A fed-up Wayne Bennett has lashed the media for continually speculating about his coaching future, reiterating his commitment to the Rabbitohs next year and stressing: "Just let me do my job."
Bennett has been linked to the Warriors, Bulldogs and Dragons in recent times despite being contracted to South Sydney until the end 2021, at which point he will hand the reins to assistant coach Jason Demetriou.
The 70-year-old record-breaking coach didn't appreciate the intense media coverage in the lead-up to his departure from the Broncos in late 2018 and said he wouldn't let a similar situation unfold at the Rabbitohs.
"I'm here doing the best I can at this club and you guys keep stirring the pot about what I could be doing and everything else. Just let me do my job, will you?" Bennett said leading into Thursday's clash with Penrith.
Frustrated by the barrage of questions around his future, Bennett said: "Are you hard of hearing? I said the same things last week.
"I keep repeating myself because you guys make up the stories, you make the headlines. I don’t have to play your game, mate. I'm not going to continually have to get up and defend myself.
"I went through this rubbish at Brisbane for 12 months there. They kept telling me I had a job there and they sacked me.
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"I've got lots of ambitions still and they'll play out in time. But I don't plan to tell you or anybody else what they are. It's my life, my decisions, and when I'm ready to talk about it, I will.
"I'm not ready to talk about it yet. You keep asking the same questions. Just let me do my job here. You interfered when I was at the Broncos hugely and the same thing's happened here."
The seven-time premiership winner said the South Sydney players "don't need to be told, they know I'm not going anywhere".
"Nothing's been driven from the club, it's all been driven by you guys from the outside that don't know what you're talking about," he said.
Asked if someone had approached other clubs on his behalf, Bennett responded: "I don't have management. I'm an old man, I don't need someone to hold my hand for me.
"How many times do I have to put it to bed? I don't start it and it does my head in mate. If I'm going to change clubs I'll let you all know about it. That's not happening. I don't intend it to happen."
The eighth-placed Rabbitohs are shooting for three straight wins when they face the high-flying Panthers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
James Roberts has been named on South Sydney's bench for his first match since round two.
The former NSW centre had a stint in a wellbeing clinic during the COVID-19 shutdown period and has been recovering his fitness.
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Bennett on Wednesday "gave Roberts a wrap coming off the training field - he looks like the Jet again".
"I've got to get him back playing football," Bennett said.
"I'm really happy with what Campbell [Graham] has been doing and what Braidon [Burns] has been doing [in the centres].
"I want Jimmy to earn his spot back in the team as well. It will be more valuable to him. We'll utilise him tomorrow night - I don't know when and where - but an opportunity will come.
"Hopefully he'll show us what he really has. We know what he can bring but I need him to show it on the field, week after week."