After weeks of mounting pressure, the axe has finally fallen on Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou.
South Sydney confirmed on Tuesday night that they had sacked the under-siege Bunnies mentor following two board meetings earlier in the day.
“The South Sydney Rabbitohs have terminated the coaching contract of Head Coach Jason Demetriou today,” the club said in a statement.
“Following a meeting of the Football Club Board, in conjunction with club management, it has been decided that the Club needs to go in a new direction with its coaching following a less-than-satisfactory series of results over the 2023 and 2024 seasons”.
The Rabbitohs currently sit last on the NRL ladder, with just one win to their name for the 2024 season.
“The Board and management feel that now is the time to make a change to the leadership of our football program in terms of the head coaching role,” Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly said
“There is no doubting Jason’s work ethic or his drive for success, but unfortunately that success has not been forthcoming over the past 12 months.
“We wish Jason, his wife Natalie and his daughters the very best of luck in the future and we thank him for his service to our Club over the past five-and-a-half years.”
The termination is effective immediately, with current Assistant Coach Ben Hornby to take control of the team as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2024 season.
It comes as the Rabbitohs prepare to take on reigning Premiers the Penrith Panthers to kick off Round 9 of the NRL on Thursday.
