Why Rabbitohs CEO thinks Bennett can return Souths to their best

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are preparing for a pre-season under the guidance of returning master coach Wayne Bennett.

South Sydney CEO Blake Solly is excited to see the return of Bennett and has already seen benefits to sponsorships and a general vibe at the club.

“He is a rare commodity, and sponsors want to be part of it,” Solly said on SEN.

“We had three wonderful years with Wayne so our members, sponsors and fans know exactly what they are getting when he comes back here.”

Following the Rabbitohs 16th-placed finish in the 2024 season, Bennett spoke with the team about their performance, encouraging them to train hard over the off season.

Bennett coached the Rabbitohs from 2019-2021, leading them to the 2021 Grand Final, which Solly hopes will be repeated under his returned leadership.

“It has been an interesting eight weeks since Wayne came down and spoke to the players,” he added.

“Hopefully we can have that same success on the field that we had last time he was here.”

Solly commented on the difficult 2024 campaign due to a string of injuries, however says this has allowed many of the senior players to train and recuperate over the off season to set themselves up for success in 2025.

“That has set them up for a really good pre-season,” he continued.

“We want to make sure that when they start pre-season they are as fit as they possibly can be.”

Solly is eager to see the Rabbitohs enter the 2025 season as a fresh side under the mentorship of one of the greatest coaches the league has seen.

“The young guys are excited to be coached by him and the senior guys are really excited to have him back.”