Ben Hornby blasts ‘disrespectful’ Wayne Bennett Souths coaching claims

Interim South Sydney coach Ben Hornby says it’s “a little bit disrespectful” to hear people say that Wayne Bennett is behind South Sydney’s finals charge ahead of their showdown with the Dolphins on Thursday night.

The master coach will return to the club next year, which has led to claims that Bennett has been secretly pulling the strings in recent weeks, but Rabbitohs players insists Hornby has his fingerprints all over their turnaround.

Hornby took over from Jason Demetriou at a time when it looked like Souths would finish with the wooden spoon, but they’re now just two points outside the top eight on the back of five-straight wins.

“I find it a little bit disrespectful,” Hornby said of the Bennett rumours.

“Not just to me but everyone here that is doing a great job, the players included.

“We talked regularly before I took over, we’ve been talking regularly for more than 10 years.

“So nothing has really changed there. He’s concentrating on his team, I am concentrating on mine.”

Bennett also weighed in on the rumours during his weekly press conference as the Dolphins look to solidify their spot in the top eight.

“I am not doing very much at Souths at all. I haven’t been near the club. I haven’t been near anybody,” he said.

“I have got a deal done. We did the deal and I am coaching the Dolphins. That is my priority and they have got a club to run this year.

“They have got good people in there and they have turned their season around.

“That is how it works. It can’t work any other way. I can’t be trying to run two clubs. That doesn’t work. I have been very committed to here.

“I have done this six or seven times in my career, so it is not a challenge. It is easy to do.”

Rabbitohs players are aware of the rumours, with star playmaker Cody Walker praising Hornby for what he’s achieved under difficult circumstances.

“I tip my hat to Ben and what he’s been able to do for the team over the last couple of weeks since he took over,” he said.

“He’s been unreal, and I don’t think he gets the credit that he deserves. He probably doesn’t even want to hear it.

“He just wants to see us improve each and every week, and that’s what we’ve been able to do.”

Try-scoring machine Alex Johnston doesn’t know where the Bennett rumours have come from, revealing he hasn’t spoken to the man who took them to a grand final in 2021.

“It’s good to give Benny a shout out because everyone has been saying in the media – I don’t know if they’re made-up stories – that Wayne’s been coaching,” the winger said.

“He (Hornby) needs to get the credit he deserves. The sides that he’s picked have been great. I know people are suggesting it’s Wayne (picking the team), but when you speak to Benny, he’s like ‘I need some credit’.

“He’s done an awesome job and I’ve loved the stint under him.”

The Rabbitohs can keep their unlikely finals charge alive if they can beat the Dolphins, but they’ll have to do it without inspirational fullback Latrell Mitchell, who is expected to spend a month in a moon boot as he deals with a foot injury.

There were fears Mitchell would miss the rest of the season after he got hurt during last week’s win over the Eels, but a specialist told him he didn’t need surgery, which means he could be back if further scans clear him of lingering damage.

The speedy Jye Gray will replace him at fullback, with the club hopeful Mitchell will be back next month.

“He is disappointed but in good spirits,” Hornby said.

“He doesn’t feel like it is too sore at the moment, so that is keeping him a bit more upbeat than if it was completely gone.

“We certainly hope (he can avoid surgery). We can’t predict that, and I’m not a doctor. We’ll see how the scan goes in four weeks’ time.”