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"Feel sorry for both": Meninga on Hasler and Bennett's battle to avoid first spoon
Sam Kosack • August 6th, 2025 3:22 pm
Between Des Hasler and Wayne Bennett, the pair have coached 1457 games in the NRL and have won a combined nine premierships.
However, with the Titans and Rabbitohs currently sitting in tied last with five rounds to go, the loser of this clash faces the very real prospect of claiming their first ever wooden spoon.
Both coaches have faced monumental obstacles throughout the season to make it to Round 23; Hasler seemed a certainty to be sacked after their loss to the Broncos in Round 19, while Bennett’s Rabbitohs have suffered a mounting injury toll.
NRL Immortal Mal Meninga says neither coach deserves a wooden spoon at this point in their decorated careers.
“I feel sorry for both, obviously,” Meninga told SENQ Breakfast.
“We should be lauding their careers instead of talking about the spoon. The reality is somebody’s going to get it.
“Both of them are still going to be coaching so they’ve had amazing careers.”
Meninga, who is also the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears, feels particularly sorry for the Rabbitohs ahead of ‘Spoonbowl 2.0’.
The Rabbitohs find themselves currently sitting in 17th having suffered an unprecedented injury toll this season.
Rabbitohs players have missed 223 games through injury so far this season; 85 more than the next closest, the Sydney Roosters.
Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi, amongst many of their depth options, have all missed significant game time, forcing Bennett to call on unheralded juniors to plug the gaps.
The club is bolstered by the returns of Jamie Humphreys and Brandon Smith this week, with Mitchell a chance after being named in the extended squad.
“If anyone doesn't deserve the spoon, I think it's the Rabbitohs, mainly because of that, because of that horror run,” Meninga conceded.
“I mean, they were flat out fielding the team last week… that's how desperate they are for players.
“They've got so many young kids playing in their team at the moment so I think it can be forgiven to be honest with you.
“But again, on the flip side, the Titans, they've got a good enough team and they're starting to cause a few upsets.
“The Penrith Panthers just beat them… and it was only a Nathan Cleary genius field goal for two points that actually got Penrith home.
“I think if you're going to pick a side, the Rabbitohs have been terribly affected by injury and the Titans probably shouldn't have been where they are.”
The Titans and Rabbitohs play on Sunday at 2pm on the Gold Coast.
