South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has bristled at suggestions he is too soft on Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker after club legend Sam Burgess dramatically walked out on the club.
On a tumultuous Wednesday at the Rabbitohs’ training centre in Maroubra, Demetriou was forced to dismiss claims that Mitchell and Walker ran the club after Burgess resigned from his role.
Burgess, who was brought back to the club as an assistant coach earlier this year, is believed to have raised concerns with Demetriou about the preferential treatment afforded to Mitchell and Walker.
Players are also understood to have taken issue with the coach’s handling of his star fullback and five-eighth.
“Latrell is a big presence as Sam was when he was playing, but to say that he (Mitchell) is dominating the club … he’s a part of the leadership team,” said Demetriou, who fronted media alongside chief executive Blake Solly.
Latrell Mitchell with Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“Cameron Murray is our captain and does a fantastic job as a leader in this club. Is (Mitchell) dominating the club? No, it’s a comment that’s ridiculous. He was out for three months, who was dominating the club then?
“One minute, (everyone) was saying we’re too soft on him and, and they’re running the club. And the next minute, it’s, I’m falling out with everyone. So which one is it?”
Publicly Souths have claimed Burgess has stepped away from the club due to the impending birth of his child with partner, Lucy Graham, who whisked him away from the club’s HQ shortly after 9am.
Burgess, who was due to leave at the end of this season to take up a role with Super League side Warrington, declined to comment on Wednesday.
He later released a statement that said it was the right time to leave “given the circumstances”.
But Burgess’ decision to quit the Bunnies so close to the final round of the season has raised eyebrows given his heroics for the club en route to their drought-breaking premiership in 2014 and his tight bond with co-owner Russell Crowe.
Demetriou has now lost one of the club’s most-respected figures with their season in the balance.
South Sydney have a bye this week but must beat bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters next Friday to guarantee they don’t miss the finals for the first time since 2017.
Mitchell will be unavailable for that clash after being handed a one-game suspension following last Sunday’s loss to Newcastle.
The Australia international has struggled to recapture his form since injuring his calf on State of Origin duty and missing 12 weeks of the club’s campaign.
The fullback’s efforts were questioned after an anaemic performance against the Knights which was only compounded by vision of him downing beers on stage with country singer Luke Combs earlier in the week.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“Half the NRL was probably at the Luke Combs concert,” Demetriou retorted.
“He slugged a few shots of beer and threw the can in the air, but he was the first bloke in the building on Thursday morning – he trained to house down.
“He drives the standards inside these four walls.”
Meanwhile, John Morris has been retained as an assistant until the end of the year and led training with Demetriou on Wednesday.
Morris was reportedly close to following Burgess out the door and is expected to leave the club at the end of the season to work under Benji Marshall at Wests Tigers.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I was assuming the coach was saying LM was the first player
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Why would Demetriou come out and make such definitive statements about LM training, etc, when it's way too easy for someone to check if they're true or not? All a reporter would have to do is ask the trainers or players and someone would give him up if he was fibbing. Given the pressure the coach is under, I fail to see how or why he'd want to make up a lie like that. That's not being gullible, that's simple common sense.
mushi
Roar Guru
Yeah I find it really hard to believe he was literally the first person there given how far in advance support staff arrive to prepare everything.
dogs
Roar Rookie
Yeah I know, I apologised for my part in it in another post a few weeks back.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Perception is a problem... In 2013, the British and Irish Lions were touring, and James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale were pictured on a Wednesday or Thursday morning, around 4am, at Maccas the week leading into the second test. Neither was reportedly drinking, and they were LUCKY the Wallabies won the second test (just), that they were not really raked over coals. This is somewhat similar. Trell being at the concert wouldn't be an issue in itself, except the team lost, and his play was picked apart as being lazy. Can't blame him for going to the concert. Shot-gunning a beer on stage wasn't the greatest idea ever... being lazy in backfield is an attitude issue... losing makes them all come into the spotlight!
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
They only do it because people click on it, so if it's anyone's fault it is ours for falling for it. You've commented on it, people have liked your comment and a couple people have replied, all of this adds to their metrics on engagement and encourages similar content.
The owl
Roar Rookie
I firmly believe a coach such as robbo, Bellamy, gibbo or Bennett would give him the "tough love" he needs & in return he would respect them for it. Not sure demetriou at this stage is that type of coach. An example is how the roosters at half time & full time give their coach their full attention. Conversely a few years ago after a loss some broncos were playing with their phones while seibold was addressing them. Thoughts.
Dutski
Roar Guru
I'm sick of everyone riding Latrell. Yeah he does some silly stuff and yeah maybe he doesn't have great effort. But that's not new. None of it is. Let the guy play his way. He's never going to be a super fit 100%er so stop complaining that he isn't. Never was. At the Roosters years ago he was the Ferrari not the work ute. Don't know why people seem to think he would be different now. If you want to get on Latrell's back about anything, ride him for liking country music :sick: :sick: :sick:
The owl
Roar Rookie
Good morning Gordon. If you believe all the "spin" emanating from the rabbitohs this week, it demonstrates your gullibility. If a star player on big money has an attitude issue, would his coach publicly criticise him or defend him? As a roosters fan, I am not missing him, his histrionics or his publicity seeking endeavours. We have sufficient match winners & more settled team in his absence.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Finally some comments that make sense. The article rightly points out LM has struggled to regain form since he came back from a long injury layoff, which is what can easily happen to any player. The coach then told everyone exactly what happened the day after that concert. It won't stop the LM haters from continuing to pile on but hopefully any reasonable person can accept these statements from sources within Souths and stop bashing LM .
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
You missed the context. Mitchell's been slammed by all and sundry about his work ethic, yet Demetrious said he was the first at training the day after that concert and trained as well as anyone, even though he's not playing this week.
The owl
Roar Rookie
Jason doesn't appear to be a strong personality capable of reining Mitchell in. Now that their season is over, he should send him back to his farm where he can legally have some fun now that covid restrictions no longer apply.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
The article appears accurate. Latrell is in Control. He is Fat and unfit. He has gotten even more fat and unfit as the season has progressed. He is one of the top Earners in the competition but lacks the professionalism that should go with that. That is why he got that calf injury and was out so long. The coach is scared to call him out. The Roosters were not scared to. Souths are not a chance until the coach takes charge and demands he gets fit and goes on a diet if he wants to stay. if he ever did they would be a huge chance next year.
The owl
Roar Rookie
Ironic for Sam. From coaching the axemen to getting the chop.
The owl
Roar Rookie
I hear he had to sharpen the pencils & count the paper clips in the office. Difficult gig for someone of Sam's intelligence.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
There’s lots of possible replies to the part where you said : ‘I can’t envisage any other Souths player getting such preferential treatment – being paid to do nothing’ Nah, I’ll let you get away with that . :laughing:
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Sounds like a suspiciously large amount to pay a recently retired player for a Mickey Mouse job.
mushi
Roar Guru
Given how often that's rolled out I think rugby league is the obvious cause of the housing shortage.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Hey Bluebottle Boy you must have been stung by too many bluebottles, get off whatever youre on you grub!
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
I presume he was getting the $700K per annum that he was on when he medically retired. Russell Crowe would have been happy with Sam doing that work, and Sam would have been happy getting away from the first team if he felt that Jason D was letting Latrell and Cody rule the roost to the detriment of the team. I read in The Australian, half an hour ago that Sam had an Option for the last year of his contract (2024) and it seems he will be paid for that even though he has left the club. To me that sounds like Russell Crowe has OK'ed it, and that would explain why Sam was coaching The Axemen. I can't envisage any other Souths player getting such preferential treatment - being paid to do nothing.