Eels out of Bennett race as Arthur survives for now

The Parramatta Eels will not pursue super coach Wayne Bennett as a replacement for Brad Arthur, as Bennett prepares to return to the South Sydney Rabbitohs next season.

Journalist Michael Carayannis is reporting that Bennett will formally sign with the Rabbitohs for the 2025 season to replace sacked coach Jason Demetriou, who Bennett endorsed for the role when he left at the end of 2022.

There were rumours the Eels would attempt to snatch the signature of Bennett to replace Arthur, or to act as General Manager of Football.

Arthur took the Eels to the Grand Final in 2022 and is the longest serving coach in the club’s history, but his tenure has been in question following his side’s poor start to the year and mixed results over his 10 years in charge.

However, Carayannis said the Eels would not sign Bennett.

“(There was) some chatter yesterday in and around parramatta who had a board meeting the other night who, not publicly but privately, said they’re not in a rush to make a call on Brad Arthur’s future which in turn means they won’t be in the race for Wayne Bennett,” Carayannis told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“I don’t think Wayne will do anything before that Dolphins game formally, (he’ll) get through that Dolphins game and then next week officially put pen to paper and get that distraction out of the way.

“I’d be surprised if we were still having this conversation next week that Wayne Bennett’s not officially at South Sydney next year because all roads lead to that.”

SEN’s Andrew Voss says that, while the deal seems done, not everyone at South Sydney are happy to see the former coach return.

“I’ve heard different factions say that if Wayne Bennett returns that not everyone is keen to work with him again at the club,” Voss said.

“They won’t stand in the way of him returning because they will put the football team first but they don’t necessarily want to go for a second session with Wayne Bennett as coach.

“Watch this space.”

Bennett will depart The Dolphins at the end of the season, with assistant Kristian Woolf to take over the reins in 2025.