South Sydney Rabbitohs sack coach Jason Demetriou after dismal ...

South Sydney have sacked coach Jason Demetriou following the club's dismal start to the 2024 NRL season.

The Rabbitohs board convened twice on Tuesday, deferring a decision on Demetriou's future until a second meeting in the evening, when chairman Nick Pappas could be looped in from London.

After that second meeting, third-year coach Demetriou was told he would be terminated after the side's 1-6 start to 2024.

The perennial heavyweights also crashed out of finals contention under Demetriou's watch last year, losing seven of their last 10 games.

The club has yet to publicly confirm its coach for Thursday's clash against Penrith.

Demetriou took over as Souths' coach from Wayne Bennett at the conclusion of the 2021 season, when the Rabbitohs lost to Penrith in the grand final.

He guided the team to their fifth consecutive preliminary final where they were again beaten by the Panthers.

Souths looked to be a competitive force again in 2023 when they were top of the table through 11 rounds, but lost nine of their final 13 matches to finish ninth and miss the finals.