'Long time coming': Bennett finally calls on $700k recruit

Lewis Dodd admits it has "been a long time coming" to earn a spot in South Sydney's starting team after joining the club in the off-season. Signed on big money from the Super League, the young playmaker has been constantly overlooked by coach Wayne Bennett across the opening two months of the season. But heading into Magic Round, there was simply no choice but to insert the $700,000-a-season 23-year-old into the fray with a host of Rabbitohs playmakers sidelined due to injury. Jamie Humphreys, Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton will all be out of action this weekend, with the latter suffering an injury at training after initially being named to wear the No.6 jumper against the Newcastle Knights. Speaking to media at the airport on Thursday, the former St Helens premiership winner said his time in NSW Cup and on the bench will hold him in good stead. "It's been a long time coming, it feels like," Dodd said. "I didn't think it was gonna be easy, I didn't know if it was gonna go my own way. "I wouldn't have had it any other way - it will make me a better player and better person. "At the end of the day, that's all I can ask for." The injury crisis at Redfern will also see Bennett install a new captain for the trip to Brisbane for the annual rugby league extravaganza. Jai Arrow will step into the role and gave a trademark response to the decision. "I guess I'm the last one left out of the leadership group," the ex-Origin forward said. "Someone has got to hold the fort down while the rest of them take some time off." Souths will face the Knights on Saturday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium.

Wayne's expensive shake up

Reputations have never meant anything to the old fox Wayne Bennett - and that's a big reason the Rabbitohs lead the NRL ladder after two rounds. Just about every other coach would have felt the pressure to give expensive recruit Lewis Dodd the halfback jersey to start the season. But not Bennett - I wrote over a month ago that little-known bargain buy Jamie Humphreys was leading the race to play in the key number seven jumper and Bennett decided to go with the former Manly youngster. Humphreys - with just one NRL game to his name at the Sea Eagles before this season - was the match-winner against the disappointing Dragons on Saturday, landing an ice cool field goal that proved the difference. Friday night's clash with Manly was probably the most important game in the career of young Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf. After a shocker in Vegas against the Raiders, Metcalf went into the game with Te Maire Martin breathing down his neck. But against the Sea Eagles, Metcalf showed he is the right man to fill Shaun Johnson's giant boots with a brilliant attacking display, scoring a try, laying on two more and having two line break assists.

Bennett 'mind mechanics' to fix 'temperamental' duo

Wayne Bennett's greatest strength in his 'golden' years is not so much as a coach but more as a man manager - and that skill may propel South Sydney up the ladder in 2025. After a dismal season in 2024 when they won only seven games and were just edged out by the Tigers in the wooden spoon battle, the Rabbitohs have gone back to the master coach after his two-year stint kicking off the Dolphins in the big league. In star duo Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, the Bunnies have two of the most talented - but also most temperamental - players in the NRL. Rival players and coaches know the pair can easily be baited and niggled off their game - and this is where Bennett's mind mechanics come in. If he can get the pair thinking football and keeping their cool, the Rabbitohs will be well on their way to being in finals contention. The club under-achieved with the lack of a consistent halfback one of their major problems, but they have moved to fix that by signing St Helens playmaker Lewis Dodd. But he may take time to adapt to the NRL after an underwhelming start to his Sydney career in the trials last weekend. Another option at half if Dodd struggles is Jamie Humphreys from the Sea Eagles, a talented youngster who could prove a surprise packet. Watch for Bennett to work his magic on another enigmatic player, fellow Manly recruit Josh Schuster. There is no doubting Schuster's talent but he has lost his way in the past couple of seasons and Bennett will hit his reset button - watch for him to shine. The Bunnies will miss Thomas Burgess and Damien Cook - two of the mainstays of the pack in recent years - and haven't really signed anyone to replace them. Peter Mamouzelos has been groomed to take over at hooker but may take a while to learn what it takes to be a regular NRL player in the demanding dummy-half role. Injuries have already been unkind to Souths, with luckless centre Campbell Graham and veteran winger Alex Johnston unlikely to be fit for round one.

2025 gains - Jamie Humphreys (Sea Eagles), Euan Aitken (Dolphins), Lewis Dodd (St Helens), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Jayden Sullivan (Wests Tigers).

2025 losses - Thomas Burgess (Huddersfield), Damien Cook (Dragons), Dean Hawkins (Eels), Taane Milne (released), Michael Chee Kam (Sea Eagles), Leon Te Hau (released), Lachlan Ilias (Dragons), Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson (released).

'Removed dead bone': Souths star's injury return confirmed

It's been over 500 days but South Sydney star Campbell Graham is ready to return to the NRL. Rabbitohs fans missed Graham in 2024 with the former Kangaroos centre forced to stop playing due to surgery and recovery from a sternum injury he picked up the year before. Campbell needed 29 pain-killing injections to get on the field in 2023, winning his club's player of the year award despite playing through pain, and was initially expected to be fit for the 2024 season but was forced to sit after complications arose. "They removed the dead bone from my sternum, took a bone graft from my left hip, then put the fresh bone into the sternum, and covered it with a couple of plates," Graham told The Sydney Morning Herald. "There was no blueprint in terms of when I could return. I was hoping I could be back around round 16 (2024), but it was up to the surgeon, and he told me when I could run and when I could do weights." Such was the club's concern, it decided to keep Graham off the field for the entire season and focus on a 2025 return. Graham says the decision has proved to be the right call. "I've been doing full contact since November, and I feel like a footy player again," Graham said. "I pulled up sore, and in a funny way I never realised I would miss that. Just having that contact, you don't realise how good it is to have the collision." Graham said coach Wayne Bennett had urged him not to "rush" back but he felt the time was right. "He told me to not rush things and think I should be playing fit for day one of pre-season. He gets you into that head space where you need to understand you won't be at your best your first game back, that you need to accept that, and how you can only be the best you can be and build on that. "Wayne simplifies everything, that's the way he coaches. It's not rocket science, and he instils belief and simplicity."

Bennetts Bunnies Rebuild Continues

When Wayne Bennett calls and offers you a job, it's pretty hard to say 'no'. And so Steve Antonelli will join Souths next season as defence coach. Antonelli brings a wealth of experience to the Bunnies and rounds off a well balanced coaching team with the legend Bennett and interim coach Ben Hornby. "I can't wait - it will be a great challenge," said Antonelli, currently an assistant at the Eels. "It was great to hear from Wayne again and I wasn't about to say no." A former Australian Schoolboys rugby union player, he switched to rugby league and signed with the Panthers in 1985. But his true calling was coaching and he has an extensive resume including stints at Canberra, Parramatta, Canterbury and at Souths in 2021, where he first met Bennett.

Bennett lands first 'key' signing as veteran brushed

Wayne Bennett has taken his first big gamble at South Sydney by signing promising Manly utility Jamie Humphreys for 2025. The grandson of former league boss Kevin Humphreys, Jamie plays the two key positions on the field - half and hooker. And Bennett may well give the 22-year-old a chance in the number nine jumper for the Rabbitohs next season. Humphreys made the switch from halfback to hooker this season and has been outstanding in the lower grades. He won Manly's 2023 Jersey Flegg Players' Players award and was seen as a future first grader within the club. But with his path at Manly blocked by veteran halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks and hooker Lachlan Croker, Humphreys sees a chance at Souths under Bennett, who is always willing to give young talent a chance. Only this week, the Dragons signed Souths hooker Damien Cook and Humphreys will push another up-and-comer, Peter Mamouzelos, for the hooking spot at the Bunnies.

Bennett confirms Souths deal done after late Eels move

Wayne Bennett will return to South Sydney next year after agreeing to a three-year deal to coach the team. The 74-year-old supercoach confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday he will coach the Rabbitohs on a three-year deal. The club itself later confirmed the news. The Herald reports the deal is worth about $3 million but other outlets have the overall figure as high as $3.6m. His decision comes after a late play from Parramatta for his services. "It wasn't a badly kept secret," Bennett told the Herald. "I said all along I was going back to Souths. "I know where I stood for ages. I like that part of Sydney, I like Souths and the people there, the fans ... it's a great club." Rabbitohs powerbrokers flew to Brisbane last week to get the deal across the line. Bennett kept journalists sweating when quizzed on the deal during Magic Round, but has now put everyone out of their misery. It ends weeks of speculation he was set to head back to Sydney for a second stint with the Bunnies. They sacked Jason Demetriou as head coach three weeks ago, and have installed Ben Hornby in an interim capacity. South Sydney has lost its last two games under Hornby and sit bottom of the ladder. Demetriou was an apprentice under Bennett at both the Broncos and Rabbitohs, but was axed after a dire 12-month run for the NRL team. The Dolphins, meanwhile, sit fourth on the ladder in a stunning surge under Bennett's guidance. Bennett's Dolphins contract will finish at season's end and he's handing the reins to Kristian Woolf. Bennett led South Sydney to the 2021 grand final, but fell short to Penrith in the big dance.

Bunnies land supercoach Bennett on $3m deal

Wayne Bennett has agreed to terms on a $3 million, three-year deal after meeting with South Sydney officials in Brisbane on Monday. The deal has not been signed, but Rabbitohs officials flew to Queensland on Monday to work out the terms of his agreement. powerbrokers have lined up a meeting with Bennett at Magic Round this weekend where it is expected he will put pen to paper on a contract that will see him return to Sydney next season. Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak about it publicly told this masthead the deal includes performance bonuses aligned with South Sydney’s results on the field. Rabbitohs officials are reluctant to celebrate the deal given Bennett’s history of 11th-hour changes, most famously reneging on verbal agreements to previously join the Sydney Roosters, and a second stint at the St George Illawarra. Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly led the negotiations and was one of several South Sydney officials to meet with Bennett earlier this week.

Bennett responds to 'hypothetical' Rabbitohs rumours

Wayne Bennett has shut down talk of a return to the Rabbitohs, despite the recent pressure mounting on head coach Jason Demetriou. Despite a narrow win over Canterbury to get their season rolling on Friday afternoon, South Sydney remain at the bottom of the NRL ladder and the question marks around Demetriou's future at the club have only been temporarily quietened. Bennett previously spent three years at Redfern, taking the side within an inch of a premiership in 2021, before handing the reins over to his long-time assistant. The legendary coach is off-contract at the end of this year at the Dolphins and hasn't ruled out continuing his illustrious career at another team in 2025. However, when quizzed on the potential of a move back to the Bunnies, the 74-year-old brushed it aside in light-hearted fashion. "Why? They've got a coach," Bennett told media on Friday. "It is one of those hypotheticals. Every time there is a coach in trouble somewhere I am taking the club over. I've been at three clubs already this year. "Why don't you be patient and see where it all goes?" When asked about the overall form of Souths this year, Bennett continued to deflect. "It's football. It happens," he said. "You don't know why sometimes, I don't know why we played badly at Suncorp three weeks ago. It's just what it is. You've just got to manage it. "I don't want to talk about South Sydney. I've left South Sydney. "It has got nothing to do with me." Bennett had previously expressed interest to take over as coach for the Kiwis, but ultimately missed out on the job in favour of Stacey Jones. Parramatta were also seen as a potential landing spot for Bennett, but the side have started the season reasonably well under Brad Arthur. His side the Dolphins will take on a winless Gold Coast outfit on Saturday night.

Star's career on the line as Bennett verdict looms

Hot favourites for the wooden spoon before a ball was kicked in their maiden season in 2023, the Dolphins exceeded all expectations by finishing 13th.And the team was travelling superbly mid-season before injuries and lack of depth brought them undone and they crashed and burned, losing 10 of their last 12 games.Wayne Bennett and recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan have worked hard to steady the ship, getting rid of some dead wood and signing three top-flight players in Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Thomas Flegler (Broncos) and Jake Averillo (Bulldogs). The Dolphins have the squad to make the finals this year - if they learn the lessons from their poor end to last season and have a good run with injury.But the Dolphins' greatest weapon last season - right from the shock first round defeat of the Roosters - was their ability to ambush rivals.They went into most games as underdogs and Bennett was able to get his troops to hustle and bustle their way to victory.That advantage is now gone - rivals enter games this year knowing they're are in for a tight tussle against Redcliffe and the underestimating factor is no more.

Bennett adds to Tigers' woes in chase for star brothers

In another blow to the embattled Tigers, the Dolphins have emerged as the new favourites to sign brilliant young Manly brothers Latu and Samuela Fainu.The pair, currently at Manly, are regarded among the hottest young properties in rugby league.They were expected to follow highly-regarded recruitment manager Scott Fulton, who recently left the Sea Eagles for the Tigers.But in the wake of the Tigers' dismal showings in recent weeks, the pair are now leaning towards the Dolphins, according to a source close to the brothers.They have met with Wayne Bennett, and the Dolphins coach and rugby league guru made a big impression on the pair.Latu is a halfback and the Tigers believe he could be the long-term successor to Luke Brooks, who will move to Manly in 2024.He signed rugby league's all-time biggest contract by a teenager three years ago at the age of 16.Back-rower Samuela has already played a handful of top grade games for Manly in the back row this season and looks a likely prospect.The pair's older brother, Manase, was a classy hooker with the Sea Eagles before being jailed for stabbing a man in 2019.

Nikorima's new lease on life under Bennett

There have been many success stories at the Dolphins this season - none more so than Kodi Nikorima.In and out of first grade in recent season, Nikorima was signed by Bennett's boys almost as an afterthought.Sean O'Sullivan was designated for the playmaking role but when he went down injured a few weeks ago, the spotlight fell upon the 29-year-old journeyman, currently at his fourth club.Nikorima was dynamic in the Dolphins' stunning 36-16 win over the Sharks on Saturday night, producing two try assists and making three line break assists.He's playing the best football of his nine-year NRL career - a testament to Bennett's magnificent man-management skills.

Bennett's bold claim about ex-$1 million star

Wayne Bennett confirmed Anthony Milford will start at five-eighth for the Dolphins for an extended period, after halfback Sean O'Sullivan suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the 18-12 loss to Brisbane.Milford, a 207-game veteran, hadn't played NRL since August last year but was rushed into the side at No.6 against the Broncos on Friday, after 19-year-old Isaiya Katoa was still suffering the effects of an elbow injury.The former Bronco turned in a solid performance, setting up a try for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow with a neat grubber, and kept his line in defence.The 28-year-old was a mainstay of Bennett's Broncos team from 2015 to 2018 but started this season in Queensland Cup after Katoa outplayed him in pre-season. Katoa was close to playing the Broncos and is tipped to take the field against the Dragons In Wollongong."There is a good opportunity for him now," Bennett said of Milford."He did enough tonight to make me happy enough to keep him there."Isaiya will probably come into halfback. We made him into a five-eighth but he is a halfback, Isaiya."Bennett said O'Sullivan will be out for a "little while" after the playmaker came off the field in the 61st minute. The team was already without the suspended Jeremy Marshall-King, and then lost experienced utility Kodi Nikorima with a deep cut to the head in the 26th minute, just two minutes after he had come on.That left Mason Teague and Ray Stone to share the dummy-half role, with neither of them regular No.9s."If we'd had a hooker we would have done a hell of a lot more," Bennett said.

Teammate's stinging Munster assessment

Melbourne prop Christian Welch has hit out at teammate Cameron Munster for his handling of his contract renewal with the Storm.Despite having more than a year left on his contract, Munster was widely known to be in deep talks as a potential marquee signing with the Dolphins well before November 1, when NRL rules permit such discussions to take place.Munster announced he had signed a four-year extension with the Storm in early October.Dolphins coach Wayne Bennet slammed Munster's decision to not call him to let him know he was staying with the Storm."That's a tough phone call, it's a phone call none of us want to make. But if you want to be a man, then you've got to behave like one," he said on Triple M's Rush Hour with Leisel Jones, Liam and Dobbo."It's tough telling someone you're not going to come ... that's the price you've got to pay so you can grow into being the man you can be proud of," Bennett added.

Broncos speedster high on Bennett's wish list

Wayne Bennett has confirmed Broncos back Tesi Niu remains on the wish list of the Dolphins, who still have five positions to fill as they zero in on their inaugural season in the NRL.Bennett was at the Dolphins' Redcliffe base as the competition's newest club greeted 600 fans at its first open training session on Wednesday.The veteran coach said it was unlikely more halves would be signed for the 2023 season, but he made it clear Niu and players of a similar ilk remained on the radar.Niu is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2024 but has been granted permission from the Broncos to search for a new home for 2023."We just want quality players. That's what we are looking for," Bennett said."A couple of outside backs, and Tesi Niu is one of those guys who can help us there."He is like a number of other players out there we are negotiating with and talking to."Former Panthers back-up Sean O'Sullivan, the son of Dolphins recruitment boss Peter O'Sullivan, is shaping as the club's halfback for 2023, while former Queensland State of Origin enigma Anthony Milford is the most likely five-eighth option.But Bennett said no one was "guaranteed" a spot."They have got to prove to me that they have earned that and that they have the ability to do that job," Bennett added."If they haven't, we will make other decisions."Kodi Nikorima, who played under Bennett at the Broncos, is another contender for a Dolphins halves position, as is Isaiya Katoa — the player of the match in the Panthers' 2022 SG Ball Cup grand final triumph.

Bennett's former club blindsided by player raid

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett is set to raid yet another of his former clubs with the veteran coach chasing Jaydn Su'A from the Dragons.Su'A has two years left on his deal with the Dragons but isn't happy at the club and will ask for a release to return to his family in Queensland on compassionate grounds.Bennett and Su'A are close - the rampaging forward played under Bennett at both the Broncos and Rabbitohs.The Dolphins are desperate for more strike power in their pack for their inaugural season in 2023 and Su'A would be a perfect fit.But the Dragons don't want to release Su'A, one of the few players in their under-performing pack to show any fire this season.Stand by for developments.

Bennett's awkward admission on Dolphins roster

Wayne Bennett admits things are "progressing slowly" as he tries to build an NRL team from scratch to compete in the elite competition next year.The Dolphins will enter the league ahead of the 2023 season and supercoach Bennett is charged with compiling a 30-man roster strong enough to compete with the best in the business.With just three months until Bennett will want to kick off pre-season training with his players, the Dolphins have signed only 19 to the top squad, complemented by a number of development contracts.The Dolphins look fairly stocked for experienced forwards, with the likes of Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, and Kenny Bromwich committed to the expansion team. But the current list lacks genuine star power.Bennett has been knocked back by a host of rugby league superstars, including Kalyn Ponga, Reece Walsh, Brandon Smith, and - for the time being, at least - Cameron Munster.There's been calls for the governing body to step in and either help the Dolphins sign a marquee player, or delay their introduction into the league."(Recruitment is) progressing slowly," Bennett said on Monday.

Burgess rejects NRL rivals to return to Souths

Rabbitohs great Sam Burgess has rejected a move to join Wayne Bennett's coaching staff at the Dolphins to return back to Redfern.According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Burgess has recommitted his future to the Rabbitohs and is expected to join South Sydney as an assistant to Jason Demetriou in 2023.It's understood Burgess was being courted by the NRL's newest franchise but South Sydney managed to convince the club great to return under Jason Demetriou rather than his former coach.Burgess was given a long-term deal by the Rabbitohs after he was medically retired in 2019.However, he stood down from his role as an assistant to Bennett at South Sydney, as well as his media roles after allegations surfaced of domestic violence.After an internal investigation, the NRL later fined him $30,000 for a separate incident. He was later cleared of domestic violence allegations by the court.Burgess is currently coaching Orara Valley Axemen in Group 2 in northern NSW, and will join a coaching staff that already includes former Dragons fullback Ben Hornby and John Morris.St Helens and Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has been signed as Bennett's assistant for the next two years before he takes over from the veteran coach in 2025.

Dolphins reveal coach to take over from Bennett

The Dolphins are poised to unveil the latest part of their future plans, with Kristian Woolf set to join the club as an assistant, before becoming the head coach in 2025.The current St Helens and Tonga coach is set to join Wayne Bennett's staff as an assistant for 2023, before being boosted into the top job two years' later.Bennett, who will be 75 in 2025, will then move into a back room role.Woolf's contract with the English giants runs out at the end of this season, and he had previously rejected an approach from the Warriors to coach them next year - which led to speculation that he could be courted by either the Bulldogs or Tigers, or end up in Redcliffe.It has ended up being the latter - as the 47-year-old returns home after an extremely successful period in England.St Helens have won the title in both of Woolf's first two seasons, and also claimed the Challenge Cup in 2021. Currently, they sit on top of the ladder in what will now be his last campaign.Bennett had previously been involved in a similar situation in Redfern, with Jason Demetriou coming in as an assistant coach with the Rabbitohs in 2018, and moving into the top job this year.Succession plans are all the rage at the moment, the Dolphins' impending move coming just days after the Wests Tigers displayed similar long-term thinking.The joint venture last week announced that Benji Marshall had agreed to a five-year deal to be a coach of the Tigers. The first two will be as an assistant under Tim Sheens, before the former Golden Boot winner takes over the reins.

Tough Decision Facing Burgess

Those close to Sam Burgess tell me he is leaning towards the Dolphins as he weighs up the biggest decision of his life post-playing.Both the Rabbitohs and Dolphins are keen to get Burgess on their coaching team and both have plenty to offer.Complicating matters is the fact that Burgess is great mates with both Souths owner Russell Crowe and Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett.But with Bennett nearing the end of his coaching days, the pathway is there for Burgess to eventually land himself a head coaching gig in a couple of years - and learn under the master coach in the meantime.