On Friday, March 11, 2022, during a media conference following the South Sydney Rabbitohs' loss to the Parramatta Eels, their coach, Jason Demetriou, ended his session unexpectedly and abruptly after being questioned about his future with the team. The incident took place at Redfern Oval, where the Rabbitohs train and play their home games.
Demetriou, who took over as head coach from Wayne Bennett at the beginning of the 2021 season, has been under increasing pressure due to the team's poor performance this year. The Rabbitohs have lost four out of their first five games, with their most recent defeat being against the Eels, who defeated them with a score of 38-16.
During the post-match press conference, Demetriou was asked several questions regarding his position as coach and the team's poor form. In response, he stated that he would address the team's performance issues and focus on improving their game. However, when one journalist persisted with questions about his future, Demetriou ended the conference after just 27 seconds, stating, "I'll address that internally, not here."
The sudden ending of the press conference took many by surprise, with some commentators suggesting that Demetriou may have been frustrated or upset by the line of questioning. Others speculated that he may have been following the advice of team management to avoid discussing his job security publicly.
Regardless of the reasons behind Demetriou's abrupt exit, the incident has added to the uncertainty surrounding the Rabbitohs and their coaching situation. The team's next game is against the New Zealand Warriors on March 19, and it remains to be seen whether Demetriou will continue as their coach beyond that point.
It is important to note that, at the time of writing, there has been no official announcement regarding Demetriou's future with the Rabbitohs, and any speculation is based on media reports and rumors. The team and its management have yet to make a public statement on the matter.
Published 203 days ago
Published 203 days ago
Published 239 days ago
Published 302 days ago