Wayne Bennett's 'serve' to Rabbitohs players revealed ahead of return
Super coach Wayne Bennett has wasted no time in making his mark with South Sydney's players as he prepares to officially return to the club in December.
Bennett's return to the club was rubber stamped after his former assistant Jason Demetriou was sacked in April.
The 74-year-old went close to delivering the Dolphins their first finals appearance a fortnight ago but a loss to the Knights in the final round ended those hopes.
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The Dolphins finished the season in 10th, while South Sydney were major disappointments in 16th.
Wayne Bennett during his first stint at the Rabbitohs. Getty
In Bennett's last season at the Rabbitohs in 2021 they lost the grand final.
Since then they finished seventh, ninth and 16th, resulting in Demetriou's fall.
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9news and SMH reporter Michael Chammas revealed on Nine's 100% Footy that Bennett delivered a stern message to South Sydney's players when returning to the club headquarters at Maroubra.
"The Rabbitohs players had a medical to finish the season. Wayne Bennett, he arrived to speak to all the players, addressed them about his expectations for next year," he said.
"I think he gave them a bit of a serve as to what they were doing this year and how they underperformed and underachieved."
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The Rabbitohs will look different next season, with Euan Aitken, Lewis Dodd, Lachlan Hubner and Jamie Humphreys their main inclusions.
Thomas Burgess and Damien Cook are leaving the club while Michael Chee-Kam has been linked to Manly.
Dean Hawkins, Dion Teaupa, Izaac Thompson and Leon Te Hau are the other confirmed departures from the Rabbitohs.
