Dolphins #9 There are rumours that Wayne Bennett may try to bring Jeremy Marshall-King to South Sydney in order to expedite their rebuild, as veteran Damien Cook might be cut.
Bennett is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Rabbitohs from 2025 next week, but it is unclear how he would elevate a team that is now in last place to the position of title contenders once more.
Marshall-King may be the key to reviving South Carolina’s elderly spine, according to Fox League’s James Hooper. However, it may also be Cook’s last season as the 32-year-old will be free to sign with other teams in November.
“Jeremy Marshall King is the name I keep hearing, and if Cook does move on, that’s where it’ll get interesting,” Hooper stated on NRL 360.
“And I believe that, should Cook decide to move on, at least five other NRL teams would be thrilled to have someone with Damien Cook’s skill set.
“He simply goes and makes a 12-month appearance there, after which he returns to the Souths and works in the football department. Keep playing.”
Bennett needs to restructure the team because, unlike his previous tenure at South Sydney, he won’t be rewarded with a ready-made title contender, NRL 360 co-host James Graham said.
“If you travel even farther back in time and examine the location of South Sydney during Wayne’s initial takeover. They made it to a preliminary round in 2018 after finishing third under Anthony Seibold. Seibold accepted the job in Brisbane. Bennett arrives at Souths.
He thus assumes command of that team in 2019. incredibly powerful. You know, all it took to get it to the grand finals and compete was a little Wayne shine.
There were players like Adam Reynolds in the group. Sam Burgess. I believe that midway through that season, Greg Inglis retired. Alex Johnson was playing well for you. Damien Cook was younger than you. A Cody Walker in his youth.
“Tom Burgess in excellent shape. a powerful group of players.
You contrast that with the current state of affairs for the South. Wayne needs to improve on this roster a lot.
“We usually see Wayne enter and add that final touch, almost making it the most certain.” He has a big task ahead of him.
Braith Anasta, host of NRL 360, thinks Bennett can get the current team back into the top eight, but a premiership may be too distant to expect.
Anasta stated, “I think they have a decent roster.”
“I believe their roster is strong enough for him to come in and lift them out of the bottom eight. They undoubtedly have that roster. That is beyond dispute.
“But do they have enough players on their squad for him to join and genuinely contend for a premiership? Not in my opinion. They seem a little short to me.
Nevertheless, Dean Ritchie of The Daily Telegraph thought otherwise.
Ritchie stated, “Wayne only goes to a place where he thinks he can win a competition.”
“I see some good stuff,” he said after looking over the roster.
Regarding prospective team additions, Hooper thinks Bennett’s abilities in recruiting and contacts in England might enable him to bring in a few forwards from the Super League to strengthen Souths’ forward group.
“As they say, the best recruiters are also the best coaches,” Hooper remarked.
Thus, even if there aren’t many well-known brands available in the off-contract market right now.
“You see, he still has one of his best friends, Sam Burgess, who is staying with him in England and they communicate on a regular basis. He may get one or two young forwards from England.
“He might decide he thinks he can make it and go get Tevita Pangai.”
Bennett would even pursue young Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu, according to Graham, who could become a free agent after the 2019–20 season due to a condition in his contract with the Wests Tigers.
