The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to be welcoming back Wayne Bennett as the Club’s Head Coach for the next three seasons from 2025 onwards.
Bennett is regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time, having coached over 900 games with NRL Clubs and over 1100 first grade and representative games since the 1970s, claiming seven premierships with the Broncos and Dragons, as well Grand Final appearances with the Rabbitohs and Raiders. He also won a premiership with Brisbane Souths in 1985 and six State of Origin series with Queensland, most recently in 2020.
Bennett has also had enormous success at the international level, coaching Australia, England and Great Britain at various times throughout his coaching career.
Bennett was the Rabbitohs’ Head Coach between 2019 and 2021, taking the Club to preliminary final appearances in the first two years and the Grand Final in his final season in charge of South Sydney.
Bennett’s on-field success is complemented by his ability to assist players and staff off-the-field, renowned as one of Australian sports’ great people-managers.
Rabbitohs Chairman, Nicholas Pappas AM"On behalf of the Board of the Rabbitohs we look forward to welcoming Wayne back to the Club, and to finishing off what we got so close to achieving in 2021"
The Rabbitohs wish Coach Bennett the best of luck for the remainder of the 2024 season. Out of respect for him and his current club, the Dolphins, the Rabbitohs won’t make any further comment until he completes his duties with the Dolphins and resumes coaching at South Sydney.
| Name | Wayne Bennett |
|---|---|
| Coaching Role | Head Coach for Seasons 2025-27 |
| Club Coach Appointments | - Dolphins (2023-24 – 34 games, 16 wins) |
| - South Sydney Rabbitohs (2019-21 – 77 games, 53 wins, one Grand Final) | |
| - Brisbane Broncos (1988-08, 2015-18 – 631 games, 402 wins, seven Grand Finals, six Premierships) | |
| - Newcastle Knights (2012-14 - 75 games, 34 wins) | |
| - St George Illawarra Dragons (2009-11 - 79 games, 51 wins, one Grand Final, one Premiership) | |
| - Canberra Raiders (1987 - 28 games, 17 wins, one Grand Final) | |
| - Brisbane Souths (1977-79, 1984-85 – 113 games, 63 wins, three Grand Finals, one Premiership) | |
| - Brisbane Brothers (1980-82 – 57 games, 23 wins) | |
| - Ipswich (1976) | |
| NSWRL/NRL Coach Win %age | 62% (573 wins from 924 games) |
| Rep Coach Appointments | - Great Britain (2019) |
| - England (2016-2019) | |
| - World All Stars (2016) | |
| - NRL All Stars (2010-13) | |
| - Assistant Coach – New Zealand (2008) | |
| - All Golds (2007) | |
| - Australia (1988, 2004-05) | |
| - Queensland (1986-88, 1998, 2001-03, 2020 – six State of Origin series wins) | |
| - Queensland Tri-Series (1997) | |
| Coaching Achievements | - Seven premierships (1992-93, 1997{SL}-98, 2000, 2006, 2010) |
| - 30 Finals appearances (1987, 1990, 1992-2011, 2013, 2015-21) | |
| - Six Origin Series wins (1987-88, 1998, 2001-02, 2020) | |
| - Coach of the Year (1987, 1997{SL}, 2000, 2015) | |
| Playing Record | - Teams: Warwick, Toowoomba, Brisbane Brothers, Ipswich (1976) |
| - Brisbane Souths (1977-79) | |
| - Queensland (1971-73) | |
| - Australian tour of New Zealand (1971) |
