Wayne Bennett backflips on Dolphins promise as Euan Aitken agrees to join Rabbitohs

Aitken will join Bennett at Souths next season.

Sports Reporter

Tue, 13 Aug 2024, 2:10 am·4-min read

Wayne Bennett gave his word to the Dolphins' hierarchy that he wouldn't raid their playing stocks as he prepares to leave for the Rabbitohs next season. However, on Tuesday Dolphins second rower Euan Aitken became the first player to follow Bennett to the Rabbitohs next season, signing a three-year deal.

Aitken was one of the first to sign for the Dolphins when Bennett was announced as head coach and next year he'll be joining him at Maroubra. Aitken's deal with the Dolphins finishes at the end of this season but the club were understood to be keen to keep him, offering him a one-year contract extension which he ultimately didn't take.

Pictured left Wayne Bennett and right Euan Aitken with Hamiso Tabuai Fidow — Euan Aitken will follow Wayne Bennett to the Rabbitohs next season. Image: Getty

After agreeing a three-year deal with Souths, the 74-year-old vowed not to take anyone the Dolphins didn't want to keep. And it could now be argued that is a promise he has broken with the Dolphins reportedly wanting to hang onto Aitken. "I won't be taking any of their kids that they want to keep," Bennett said in May after agreeing to coach the Rabbitohs in 2025.

"That's not going to happen. I didn't build this club to try and destroy it. If there is a guy that they are not offering a contract to or he is looking to go somewhere else and I think he can play a bit, then that will be a different thing, but I want all these players to stay."

WAGGA WAGGA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 29: Euan Aitken of the Dolphins warms up before the round nine NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and Dolphins at McDonalds Park on April 29, 2023 in Wagga Wagga, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) — Euan Aitkin has played in the centres and the second row across his 192 game NRL career. Image: Getty

The 29-year-old has played in the centres and the second row across 192 games, and has become one of the NRL's most underrated left edge forwards during his time with the Dolphins. And Rabbitohs head of football, Mark Ellison, said he is pleased to be bringing such an experienced player into the Rabbitohs fold. "Euan is a proven performer at NRL level and has also played representative football, all ingredients that will bring experience and ability to our forward pack over the next three seasons," he said in a club statement.

"He is uncompromising in defence and can find the try line in attack. We're excited about bringing Euan to our club for the 2025 pre-season and beyond."

Wayne Bennett has a long history of players following him

Aitken is the latest in a long list of players to have followed Bennett around the NRL. Most notably retired Maroons and Kangaroos try-scoring phenom Darius Boyd followed the super coach his entire career. Boyd came up playing under Bennett at the Broncos and then followed his mentor to the Dragons in 2009, before again joining Bennett to the Knights in 2012. Finally, he asked to be released from the Knights to once again play under Bennett at Brisbane.

The only time he wasn't under the leadership of Bennett was in the final two years of his career after the veteran coach was sacked by the Broncos. And Boyd is far from the only one, with Beau Scott, Jeremy Smith, Jaydn Su'A, Jeremy Smith and most recently Kodi Nikorima, Mark Nicholls and Tevita Pangai Junior switching clubs to continue playing under Bennett.

Tevita Pangai Junior signals intent to reunite with Wayne Bennett

Pangai Jr has broken his silence on leaving the Dolphins to join Catalans Dragons by saying if it was up to him, he would have also followed Bennett to Souths. Pangai Jr signed a one-year deal with the Super League club and will depart the Dolphins at season's end.

Souths-bound Dolphins mentor Bennett was reportedly keen on taking Pangai Jr from Redcliffe to Redfern, but the Rabbitohs' salary-cap constraints meant the super coach couldn't make it work, opening the door for Catalans to swoop.

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And despite insisting he is committed to his 12-month cameo abroad, the former NSW Origin forward has already signalled his intent to reunite with Bennett as soon as 2026. “I would like to retire back in Australia,” Pangai Jr told News Corp. “Yes, that (going to Souths in 2026) is an option if the old fella (Bennett) wants me.

“If Uncle Wayne wants me at Souths, obviously I will look at it, but I’ve still got a long process. I want to go over to France, get my body right and play my best football for Catalans. I’m looking forward to playing in the Super League and then I’ll see what’s available after this trip.”