A defiant Jason Demetriou is welcoming the pressure engulfing his tenure at South Sydney as the under-fire coach pleads with friends to stop checking in on him.
Vowing that inspirational Souths skipper Cameron Murray would feature in the Bunnies’ Good Friday meeting with Canterbury, Demetriou played down suggestions he would shift the enigmatic Latrell Mitchell out of fullback for rookie Jye Gray.
Murray sat out the captain’s run with a knee problem that has been troubling him all week, but is currently set to play against the Dogs.
Demetriou cut a relaxed figure on Thursday, six days on from the Rabbitohs’ 48-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters that sent the one-time premiership contenders to the bottom of the NRL ladder.
The Bunnies coach described the Roosters defeat as the “lowest point” of his career.
The shaky start to 2024 and missing last year’s finals series has led to speculation Demetriou’s job is under threat, but the coach says he and his side are ready to fight their way out of trouble.
“I know there’s a lot of noise around the place sometimes about how bad people are feeling and all that sort of stuff,” Demetriou said.
“I’m almost at the point where there are so many people reaching out and making sure I’m alright that I almost want to turn my phone off.
“I’m sick of telling people I’m actually OK. And I am. I’m not walking around with my head down.
“I get to come to work at this fantastic club – if you can’t get up and get excited about coming to work for South Sydney, you’re in the wrong job.
“I’ve been around this game a long time. I played my whole professional career in England where you fight tooth and nail for your job regularly in terms of relegation.
“It’s not the first time I’ve been in a position where you have to fight for your job.
“To be honest, it’s not about me or how I’m feeling. It’s about me doing my job for the boys and making sure they can go out there and be themselves.”
Souths (0-3) have not lost a Good Friday clash in the last five years and a fourth straight defeat to start 2024 would equal the club’s worst start to a season since 2008.
Nat
Roar Guru
Does that come with Ben Hunt though??
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I nearly did but didnt
Get_real
Roar Rookie
The way they lose, lack of emotion wise would have me worried. The coach just seems inept, big Sam may have been right the coach panders to the " special boys", the same guys that let the side down weekly.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Three losses don't spell doomsday, but the real issue here is whether they've shaken off last year's collapse or if they're just repeating history. If it's the latter, JD better start feeling the heat and his days will be numbered. It all comes down to how much grit they developed in the preseason. The upcoming match against the Dogs will be a battle, with most pundits betting on the dogs – and rightly so, given the situation. Here's to hoping Souths can muster some serious resilience and put up a fight.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
He’ll be more nervous if they get rolled by the Dogs. I’ve tipped the Dogs, I just feel they are improving each week, whilst the bunnies are going the other way.
dogs
Roar Rookie
The souths hype is a bit over the top. Titan's haven't won a game or looked any good this year, but there's not 2 stories a day about them. I get the NRL is a soap opera for blokes and we all apparently love drama drama drama, but we're only 3 weeks in. And I (obviously) sincerely hope they go 0-4 tomorrow
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Dogs with confidence. Souths with anything but that for tomorrow. If Souths are to win, they have to be perfect in defence. Dogs have shown great resilience at times this year in defence while Souths have shown next to nothing. If JD was coaching in England, the opposition fans would be chanting you're getting sacked in the morning to him should Souths go on to lose this one
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
What are you talking about, no one to replace him? Anthony Griffin is right there.
Nat
Roar Guru
Why would he be worried? Souths won’t sack him because there is no one to replace him. He has a contract until 2026 so 2.5yrs pay is waiting if they do. I very much doubt Bennett sails back in next year to stab JD in the back. The team just need confidence and belting the Dogs may just kick start that.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I've seen some pretty miserable coaches over the years but after the defeat by the Chooks J.D looked and sounded like someone who had just walked past the room where the covers had been removed from the electric chair.
mushi
Roar Guru
That is not the response of someone who is actually OK. You don't have to be vulnerable with the press and public but JD it's OK to not be OK