One of rugby league’s most decorated coaches, Wayne Bennett, is standing firm in his commitment to protect star players from excessive media scrutiny – and he has made clear he will not back down even if the National Rugby League (NRL) introduces harsh penalties for clubs that restrict player access to the press. Bennetts’ stance comes amid growing tensions between the league’s governing body and club leadership over player media availability, a issue that has moved to the forefront of discussions after a landmark, record-breaking broadcast rights deal that league officials say requires the sport’s biggest names to maintain consistent public visibility.
Earlier this week, reports confirmed NRL administrators are set to meet with the Rugby League Players Association to address the growing issue of high-profile stars declining midweek media requests. Several top players have been flagged by league headquarters for their limited media appearances this season: South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell has only completed a single midweek interview all year, which came ahead of a milestone match for teammate Campbell Graham. Mitchell’s inactivity is part of a longer pattern, with the star barely making any media appearances over the past two seasons. He is joined on the league’s watchlist by Rabbitohs forward David Fifita and Brisbane Broncos standout fullback Reece Walsh.
League observers have noted that widespread restrictions on player media access leave fans without the opportunity to hear directly from the athletes they support, a growing issue given the massive new investment in NRL broadcast content. But Bennett, who has built a decades-long reputation for prioritizing player mental wellbeing, says he will continue to block media access when he believes it is in the best interest of his players. The legendary coach argued that harsh, critical media coverage takes a measurable toll on athlete performance and mental health, and that players are far better served focusing on their on-field work rather than engaging with the press.
“I’m a bit of a fan of some of them not being available sometimes,” Bennett told reporters. “You (the media) beat them up big time, and it has an impact on them, there’s no doubt about that. They’re better off saying less and just playing football. The NRL can do it (punish clubs) but I’ll stand behind my player every time I think he shouldn’t be in the media and the limelight because of a situation that may have happened or because some journo decided he’s the flavour of the month. I’ve seen players driven out of the game in this country because of media exposure, so I’m no fan of just having open slather for players.”
Beyond the media policy standoff, the Rabbitohs are navigating significant injury hurdles heading into their critical Saturday clash against the Parramatta Eels, as they fight to secure a place in the 2024 NRL finals. Bennett confirmed that Mitchell, who has been sidelined with back and calf injuries since round 11 of the competition, remains unavailable to play, with no clear timeline set for his return. The club suffered a fresh injury blow this week when Graham was ruled out of the Eels match with a calf strain, forcing a last-minute positional change. Young winger Jye Gray will step into Graham’s spot to match up against Eels speedster Josh Addo-Carr, with Bennett optimistic Graham will be able to return to the side next week.
“He’s got a bit of a strain. It’s not too serious but he’s not quite right,” Bennett said of Graham’s injury. “(Jye will replace him on the wing) so we’ve matched the big guy with the big guy.”
In a positive development for the Rabbitohs, three key stars – Cameron Murray, Tallis Duncan, and David Fifita – are set to return to the starting lineup this weekend. South Sydney currently sits on the edge of the top eight, locked in a tight finals race with the Canterbury Bulldogs, North Queensland Cowboys, and Newcastle Knights. In the coming weeks, the Rabbitohs are scheduled to face two top-four contenders, the New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters, before a critical, season-shaping clash against Canterbury next week. When asked if every remaining match on the Rabbitohs schedule is a must-win, Bennett pushed back on the idea that the club is under immediate do-or-die pressure.
“I wouldn’t say that (it’s must win each week),” Bennett said. “We certainly have to win some games, but it’s not a position where we have to win each week because the teams around us are playing some pretty tough opposition as well, so we can probably afford to lose one or two games.”