Former Leeds Rhinos head coach David Furner is, according to reports, in the running for the vacant South Sydney Rabbitohs job.
David Furner was appointed Leeds Rhinos head coach in 2019, but only remained in the post for fifteen games, winning just five and having his contract terminated.
His only other head coach role has been at Canberra Raiders, from 2009 to 2013, a club he also played 200 games for as a player.
He also has experience as an assistant coach of the Australian national team.
Last week, he was appointed assistant coach to Jason Demetriou, in a move that happened just over a week before the head coach lost his job.
The timing makes it seem that it’s more than meets the eye.
In their club statement, “Furner was part of the Rabbitohs’ coaching staff as assistant coach in the 2017 and 2018 seasons and was an assistant coach alongside Jason Demetriou at the North Queensland Cowboys when they won the NRL Premiership in 2015.”
However, the club surely knew that Demetriou was on his way out sooner rather than later.
Therefore, it seems that their previous experience together wasn’t the reason for bringing Furner in.
Credit: Imago Images
Matty Johns, speaking on Aussie radio station SEN League, seems to know more.
He said: “I’ve had numerous reports today, through to me, but I can’t get it verified, that David Furner is about to take over.
“I’ve been tipped off about it but can’t get confirmation.
“A journo as well, a Daily Telegraph journo, said ‘Have you heard anything?’
“They were the same, they’d had the tip-off that Dave Furner was going to take over as caretaker.”
It has seemed, since he was appointed as an assistant, that this was always going to be the plan.
The search will then, surely, be for a big name to take charge ahead of the 2025 season, if not sooner.
That big name could be Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam, who is reportedly in the running for the job.
