The Rabbitohs have set themselves up as the first NRL club to be able to make a play for Wayne Bennett, after their axing of embattled coach Jason Demetriou

Interim coach Ben Hornby will take charge for the rest of the season and finalise preparations for tomorrow's clash with Penrith.

Bennett will hand over the reins at the Dolphins at the end of this year, and worked with South Sydney between 2019 and 2021.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports there's a likely five-man shortlist for the job including Roosters assistant Justin Holbrook, former Warriors assistant coach Steve McNamara, ex-Kiwis mentor Michael Maguire and ex-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika .

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