media after the group’s captain’s run in Maroubra on Wednesday.
Demetriou had survived swirling rumours about his job safety by guiding the Rabbitohs to a spirited 34-22 loss to high-flying Cronulla of their final recreation earlier than the round-seven bye.
However Souths hit a brand new low in spherical eight, conceding essentially the most factors in any recreation of Demetriou’s tenure as they had been thrashed 54-20 by Melbourne.
Demetriou held his closing coaching session within the pouring Sydney rain on Tuesday because the board met for the primary time to deliberate his future.
The coach had arrived at Rabbitohs headquarters earlier than 7am and was seen embracing gamers at coaching as his destiny hung within the steadiness.
As he left at 1pm, Demetriou informed reporters he was not conscious of any teaching adjustments and admitted the continuing hypothesis had been attempting.
“It isn’t straightforward however it’s what it’s,” Demetriou stated.
“It is a huge membership, we’re not performing, so questions need to be requested. I perceive that, I respect it.”
Souths had tied Demetriou to a two-year contract extension solely final October, although it’s understood a clause in that deal entitles him to solely 9 months of wages as his payout.
The Rabbitohs end Demetriou’s 58-game full-time tenure with a 50 per cent successful document, however solely a 25 per cent document throughout his final 20 video games in cost.
Souths had led the competitors by 11 rounds final yr however issues started to unravel spectacularly after star participant Latrell Mitchell suffered a long-term calf damage.
Throughout the stoop that adopted, Demetriou got here below fireplace for allegedly giving the membership’s star gamers preferential remedy, with membership legend and assistant coach Sam Burgess leaving amid the rumours.
The Rabbitohs missed finals for the primary time since 2017 by dropping a must-win conflict in opposition to rivals the Sydney Roosters in spherical 27, and haven’t been within the high eight since.
Throughout their poor begin to 2024, South Sydney have been closely linked with ex-Rabbitohs coach Bennett, who is because of go away the Dolphins on the finish of the season.
Bennett, who led South Sydney to the 2021 grand closing, was coy when quizzed about his teaching future past this yr.
AAP
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