Wayne Bennett's telling response amid constant links to South Sydney coaching job

Wayne Bennett has hosed down speculation he'll be coaching at South Sydney in the near future, refusing to weigh in the rumours on Thursday. Bennett has been linked with a return to the club where he coached from 2019 to 2021, amid reports Jason Demetriou will be sacked after this weekend's clash with the Sharks.

Demetriou has been unable to turn around the Rabbitohs' fortunes, and they've now lost 15 of their last 20 games (including four of five this season). Mal Meninga is reportedly being sounded out to take over for the remainder of 2024, and the popular theory is Bennett will be back in charge in 2025.

Bennett is in the final year of his deal with the Dolphins, but the club are hopeful of keeping him around in a director of football role. Discussing the situation on Thursday, Bennett kept everyone guessing.

"Everyone is having an opinion on it. My opinion is the one that matters but I'm not sharing it with anyone, so keep guessing guys," he said. "I am (at the Dolphins) until the end of the season and I have made no decisions about going anywhere or doing anything. So we will wait and see."

The 74-year-old has previously stated that he has no intention of retiring, and joked on Wednesday that he might consider a foray into journalism "I don't know what I want to be. Make me an offer," he said to reporters. "I might want to do your job."

Why Wayne Bennett might announce his future plans this month

History suggests if Bennett is to move to Souths, it will be announced this month. In 2008 when he decided to join the Dragons from the Broncos, it was announced that April. His move from the Dragons to Newcastle in 2012 was also announced the previous April.

The Dolphins have a role for Bennett in 2025 if he wants it, but the master-coach denied talk he would wait until the end of the 2024 season before making a call. "I'll see what I want to do and what's happening in my life," he said. "I could still be (at the Dolphins) next year. Who knows? Don't try and predict the future. That's the only tip I'm giving you."

Wayne Bennett clueless about South Sydney struggles

Bennett was part of the succession plan that saw Demetriou take over as Souths head coach in 2022. Demetriou worked as his assistant before taking the reins two seasons ago.

Bennett said he had "no idea" why Souths have struggled so bad this year and at the end of last, but took a dig at administrators who can often throw a coach under the bus. "I know Jason is a good coach and something has gone amiss. That is their problem and they will have to sort it out," he said.

"The coach takes all of the responsibility and the club takes none. That is the tragedy of all this stuff. That is the job we take on. We know that is our life. We also know it can go pear-shaped very quickly and that is what has happened there."

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Bennett backed Demetriou to come out the other side, saying the constant scrutiny is part of the game. "It just goes with the job. If you can't handle the pressure you shouldn't be in the job," he said.

If Bennett is to come back to Souths, his main task would be finding a way to get the best out of Latrell Mitchell. Bennett worked with Mitchell during his time as Souths coach and knows a thing or two about managing big characters.

with AAP