South Sydney Rabbitohs players have enthusiastically endorsed their assistant coach Ben Hornby, strongly backing the former St George Illawarra Dragons great to return to his old club and revive the struggling NRL side's fortunes. Hornby, who played halfback in the Dragons' last premiership-winning team back in 2010, has emerged as one of the leading contenders to replace Shane Flanagan, who was axed as head coach on Monday after a winless start to the 2026 season.
Hornby's Coaching Credentials and Competition
Currently serving as the number two assistant under Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs, Hornby appears set to go head-to-head with former teammate Dean Young for the coveted Dragons head coaching position. Young has been appointed as the interim coach following Flanagan's sudden departure and will lead the bottom-placed Dragons into Saturday's crucial ANZAC Day clash against the Sydney Roosters.
However, looking beyond this current season, South Sydney players are adamant that Hornby is fully prepared and primed to make the significant step up to a senior head coaching role in the NRL.
Player Testimonials and Support
South Sydney captain Cameron Murray has been particularly vocal in his praise for Hornby, highlighting the assistant coach's previous interim stint in charge of the Rabbitohs a couple of years ago. Murray stated unequivocally, 'I couldn't fault him. It was like he's been doing it for 20 years. He's a pretty incredible guy and any club would be lucky to have him as a head coach.'
Murray further elaborated that Hornby's greatest strength likely stems from what he has learned under the tutelage of master coach Wayne Bennett, particularly 'the simple fundamentals of what create good footy teams and just being consistent with that.'
Proven Track Record and Coaching Style
Ben Hornby enjoyed a respectable 6-11 record during his interim head coaching period with South Sydney in the 2024 season, which notably included an impressive five-game winning streak. This period began after the Rabbitohs sacked Jason Demetriou following a disappointing start of just six rounds.
Back-rower Tallis Duncan also offered strong support for Hornby, emphasising that the coach's primary strength lies in his exceptional communication skills and his unique ability to explain complex game plans in a simple, understandable manner to the players.
Wider Coaching Implications
The coaching shuffle at the Dragons has created ripple effects elsewhere in the rugby league community. New South Wales State of Origin coach Laurie Daley is now actively searching for a new assistant following Dean Young's move into the interim head mentor role at the Dragons.
Daley confirmed on Sky Sports Radio, 'I spoke to him last night and he can't do the role this year. Being a full-time interim head coach won't allow him that opportunity, but he's excited.' Daley also expressed confidence in Young's capabilities, noting, 'Watching them last weekend you think 'jeez it's going to be hard to turn it around'... but one thing I know about Dean is he's a hard worker, very knowledgeable and has great relationships with people.'
The strong endorsements from current South Sydney players add significant weight to Ben Hornby's candidacy, positioning him as a serious and respected contender to lead the St George Illawarra Dragons into a new era, potentially drawing on his historic connection to the club as a premiership-winning player.
