The noise around Wayne Bennett’s return to Redfern refused to go away following Jason Demetriou's dismissal just two months into the season and confirmation of his appointment finally landed yesterday.
Bennett will hand the keys over to his assistant Kristian Woolf at the Dolphins after ushering the new franchise through their inaugural campaigns.
But should the Queensland club be looking over their shoulder once the legendary coach heads out the door at the end of the season and returns to South Sydney?
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Who could Wayne Bennett target from the Dolphins when he returns to South Sydney?
Bennett has a history of bringing some talent with him to his new club, with Darius Boyd the most obvious example after he followed his mentor from Brisbane to St George Illawarra, to Newcastle and then back to Brisbane again.
However, the former Maroons star is far from the only player who has had a strong connection to Bennett with Wendell Sailor, Jeremy Smith, Beau Scott and Neville Costigan featuring for him at numerous clubs throughout their careers.
In more recent times, Kodi Nikorima and Mark Nicholls ventured from Redfern to Redcliffe alongside Bennett.
The Dolphins have been wise in locking down their most valuable players as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Herbie Farnworth, Jake Averillo, Isaiya Katoa and Tom Flegler are all tied to the club for extended periods.
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Yet a number of players are due to come off-contract at the end of the campaign and could be tempted to follow Bennett into what is sure to be a rebuild at the Bunnies.
Euan Aitken has made his name as a hard-working player who can play in the centres and in the backrow and could also be a quality signing for Bennett’s new side.
Other favourites of Bennett who have played under him at multiple clubs are also due to come off-contract at the Dolphins in 2024 with Anthony Milford, Edrick Lee, Jarrod Wallace, Tesi Niu and Nikorima potentially available.
One man who won't be following Bennett is Ray Stone after he inked a two-year deal to remain at the Dolphins.
Bennett signed Stone from Parramatta despite him suffering an ACL injury and has since gone on to become a favourite under the coach.
The no-nonsense forward played 17 times for the club during their first year in the competition and remains a regular in their forward pack this year.
Wayne Bennett on South Sydney's recruitment plans
Bennett will have some major contract decisions to make in his first year in charge, once he arrives at South Sydney.
Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Alex Johnston and Jacob Host are all due to come off-contract in 2025 and their departures could lead to some signings from the Dolphins.
Jeremy Marshall-King could be available around this time and would be an alluring choice if Peter Mamouzelos has failed to establish himself as the club’s first-choice hooker at the Rabbitohs.
MORE: Which South Sydney players could be on the outer under Wayne Bennett's tenure?
Jack Bostock could also provide an answer for the side’s lack of pace and power out on the wing, while Connelly Lemuelu could be a big-name recruit for a backrow spot if Host departs.
However, ahead of the confirmation of Bennett's move, Darren Lockyer declared the coach would actually refuse to raid the Dolphins for players.
"I feel like he's got a respect for them that he wants them to keep growing as an organisation, as a club," Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER earlier this month.
"It would be different if they had won a couple of grand finals by now, he might have tried to pick a couple off.
"I genuinely think he knows they are a club that's just starting their journey, he was a part of it at the start. So, I don't think he would want to sink the boot in at any point."
And this sentiment was echoed by Bennett after he was confirmed as the new South Sydney head coach on a three-year deal.
He admitted that he would only take players who were unwanted at the Dolphins, citing how he had worked to build the club up from the ground and saw no point in trying to pick it apart.
"I won't be taking any of their kids that they want to keep," Bennett told AAP.
"That's not going to happen. I didn't build this club to try and destroy it.
"If there is a guy that they are not offering a contract to or he is looking to go somewhere else and I think he can play a bit, then that will be a different thing, but I want all these players to stay."
