Bennett the Bunny whisperer: How Wayne has unlocked Souths’ lost boys

September 7, 2026 — 5:00am

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After the prime minister had taken his leave and an exhausted, exhilarated Jai Arrow had hugged his last well-wisher, the Rabbitohs team bus sat idling in the bowels of Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

Brandon Smith was completing one last literal sweep of the dressing room and keeping his teammates waiting. Apparently, he has done it after every game this season.

A little thing in the scheme of things. Which has always been the point of the “sweep the sheds″⁣ ideology made famous by the all-conquering All Blacks under former coach Steve Hansen.

No one is too big, no job is too small.

Big – in the figurative sense – is the best word for Souths’ glittering cardinal and myrtle roster. Unfortunately, busted has been the operative term for the Bunnies for the past three seasons, too.

But Wayne Bennett, himself one of the biggest figures in rugby league history, has a potentially radioactive roster suddenly on the boil right in time for the finals.

As just one example, Smith is a Rabbitoh some coaches will love, others loathe. Some will back themselves to save, others........

© Brisbane Times