Sam Burgess could make an incredible return to South Sydney as the club’s head coach in 2025 if Jason Demetriou can’t right the ship next season.
Burgess and the Rabbitohs parted way spectacularly this week, with the club on the verge of missing finals despite leading the competition halfway through the season.
Demetriou and Burgess were butting heads over the direction of the club and specifically how star players were being treated differently to the rest of the squad.
Souths have won just four of their past 12 games and they’ll miss finals with a loss to arch rivals the Roosters in the final round after their bye this weekend.
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It would mark an incredible collapse at the club which has played in the past five preliminary finals and was on top of the ladder after Round 11.
If the slide continues next season then James Hooper believes Demetriou, who is contracted for another three seasons, could be on the chopping block.
That would pave the way for Burgess. who will coach Warrington in the Super League next year, to make a triumphant return to Redfern.
“I don’t think this is the last we’re going to see of Sam Burgess in the NRL, he’s going to be back,” Hooper said on NRL 360.
“I have no question if things go pear-shaped at South Sydney, as they have this season, I think the next head coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be Sam Burgess and it could be as early as 2025 if things don’t go according to script.
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“This is a more spectacular collapse then when the Broncos missed the eight last year, they were on top of the competition after Round 11 and now Sam Burgess, who is out and out red and green royalty, who was only brought in as an assistant coach at the end of last year, is out the door.”
Gorden Tallis pointed out that Wayne Bennett was also interested in signing Burgess as an assistant at the Dolphins and described his departure as “strange”.
“There were other clubs fishing for Sam, that’s not just a token job because he wore the jersey,” he said.
“I know Redcliffe were really keen because of the leader he can be, especially around young forwards because he’s so imposing, and he’s infectious too.”
Hooper echoed the sentiment and revealed had Burgess picked the Dolphins he would have been a head coach in 2025 anyway.
Burgess exits Souths as tensions explode | 02:27
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“Wayne Bennett was busting to get Sam in as part of his coaching staff, I think he actually wanted him to be the successor as part of who was going to be the head coach, that was prior to Kristian Woolf joining Wayne at the Dolphins,” Hooper said.
“That shows you the respect he has, Wayne has been around the game for so long and he knows what Sam can bring and the standards he drives.”
Hooper was then asked about reports the Rabbitohs had contacted Bennett about a return to the club he coached to the grand final in 2021.
“Never say never with Wayne,” Hooper said.
Crowe’s phone call to Burgess revealed | 01:24