'No doubt I'm the man to turn Souths around': Demetriou

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou described Friday night's loss to the Roosters as the "lowest point of my career", but insists he is the man to dig South Sydney out of their slump.

Falling to a 0-3 record to start the season after being stunned by their arch-rivals 48-6 at Allianz Stadium, the Rabbitohs face the prospect of heading into next week on the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Having now lost 12 of their past 16 games in 2023 and this season, Demetriou revealed after Friday night's defeat that he has hit rock bottom, but is confident the answer still lies within South Sydney's four-walls.

"It's disappointing, it hurts. It's probably the lowest point in my career right now but I know how we get out of it and we'll fight, and we'll fight together," Demetriou said post-match.

"I'm extremely confident [Souths can turn it around], that's my job. 

"It's where we are at the moment, the monkey is on our back and you can see that in our resolve at times.

"There's some effort there but it's put into the wrong places and I just said to the players, 'there's only one way out and that's staying together, training well next week and getting back on the horse'.

"It's a matter of just getting that first win and individually there is some signs out there that we are starting to find a rhythm, but we've got to fight harder. 

"We've got to be a bit more resilient to get those two points - no one is going to give it to us, we've got to get it."

When asked why he is the right man to turn the fortunes of the Rabbitohs around, Demetriou assured he has the confidence in himself and the playing group, but wants to prove that through results rather than words. 

“I’ve been with this group for a long time, I understand the group and I’m confident that we’re on the same page and working together,” he said.  

"We’ve just got to turn it around and I’ve got no doubt I’m the man who can do that.

“But ultimately what I sit here and say makes no difference to what people are going to say, the only thing that’s going to make a difference is results."

The Rabbitohs were in the spotlight leading into Round 3 match after Demetriou chose rookie Dean Hawkins at halfback over Lachie Ilias, and Damian Cook was shifted to the bench. 

But Demetriou said the changes didn't have a major impact on the team's preparation and his confidence and calmness is found from within the squad.

"I've got a lot of trust in this group, they're a great group. They care about each other and that's probably our biggest problem at the moment," he said.

"We don't want to be in this position but that's the position we are in so we need to accept our reality and fight our way out of it. I know the group, I know they'll get out of it."

Ilias had a "blinder" in the NSW Cup, leading Souths to a 28-12 defeat of the Roosters, but Demetriou wasn't sure if he would be recalled for the annual Easter Friday clash with the Bulldogs.

"We brought Deano [Hawkins] in, who I thought did a pretty good job for us. He'll be better for having a run," he said.

"Cooky came into the season underdone with a calf injury, so it was a matter of getting the best out of him and getting him running the footy again and get some match fitness before he's expected to play 80 minutes every week. 

"Other than that it was a side as normal. We'll be looking at the tapes and we'll make a decision on the team next week."