Jason Demetriou is one of the rare coaches who has been active on social media for a long time. Well, as far as we can tell (shout out to all the coaches with anonymous accounts).
But over the summer, following a year of scrutiny and turmoil at the Bunnies, the Rabbitohs coach switched it off. At least X (formerly Twitter), anyway.
“Twitter was the one where I thought: ‘I don’t need this rubbish’,” Demetriou said from the lobby of the team hotel in La Jolla.
“I’m not somebody who likes to bag people or go on there and have an opinion on something I know nothing about or have any experience in. That’s what Twitter is full of these days. It got to a point where I said, ‘I’ve had enough of this – it’s time to shut this down’.”
At the end of last year, this columnist phoned Demetriou to ask him about an interaction he had made on Instagram that was being spoken about among some of his players.
It was at a time when relationships at the club were being questioned externally. The last thing he needed was a revelation that he liked a comment on Instagram ridiculing two of his forwards after a loss earlier in the season.
Jason Demetriou has apologised to Jacob Host after liking a critical comment on social media.Credit: Brook Mitchell
The comment on the post Demetriou liked said: “We had @liam_knight and @hostyyy playing for us tonight. It’s a wonder we didn’t lose by 50 having those clowns pretending to be first graders.”
Demetriou was mortified when he learned of what had transpired, immediately apologising to Jacob Host. The fact Knight departed the club mid-season to join the Bulldogs probably gives you enough of an indication of where that relationship was at, but he was upset for Host.
“The Hosty one was genuinely disappointing because that was me just flicking through and sausage fingers hitting the ‘like’ button,” said Demetriou, who coached Host in the lower grades at St George Illawarra before they were reunited at the Rabbitohs.
“I brought him to the [Dragons] when he was 18 or 19. He knows what I think of him. I was really disappointed in myself that I was stupid enough to do that. He just laughed at it. But again that’s another example of where we were at. We were having rubbish conversations because we weren’t winning.
“Even when you’re winning the hate on social media is just relentless. And it’s just rubbish. To be honest, I actually don’t mind people who have an opinion on something or want to talk about footy. But it’s the other stuff, and you’d get it in your job as well.”
“The personal attacks from people who don’t know who you are or what you’re about. That’s the downside of social media. Not just for coaches, but for anybody who is on it. Especially kids. It’s definitely given the weak a voice, that’s for sure.”
Demetriou is still on Instagram. He uses it to stay in touch with friends he has made from working overseas.
His Twitter/X account is now shut down but he has an issue with the keyboard warriors creating a false sense of reality that he believes is influencing key figures in the media.
“For me, part of the problem was that guys in the media and journalists were using those comments to form an opinion or gauge an understanding of what people might be thinking in the masses,” he said.
Demetriou was criticised for being too close to superstar Latrell Mitchell last year.Credit: Getty
“Where in fact most of the time it’s the minority but it’s reported as the majority of the feelings people have. That’s where it’s not always accurate. Not everybody who thinks you’re doing a good job is going to get on there and tell you that. Mostly it’s people who have something negative to say about you, they’re the ones getting on there.
“Anyone can get on there with an anonymous name and spray. I have much more respect for people who put their name to it and share their opinion with you about coaching and footy. When it crosses the line, I’ve got no time for it.”
Demetriou has seen how significant an impact social media can have on players. It’s had a major impact on Latrell Mitchell, who has been the target of vile racial abuse over the years.
It’s a vastly different world to the one he played in.
“In my day it was more about the fan forums they used to have,” he said.
“Players would come to training with their head down and in a shit mood and you could tell they’d just been on the chat forums reading what people were saying about them.
“It was harder to access those. Now, the access is so easy for the players and I think a lot of the storylines are drawn from what is being driven by people on social media. The players have to understand that’s part of the game.”
Schuster charade
The damage control from Manly after the Herald last month broke the story that Josh Schuster was in doubt for Las Vegas was rather comical.
A bout of chickenpox, a broken finger (followed by surgery) and a calf injury hampered a large part of his pre-season. Manly, however, were desperate to talk up his chances of jumping on the flight to America despite his body not going through the required training to compete at the highest level.
Josh Schuster.Credit: Getty Images
The Sea Eagles thought he’d be right to play their final trial before departing for the United States, but Schuster pulled up sore after one of the sessions leading into the game.
He was subsequently withdrawn from the trial match against the Roosters, and later from the trip to Las Vegas.
Manly were so desperate to protect their $800,000-a-season back-rower from criticism, they exaggerated how well he was tracking, creating the circus they were hoping to avoid.
Walker races the clock
Cody Walker says he won’t risk a long-term injury by playing in next week’s season-opener underdone, but remains hopeful his calf injury will recover in time for the match against the Sea Eagles.
Walker, who trained on his own during the team’s first hit-out in San Diego on Wednesday, suffered the injury a fortnight ago and was forced to withdraw from the All Stars game. It’s the second time in the past few months he’s picked up a calf injury.
“I actually did my calf before Christmas and my first run back yesterday felt a lot better than it did back then when I started running again,” Walker said.
“I’ve still got a fair few hoops to jump through over the next couple of days. I’m positive. It felt good yesterday.
Rabbitohs star Cody Walker is hoping to play in Las Vegas.Credit: SMH
“But I think you have to put things into perspective, though. It’s a long season and these sorts of things you don’t want to be risking in round one because it could turn into a 10-weeker.”
Up with the Chooks
The Sydney Roosters were keen to keep the players awake and adjust to the time difference after their 6am arrival in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The team walked around the iconic Venice Beach before making their way back to their hotel in Beverly Hills.
They hit the gym inside UCLA, where they will be based for the next week, on Thursday to begin their preparations for the clash with Brisbane on March 2.
Tiger’s neck of the woods
Some of South Sydney’s biggest names ventured onto one of America’s most famous golf courses, Torrey Pines.
It was the scene of Tiger Woods’ incredible 2008 US Open triumph, where he defeated Rocco Mediate on the first hole of sudden-death following an 18-hole play-off.
Tiger Woods during the play-off round at the US Open in Torrey Pines back in 2008.Credit: Getty
Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Lachlan Ilias and Isaiah Tass spent their day off with a quick nine holes, soaking up the history of the prestigious golf club in southern California.
Surf’s up for Souths
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will welcome a special guest into camp on Friday. Big-wave surfer Mark Mathews, who hails from Maroubra, is expected to join the team to talk to the players about his experiences in life.
Inspirational big-wave surfer Mark Mathews.
Mathews is a big South Sydney fan and lover of rugby league. He was brought into the NSW State of Origin camp a couple of years ago by former coach Brad Fittler.
His story is inspirational and highlights the struggles overcoming fear and adversity.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.