Wayne Bennett 'ban' set to be upheld as Souths rocked by terrible news about Latrell
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) met recently to vote on whether to lift a ban on NRL head coaches being able to lead the Kangaroos. But reports that the commission decided before State of Origin Game 3 last week that they would uphold the rule, meaning Bennett will be prevented from leading the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes series.
The veteran coach was keen to succeed Mal Meninga as Australia's coach, but NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said recently that the new national team mentor would be someone without ties to club footy. Bennett is under contract with Souths until the end of 2027, leaving Walters and Cameron Smith as the two most likely candidates to take the job after previous frontrunner Brad Fittler withdrew from contention.
However, it's understood the commission wants someone to take over with coaching experience at the top level, ruling Smith out of the running and Walters primed to be the next Kangaroos coach. Walters has won State of Origin series as coach of the Maroons and led the Broncos to the 2023 NRL grand final before being replaced by Michael Maguire after a poor season with Brisbane last year.
Walters applied to be coach of the NRL's newest team, the Perth Bears, but was ultimately overlooked for Meninga. But he's made it clear that he would love to take charge of the Kangaroos, with an Ashes series against England later this year a massive carrot.
"Probably the biggest goal was to one day maybe coach Australia which was a dream and (I was) not thinking more about it at the time," Walters said on Triple M recently. "It would be a huge honour to coach Australia. I'd certainly like to sit down with people and have a chat about what the situation is and what they are looking for... I'd be very interested in that role.'
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Wayne Bennett cops another blow after Latrell Mitchell injury
The Kangaroos development is another blow for Bennett, whose Rabbitohs have been rocked by the news about Mitchell, which continues their horror run of injuries this season. The star fullback suffered the quad injury at training and will now miss a crucial run of fixtures - starting with Friday night's game against the Panthers.
Souths are now missing nine players due to injury and could drop to the bottom of the ladder this weekend if they lose to resurgent Penrith and Gold Coast beat the Wests Tigers. With veteran playmaker Cody Walker also sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks with his latest injury in a torrid season, the Bunnies would have been hoping Mitchell could inspire a post-Origin surge.
But they are now in danger of ending the season with the club's first wooden spoon since 2006 and pressure is mounting on master coach, Bennett. "I've spent 40 years under pressure, mate. I don't feel it. It doesn't worry me," he told reporters on Thursday.
"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."
Latrell Mitchell is expected to miss at least a month after suffering a significant quadriceps injury at Rabbitohs training today (via @MCarayannis).Likely moderate grade strain/partial tear with that recovery timeframe. Rabbitohs season from hell on the injury front continues. pic.twitter.com/LrKDD44VaP
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 17, 2025
with AAP
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