Souths skipper's blunt response to Bennett noise

Cameron Murray has shut down speculation over the future of South Sydney in the wake of one of the worst weeks the club has faced in two decades, urging his team to focus on the remainder of their free-falling 2024 campaign.

The sacking of Jason Demetriou and the potential return of Wayne Bennett as head coach has dominated the talk around Redfern, but their on-field woes continued against an under-strength Panthers outfit on Thursday.

After flying out of the gates record a 12-0 lead, the last-placed Rabbitohs conceded 42 unanswered points in their seventh loss of the year as Penrith ran away with the result.

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When quizzed on the potential of working alongside Bennett again, the inspirational skipper gave a stoic response and put the onus back on the playing group to turn things around with interim coach Ben Hornby at the helm.

"It's a hard question to answer because it doesn't really matter," Murray said.

"Wayne [Bennett] or whoever is coaching us next year is coaching us next year. We're worried about next week. Benny is here as our interim coach and that's that.

"We tried not to let the external pressure affect us but it's probably in the back of our minds to be honest. Everyone is on socials and seeing it all on there.

"A lot of people were playing out of position. We were playing wounded [against Penrith]. I think there are some good things there to look back and reflect on.

"We tried to turn up today and make a statement, but we came up against a good opposition. We are going to be fighting hard for the rest of the season."

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Bennett has reportedly been tabled a three-year deal to return to Souths next season, which would likely see Hornby act as his understudy. 

The pair built a strong relationship during their time together at the Dragons and won a premiership in the Red V in 2010, before Hornby moved to the Rabbitohs as an assistant in 2020 under the legendary coach.

"Me and Wayne talk regularly - I will ask for his advice just about as much as everyone," he said in the post-game press conference.

"We tried to keep it as normal as possible, I know that it's not possible in that sort of week but we tried to do as best we could. I don't think we really deserve that score line but it is what it is. We have just got to move forward.

"Nothing has changed. It's going to take another effort like that and more discipline."

During the horror collapse against the Panthers, halfback Dean Hawkins and fullback Jye Gray both succumbed to injuries and forced a major reshuffle to the spine, with Damien Cook forced to play at fullback and Murray at centre.

Speaking to Nine post-game, Cook reflected on a "really tough week" at Souths, but the veteran hooker believes there is reason to be optimistic despite another loss.

"It's been a really tough week," the 32-year-old said.

"It's hard to look at the scoreline, but I'd like to think South Sydney members are proud of a lot of that game. There was a lot of fight there and a lot of boys working hard.

"It's not the result [that we wanted] - we've just got to keep working hard.

"We kept fighting to the end - I know it doesn't look like it - but out there, it felt like the boys were fighting for each other."

The side will look to score their second win of the season next weekend when they face the up-and-down Dragons at Kogarah Oval.