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Souths coach Jason Demetriou fronted the media this morning ahead of Souths’ clash with Cronulla, which will prove pivotal in his attempt to keep his job following the club’s horror start to 2024.
Yet with his job on the line, the coach wasn’t interested in discussion, ending his presser after just 27 seconds and four questions, all taken from Souths’ in-house media.
“We’ve had a great week at training, the energy through the week has been outstanding,” he began, before being asked another soft-baller about the club’s three youngsters, whom he brought into the squad.
“There are new blokes coming in, Jye Gray, Tyrone Munro, Davvy Moale is back. I’m excited by the energy they have brought.”
On himself, he added: “I’m really looking forward to the performance – I can’t wait, the energy is through the roof” and on his future, Demetriou said”
“I believe I’m coaching for a great performance this week, and that’s what we’ll get.”
And that was that. 73 words, 27 seconds, four questions. It was bizarre, beating Darius Boyd’s famous 40-second long effort from 2009 for the shortest NRL press conference ever.
Such was the exasperation that one journalist could be heard asking “That’s it?” as Demetriou exited stage left.
The entire charade gave the impression of a coach at the end of his tether with the media – or one who knows that the result at the weekend is immaterial in saving his job.
Souths have insisted from the highest level that they are behind the coach, albeit while news has simultaneously swirled that Mal Meninga – who has no history at all with short media appearances – is being lined up as an interim.
“I know there’s interest,” the Kangaroos coach told SEN radio yesterday.
“That’s the first I have to say, but there’s been no official anything so far. I felt a bit sorry for what’s happening at the club at the moment obviously, we want to see a South Sydney Rabbitohs firing in our game.
“I feel a bit sorry for the coach at the moment, there’s been a lot of media speculation … without any comment from me because I’ve got nothing really to comment about because there’s been no official conversation been held at all.”
Twice mentioning that there had been ‘no official’ links does suggest heavily that there have been unofficial links, and Demetriou likely wouldn’t take kindly to his bosses shopping for a replacement while he is still in post.
Then again, it would be a serious oversight on the part of the Souths higher-ups if they did not take steps to find the next guy ahead of time if there was a feeling that they were about to part ways with the coach.
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