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There are no winners in the NRL coach shuffle

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Roar Pro
3rd December, 2018
15

The inevitable has happened: Wayne Bennett has come to Rabbit land and Anthony Seibold has rejoined the Broncos for 2019. Thus ends the most unedifying will-he-won’t-he episode in NRL coach history.

Okay, the good news: Both teams have a signed a great coach. But the bad news is that they each had one already, and so there are really no winners from this sorry affair.

Both clubs have been in suspended animation since all this started. The most important thing for the players and their futures is to know who will coach them. Until now they didn’t. It may not make a difference to their achievements in 2019, but it certainly couldn’t help.

We talk about players signing contracts and walking out on their clubs – terrible, not in my day – but now their mentors and advisers are doing the same thing. Great example, hey?

To be fair, Bennett didn’t walk out; he was told that he wasn’t wanted after next year. He got offended and in his most truculent manner replied that he’s going nowhere. But then he started making contact with Souths players and officials – that is, he was saying one thing and doing another.

It was clear even to blind Freddy that he wanted the Broncos to pay out his contract for 2019 or he would stay and stuff up the whole deal.

Bad look, Wayne.

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In the meantime Seibold had entered into an arrangement with Brisbane, probably breaching his contract with Souths. Why? More money, a better team and a better future? We just don’t know.

Worse look, Anthony.

It must also be said, though, that the officials of both clubs can’t escape criticism for breaching their contracts with their coaches in the search of a better team.

What will happen next? Bennett will come to Sydney as the Souths’ saviour and probably sue the Broncos – great, another newsworthy court case to while away our interest next year.

Seibold and Bennett will go to their respective new teams to try to work their magic. It may work, but I can’t help but think it has all been a complete waste of time and energy and is an example of greed in action.

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