logo
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett staying calm despite mounting pressure

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett staying calm despite mounting pressure

7NEWS17-07-2025
Wayne Bennett is remaining calm as pressure mounts in South Sydney 's dismal season, saying he's become used to the heat during 40 years in the rugby league coaching furnace.
Bennett insists he has seen signs the Rabbitohs are on the right track despite a horror year of injuries and on-field results that threatens to end with the club's first wooden spoon since 2006.
Missing eight players to injury, Souths could drop to the bottom of the ladder this weekend if they lose to resurgent Penrith on Friday and Gold Coast beat Wests Tigers on Sunday.
It's been a far cry from Bennett's first stint in charge, which ended with a grand-final appearance in 2021.
The results have been enough for media coverage to begin questioning veteran mentor Bennett.
'I've spent 40 years under pressure, mate. I don't feel it. It doesn't worry me,' he said.
It's not all doom and gloom from where Bennett is standing, though the coach felt it was inevitable lifting the Rabbitohs up the ladder would take time.
'You can't click your fingers and think it's all going to work tomorrow for you. You've got to stay true to it and you've got to get the players to buy into it. I believe that's happening,' he said.
'I know we're doing the right things and I know we're on the right track. But we're not where the top teams are.'
Bennett said Souths' attitude and their attack had impressed him.
'They've been pretty brave, there's pretty good morale in the place still. We've had no crisis meetings, which I'm very pleased about,' he said sardonically.
'Their ball control has improved a great deal, there's a lot of energy in their games.'
Souths received some rare good news this week with mid-season recruit Brandon Smith likely to miss only two or three more weeks with what had been feared a long-term knee issue.
Veteran playmaker Cody Walker, meanwhile, is four to six weeks away after tearing a calf muscle during his rehabilitation for a hamstring injury.
Campbell Graham, Cameron Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Alex Johnston and Jamie Humphreys are among other key men to have been sidelined in a diabolical season of injuries.
Of the top-30 squad, only Jai Arrow and Keaon Koloamatangi have featured in every game but Bennett shrugged at suggestions Souths may need to review their strength and conditioning or training practices.
'A lot of them have been on the field, they haven't been training injuries,' he said.
'Cody's is coming on a rehab run which he's got to do to get himself back from the hamstring injury and he tears a calf muscle. You can't blame anybody for that.'
Friday's clash with Penrith will mark only the fourth NRL game for Englishman Lewis Dodd, recruited on big money to become the Rabbitohs' new halfback but largely overlooked by Bennett this season.
The coach wants to see some physicality from Dodd when he comes on from the bench for his first NRL game since round nine.
'(He needs to) put his body on the line, he's a small guy and a lot of big players out there playing against him,' he said.
'You've got to be committed to stopping them and taking them on with the ball. If he does that, I'll be pleased with him.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rabbitohs' ‘$2 million mistake' exposes the NRL club's major recruitment issue
Rabbitohs' ‘$2 million mistake' exposes the NRL club's major recruitment issue

News.com.au

time2 days ago

  • News.com.au

Rabbitohs' ‘$2 million mistake' exposes the NRL club's major recruitment issue

The Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd has been labelled a '$2 million mistake' as he prepares to start at halfback for the first time in the NRL. Dodd was named in the No. 7 jersey for South Sydney's clash with the Sharks on Saturday night. In his four previous NRL games this season, Dodd came off the bench in three games and started at five-eighth in the other. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Even with his hefty $650,000 salary, Dodd has been regularly overlooked for selection by coach Wayne Bennett, even amid an injury crisis at the club in 2025. NRL 360 co-host Dan Ginnane wondered whether Dodd had been signed by the Rabbitohs solely because he kicked the match-winning field goal for St Helens in the World Club Challenge back in 2023, when they prevailed 13-12 over Penrith. The 23-year-old Dodd is contracted with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2027 season on a three-year deal. 'Is there a chance that Souths pushed the button when he kicked that field goal in the World Club Challenge, which is really, let's be honest, in our part of the world, it's a glorified exhibition game?' Ginnane asked. 'He kicks a field goal, they win 13-12, is that a $2 million field goal that he kicked?' Panellist Andrew Webster agreed the Dodd signing was a mysterious one. 'It is one of the more bizarre recruitments, really,' Webster added. 'I've heard from people both in the UK and other recruiters here in the NRL that they were surprised that Souths signed him and threw that amount of money at him. 'Look, it's a $2 million mistake. 'I've heard of other Super League clubs being interested in getting him but they want to be offering some pretty heavy coin for Lewis Dodd to want to move away from the $700,000 a year contract he's on.' Host Braith Anasta said the Rabbitohs' recruitment has left a lot to be desired. 'I really think they've got to change a lot about their recruitment, Souths,' Anasta said. 'I think they've got to take a different direction, moving forward. I say this because, you look at their NSW Cup team, they're coming last, their Jersey Flegg second last, their junior competition is nowhere near where it used to be.' Webster believes South Sydney need to add to their stocks in the forwards. 'They need some middle forwards. That's what they've been missing all year. Through injury and form, they haven't had that at all this year, and where they are on the ladder reflects it,' Webster added. Ginnane pointed out that Latrell Mitchell has missed a lot of games for the Rabbitohs since joining the club. 'Latrell plays 14 games a year. It's fact. He's played 85 games in six years at Souths, so he's going to miss 10 games,' Ginnane added. The Rabbitohs are currently missing a staggering number of players, worth over $6 million, in an injury crisis. Mitchell ($1.1 million), Cameron Murray ($1 million), Keaon Koloamatangi ($650,000), Campbell Graham ($650,000), Cody Walker ($600,000), Brandon Smith ($550,000), Davvy Moale ($500,000), Peter Mamouzelos ($300,000), Jamie Humphreys ($250,000), Jayden Sullivan ($200,000), Mikaele Ravalawa ($165,000) and Bayleigh Bentley-Hape ($120,000) are all currently sidelined.

Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7
Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7

Sydney Morning Herald

time2 days ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7

In what can be likened to rugby league's own version of Stephen Bradbury, Lewis Dodd has finally been given the chance to wear the South Sydney No. 7 jersey – because there are no halves still standing at the club. Jamie Humphreys will miss Saturday's clash against Cronulla because of delayed concussion symptoms he experienced after last weekend's loss to Penrith, joining fellow playmakers Cody Walker (hamstring) and Bud Sullivan (broken leg), as well as Latrell Mitchell (quad) who has filled in at five-eighth, in the bulging casualty ward. Dodd left St Helens in the Super League to ink a three-year, $2m deal with Souths, but has struggled to get a look-in under coach Wayne Bennett. The 23-year-old has featured in just four games, with three of them coming off the bench, and one at five-eighth. Teammate Jai Arrow, who remains the only player to have featured in every game this year, especially now Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) is sidelined, said Dodd welcomed the news when told by Bennett he would be starting at halfback on Monday. 'It's amazing what an opportunity can do for someone, Lewis has that opportunity now to start at halfback, and to make this team his own,' Arrow said. 'It's exactly what happened with Jamie at the start of the year, he got that opportunity and took it with both hands. 'Now 'Doddy' gets to do that, I'm excited for him, we're all excited for him, and I know when Wayne told him at the review, he clapped to himself and knew he was ready. He was pretty pumped.'

Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7
Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7

The Age

time2 days ago

  • The Age

Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7

In what can be likened to rugby league's own version of Stephen Bradbury, Lewis Dodd has finally been given the chance to wear the South Sydney No. 7 jersey – because there are no halves still standing at the club. Jamie Humphreys will miss Saturday's clash against Cronulla because of delayed concussion symptoms he experienced after last weekend's loss to Penrith, joining fellow playmakers Cody Walker (hamstring) and Bud Sullivan (broken leg), as well as Latrell Mitchell (quad) who has filled in at five-eighth, in the bulging casualty ward. Dodd left St Helens in the Super League to ink a three-year, $2m deal with Souths, but has struggled to get a look-in under coach Wayne Bennett. The 23-year-old has featured in just four games, with three of them coming off the bench, and one at five-eighth. Teammate Jai Arrow, who remains the only player to have featured in every game this year, especially now Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) is sidelined, said Dodd welcomed the news when told by Bennett he would be starting at halfback on Monday. 'It's amazing what an opportunity can do for someone, Lewis has that opportunity now to start at halfback, and to make this team his own,' Arrow said. 'It's exactly what happened with Jamie at the start of the year, he got that opportunity and took it with both hands. 'Now 'Doddy' gets to do that, I'm excited for him, we're all excited for him, and I know when Wayne told him at the review, he clapped to himself and knew he was ready. He was pretty pumped.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store