When the Broncos board sacked Wayne Bennett yesterday, it simply proved the 68-year-old coach had far too much grey matter in public perception, and wasn’t just the colour of his hair.
While Ivan Cleary broke his coaching contract with Wests-Tigers to sign with the Panthers, and Anthony Seibold prepared to do the same with Souths to go to the Broncos, Bennett was in the pole position.
He knew it, no-one else realised it.
By saying he was going to honour the last year of his Bronco contract before moving to Souths in a direct swap with Siebold in 2020, both clubs were in an immediate stand-off no-win position.
It wasn’t only the coaching job, it was the players from both clubs, their sponsors, and their fans, not knowing what 2019 would bring to the table.
Wayne Bennett was the only problem, but he had a legal contract on his side.
While everyone expected a direct swap for next season, Bennett stood firm.
The Broncos board fell into the Bennett trap by going MIA for the last month, leaving Bennett to cop all the public, and media flak – and he copped plenty.
Nothing new in that with the unsmiling, never had a drink, or a smoke, Bennett making his on-going clashes with the media legendary virtually from the start of his NRL coaching career as co-coach with Don Furner at the Raiders in 1987.
Bennett became the inaugural coach of the Broncos when the club entered the competition in 1988 to deliver six premierships until he left for the Dragons in 2009, where he produced another premiership.
Former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
From there to the Knights for three seasons before returning home to the Broncos in 2015, reaching his eighth grand final in a spine-tingling loss in extra time to the Cowboys.
All up 809 games for 502 wins, and a 62.05 per cent win rate – staggering stats.
I have always rated Bennett as the rugby league equivalent of the greatest Davis Cup captain of all-time Harry Hopman, better known as The Fox.
Bennett was the rugby league fox in the last month until Seibold blew up yesterday with a double-page spread in the Sunday Telegraph with a heading of “Wayne’s mayhem is now hurting my kids” that forced the Broncos board’s hand.
They had to come out of hiding to put some sanity into the coaching farce.
So the way is now clear for Anthony Seibold to coach the Broncos starting today, with Wayne Bennett moving to Souths.
But the Broncos board will have to pay out Bennett’s contract, so effectively he will be paid by both clubs in 2019.
Which proves Wayne James Bennett is a cagey old bugger who will make the Rabbits run well in 2019.
Daz
Roar Rookie
The media reports about broncos statement.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I was thinking along the same lines myself. Manly had a lot of trouble a few years back when some players started to think that they were bigger than the club because they had done so well. Looking after their mates was more important to them than the clubs future. These players and Wayne are employees of the club and are sticking their hand out for a huge amount of money whether they succeed or not. A bit of respect for the club , players and supporters wouldn't be too much too ask.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
For the second half of his career he has seen what it's like to coach teams which aren't full of the best players. Almost winning the GF , making the eight but getting flogged sometimes, being one win away from the GF , running at just over 40% at a club, taking an international team to the finals and having an honorable loss. Mixed in with that is a GF win with the Saints.
Larry1950
Guest
Have to give wayne credit for wins when he gets in the big dance but he probably should have done better with that gun bronco side around 2000plus his dragons premiership came in the season melbourne couldn't play for points and they flogged the dragons that year. His kick & defend a lead tactics also lost them the 2015 GF when they looked capable of scoring more tries with bit of risk. That one got away because they shut up shop.
Larry1950
Guest
Not sure which circles you mix in David, but as a local bronco follower the majority of opinions expressed to me have been that supporters are happy with the outcome & Wayne has burned a fair bit of residual good will up here. Set himself up as bigger than the club but came unstuck by double dealing. Seibold presents as a genuine person with a great regard for his junior club who worked at his trade at many clubs to earn the coaching role he desired at his preferred club. Players who worked with him during successful origin series held him in high regard & he'll be good for the young squad.
Big Daddy
Guest
In a couple of weeks everyone will have forgotten all about it. Not so long ago Ivan cleary was having dinner with Penrith board member , but it was only about real estate and he wasn't leaving tigers. Everyone thinks the supporters and fans are stupid. In a few weeks we will have something else to talk about. No wonder they call it the silly season.
Over here
Roar Rookie
and what about broncos talk earlier this year of trying to sign coach X or Y or Z for 2020 season? you don't think this got bennett thinking about his future? this was broncos talk, not Bennett. remember they came out and said they had bennetts permission to talk with bellyache. and this bellyache talk was for 2019 season, not 2020
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
The big issue has been missed. Will Siebold have to tuck Baby Darius into bed each night & read him a story?
Birdy
Guest
Wow ,the plot thickens. I wasn't aware names were mentioned.
Don
Roar Rookie
There’ll be all sorts of scuttlebut put out there by uninformed sources based largely on speculation. Danny Weidler is likely to make out like he has the good oil and then hope something comes out that is remotely similar to what he’s already reported. But I suspect we won’t hear much from the people who know because of the involvement of News Corp. They’ll instruct their troops to leave the financial details out of any reports.
scoop
Roar Rookie
Alex Johston wasn't part of the England quad nor was Damian Cook.
Don Aprile
Roar Rookie
Don't think it will be stuffed with $50 bills.
Birdy
Guest
But are those bunnies part of the England squad. If so it's just another media blow up.
zim
Guest
Imagine screwing yourself out of close to a million dollars and still having people believe you came out on top. Hilarious.
Marcus
Guest
Yep, pretty much agree Daz. With a job in 2019, even if Bennett's contract was terminated without relying on a breach, Bennett's loss is mitigated by the payments he will receive from his new employer. There may well be some legal wrangling to negotiate a settlement now for a much lower sum, but he won't be getting "paid by both clubs in 2019". Cmon Lordy, I shudder to think what you may have done in the athlete management world if this indicates your understanding of (very) basic contract law.
P Air
Guest
Souths are the big loser in this deal.
Jacko
Guest
Wrong Christo...His contact with Souths players was done all under the guise of him already being signed for 2020 and it was to stop Semibold taking some of those same players with him in 2020 to the Bronco's...Bennet has been very clever and will get paid out his 2019 contract
souvalis
Roar Rookie
It’s in the e mail written by Seibold,who was informed by Richardson...and sent on to Solly..
Arcturus
Roar Rookie
There is a minority view that when he left, he left St George in a hole particularly with respect to juniors development. Whatever truth there may be in that, it is swamped by the achievement of a premiership. Must say the latest shenanigans don't paint Bennett in a good light.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I'm not sure what you mean, NRL.com have been covering the story