Mal Meninga has emerged as a potential surprise coaching option for South Sydney should they part ways with under fire coach Jason Demetriou.
Meninga and ex-Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire are among the names being considered
should Demetriou be sacked after Saturday’s game.
It is understood South Sydney powerbrokers want an experienced mentor to see out the season should Demetriou be axed.
The only genuine option within the club is assistant coach Ben Hornby – and he too remains in the mix – but the Rabbitohs could add to their coaching stocks should things sour with Demetriou.
Mal Meninga, pictured talking to Darren Lockyer, is the subject of a strong push to take over at Souths.
However, it is understood there is a strong push for Meninga to take over the club. He shares a close relationship with South Sydney players Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham, Cam Murray, Jack Wighton and Damien Cook through his time as Kangaroos coach. Meninga remains the current Australian coach but has no national commitments until the end of the NRL season. He has left his advisory position with the Titans and a short-term stint could work for Meninga who last coached in the NRL in 2001 with Canberra.
He has since gone on to become the most decorated representative coach with success at Queensland and Australia.
Maguire’s name has also been floated as a potential option with the premiership winning coach needed to juggle his NSW coaching commitments with any potential return to the club.
Given Maguire’s hopes of one day coaching in the NRL a short-term stint may not work as well for him as it would for Meninga.
By locking down Meninga it would enable South Sydney to go into the market for a coach in 2025 with Wayne Bennett at the top of their list.
Meninga has been a staunch supporter of Mitchell.
“He is such a big figure,” Meninga has said recently. “You talk about the Rabbitohs and everyone talks about Latrell. He is a good leader. People don’t understand how good a leader he is and how he speaks. He has a purpose in life. He is one of the best defensive fullbacks in the game.
NSW coach Michael Maguire.
“He stops more tries than most fullbacks in the game. There is no bigger character in our game. But rugby league is a team game.
“He will make a difference when everyone else is doing their job.”
Meninga also tried to entice him to the Titans in 2019 before he opted to join the Roosters.
Queensland coach Billy Slater is another name which would be discussed but he is considered long odds to want the short-term role.
South Sydney face the Sharks on Saturday before having the bye. The players will have three days off after the clash enabling the Rabbitohs management to lock down a potential coach before the players return.
They play Melbourne in round eight.
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