Souths are looking to secure the services of the master coach amid fears he may prefer Parramatta.
The Rabbitohs are reportedly set to offer Wayne Bennett a three-year deal from 2025 as concerns at the club grow over the master coach’s interest in the Parramatta coaching role. The Sydney Morning Herald reports Souths are eager to bring Bennett back to the club and are wary of the Eels snagging his services, with coach Brad Arthur off contract at the end of the 2024 NRL season.
Reports emerged this week that Bennett has sounded out the Eels about the coaching position should Arthur be sacked or not be given a new contract. The Parramatta coach is under pressure to keep his spot after 11 years in charge.
In that time the coach has been unable to break Parramatta’s premiership drought and they currently once again sit outside the top eight. In the coming weeks, things are only likely to get worse for Parramatta as they are without stars Clint Gutherson and Mitch Moses.
Bennett has made it clear for his next deal that he doesn’t want to be restricted time-wise like he was in his most recent coaching roles with Souths and the Dolphins. He reportedly wants a minimum of three years to chase his eighth premiership as coach, with the Rabbitohs reportedly open to such a contract.
Meanwhile, the Eels reportedly held a board meeting on Wednesday night over the future of Arthur at the club amid interest from Bennett in the role. The club reportedly decided to not follow up on approaches from third parties acting on Bennett’s behalf, reluctant to make a rushed decision following Jason Demetriou’s sacking on Tuesday.
Eels powerbrokers conceded that injuries had played a large part in Parramatta’s poor start to the season. They reportedly decided to give Arthur more time to prove that he is the right man to lead the Eels to an elusive premiership.