The players have trained well and remain a tight group – they all attended a multicultural breakfast on Saturday at Heffron Park – but have struggled for confidence on game day.
Demetriou’s contract was extended late last year until the end of 2026,but he will have to contend with speculation about his immediate future,including suggestions his predecessor,Wayne Bennett,will be sounded out about a return to replace him.
There have been no discussions about an interim coach,such is the belief at the club that Demetriou can turn things around in 2024.
Senior Souths officials and Demetriou would not comment on Saturday.
The immediate selection headache for the coach is at halfback,and whether to drop Dean Hawkins or recall Lachlan Ilias after one game in reserve grade,where he performed well in Friday night’s 28-12 win over the Roosters.
Jye Gray is also doing everything possible in the NSW Cup to push for an NRL start,and is a potential fullback option. His selection could allow Latrell Mitchell to move into the centres while Campbell Graham recovers from another injury.
One player who has saved Souths from greater embarrassment is tireless skipper Cameron Murray.
The Roosters were big winners over South Sydney on Friday night.Credit:Getty
Recruit Jack Wighton pulled up with soreness in his knee,but will be fine for the Canterbury clash,where Stephen Crichton awaits.
“I’ve got a lot of trust in this group,they’re a great group,they care about each other … we don’t want to be in this position,but we have to accept our reality and fight our way out of it,” Demetriou said on Friday night. “I know this group and I know they’ll get out of it.
“I’ve been with this group for a long time,I understand the group,and I’m confident we’re on the same page and working together. We’ve just got to turn it around,and I’ve got no doubt I’m the man who can do that.
“Ultimately,what I say makes no difference to what people are going to say,and the only thing that’s going to make a difference is results.”
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Meanwhile,the Roosters have applied to the NRL to have Sam Walker cleared to play against Penrith on Thursday night after he was ruled out by the bunker due to category-one concussion symptoms on Friday.
Players are automatically stood down once deemed to have displayed category-one symptoms,but Walker passed two concussion tests in the sheds,and only had a sore neck.
The Roosters chief medical officer and his NRL counterpart will liaise before making a call on Walker’s availability.
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