Wayne Bennett v Broncos: Brisbane board member breaks silence on coach’s 2018 sacking

A Broncos board member has broken his silence on one of the most explosive episodes in the club’s decorated 33-year history.

Russell Crowe says Wayne Bennett ‘is as complete a South Sydney man as you’ll find.’

Brisbane board member Tony Joseph insists there is no bad blood with Wayne Bennett and says he would relish the sight of the super coach taking South Sydney to premiership glory this Sunday night.

Bennett was sensationally sacked by the Broncos in 2018 and he re-ignited his feud with the club on Friday night, accusing Brisbane hierarchy of “doing a job on me” by “undermining” him in contract negotiations with South Sydney.

Bennett’s controversial move from Red Hill to Redfern has been vindicated, with the seven-time premiership-coach having steered the Rabbitohs to a historic Queensland grand final against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium.

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In the lead-up to Bennett’s record 10th grand-final appearance this Sunday night, Joseph has broken his silence on one of the most explosive episodes in the Broncos’ decorated 33-year history.

While Bennett believes he was backstabbed by Broncos bosses, Joseph revealed he fought to keep the 71-year-old at Red Hill and says he hopes Brisbane’s foundation coach lifts the NRL trophy in his final game in charge of Souths.

“I have always thought Wayne was a wonderful coach,” Joseph said.

Wayne Bennett is having the last laugh after his bitter departure from Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

“I was really disappointed at the time when he left the Broncos.

“My disappointment wasn’t being heard at the time, Wayne was dealing with other people at the club.

“I’m really pleased he’s made the grand final. I think it’s fabulous.

“There will be no-one happier than myself to see him go all the way.

“I really mean that.”

Joseph, who played a key role in Bennett’s second coming at the Broncos from Newcastle in 2015, backed the NRL’s greatest coach to add an eighth premiership to his resume this Sunday night.

“I don’t think Souths are the outsiders because Wayne is such an extraordinary coach,” said Joseph, who will depart Brisbane’s board next month after a decade’s service.

“He is a very good man mentor and will have every one of those players playing the way he wants them to play on the night.

“You’ve seen how Cody Walker (Souths five-eighth) performed. Cody is a great footballer, but Wayne can get that little bit extra out of him. It’s the same with the young fullback (Blake Taaffe).

Wayne Bennett still doesn’t know why he was sacked by the Broncos. Picture: Tara Croser.

“That is Wayne as a mentor to every one of those players.

“When it comes to the grand final, Wayne will have his polish all over those kids. It will be a great grand final.

“I will be supporting Wayne and I hope he can win a grand final with that team.”

Former Souths football boss Shane Richardson, the man who brokered Bennett’s three-year contract with the club, says he ignored scathing criticisms of the veteran coach, adamant he could take the Rabbitohs to a decider.

His judgment has been vindicated.

“People were saying he was over the hill. People were saying he would forget things in meetings. I forget more stuff than Wayne does,” he said.

“There was all this talk about Wayne causing problems internally at Brisbane and the Broncos’ salary cap was a mess, as if it was all his fault.

Russell Crowe and Wayne Bennett have a strong relationship. Picture: Brett Costello

“Despite the concerns and criticisms of Wayne, I knew he would be the right fit and a great mentor for our emerging young players.

“Wayne Bennett has been a pleasure to deal with ... he is a huge reason why South Sydney are back in the grand final.”

Richardson says Bennett’s relationship with Souths co-owner Russell Crowe and the club board has been seamless.

“When Wayne got here, we said, ‘You just coach the team. You don’t have to worry about any infighting’,” he said.

“We have a strong board at Souths and whether he believed me or not, I don’t know, but he believes it now.

“He has been able to coach Souths the way he wants to coach.

“I knew Wayne still had it as a coach. He has turned Adam Reynolds (Souths captain) into a great leader.

“The Broncos should be thanking Wayne for what he has done for Adam because he will go to Brisbane next season as a great leader.

“For 18 months, I didn’t have one cross word with Wayne. Not one argument. He is very easy to handle. He is not high-maintenance at all.”

Contacted by News Corp 24 hours after Souths’ progression to this year’s grand final, Bennett maintained his stance, claiming he was never given an exact reason for his dismissal by the Broncos.

“I can’t tell you what Brisbane were really up to because they never told me anything to my face,” he said.

“All they ever told me was that they wanted me for 2019.

“I stayed true to my contract and what the deal was.

“To this day, I was never told by the board, the chairman or the CEO why I was let go.

“The Broncos must have the answers ... because they never gave me any answers.”

‘Thank you, Mr Bennett’: Special bond at heart of Souths

- Dean Ritchie

Having watched the wily old fox guide his famous club into another grand final, South Sydney co-owner and Hollywood star Russell Crowe labelled Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett as “incomparable.”

And despite Bennett having had just three seasons at Redfern, Crowe claimed the super coach was “as complete a South Sydney man as you’ll find.”

Crowe even referred to his head coach as “Mr. Bennett.”

Russell Crowe says Wayne Bennett ‘is as complete a South Sydney man as you’ll find.’

The extraordinary Bennett, 71, created history by reaching a record 10th grand final as head coach following Souths’ 36-16 win over Manly in Friday night’s preliminary final.

It will be a truly fairytale ending at Souths for Bennett – who will return to Brisbane next year - and departing halfback Adam Reynolds.

Bennett has become the only man in rugby league history to coach four clubs – Canberra, Brisbane, St George Illawarra and South Sydney - to grand finals.

And the first man to praise Bennett was Crowe, who is quarantining in Bangkok before starring in a Peter Farrelly film.

Crowe even compared Bennett with Rabbitohs legend Jack Rayner, who represented Souths, NSW and Australia in the 1940s and ‘50s, claiming the pair were “cut from the same cloth.”

Asked by News Corp to comment on Souths’ historic journey to the grand final, Crowe said: “I’m going to thank you for the opportunity to answer all these questions, however, instead of talking to me, I’d encourage you to focus on this group of players.

Wayne Bennett is moving back to Queensland after three years at Souths.

“Focus on what’s on the line for them personally and what they have achieved.

“Mr Bennett is a great man. I’m sure you already know that. As complete a South Sydney man as you’ll find.

“He’s incomparable in his method and achievements.

“I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to the great Jack Rayner a few times. They are cut from the same cloth.”

Crowe then proudly signed off with: “Cardinal and Myrtle.”

Souths chief executive Blake Solly revealed the depth of Crowe and Bennett’s relationship.

“Russell and Wayne’s relationship is built on a deep mutual respect,” Solly said.

The Rabbitohs are back in the grand final for the first time since 2014.

“Wayne has always talked about Russell’s passion for the Rabbitohs and how that feeds down throughout the club, its staff, coaches and players.

“And, likewise, Russell has a huge amount of affection for Wayne’s coaching and the stability he has brought to the club.

“For Russell to compare Wayne to a South Sydney great like Jack Rayner - who was respected by everyone he met – is a measure of that mutual respect.”

Like he did for the preliminary final, Crowe will view the NRL grand final next Sunday night from Thailand via the WatchNRL app.

“I will still be in quarantine circumstances,” Crowe said.

At his post-match press conference on Friday night, Bennett returned Crowe’s accolades.

Sunday will be the final Souths game for Bennett and Adam Reynolds.

Bennett accused former club Brisbane of “undermining” his negotiations with South Sydney three years ago, but the drama didn’t faze Crowe.

“To Souths’ credit there were some people there that had worked with me before and they were happy to bite the bullet and give me the opportunity,” Bennett said.

“I owe Russell Crowe and hopefully (a grand final) is some repayment in what the team has done that means so much to him.”

Bennett has now coached teams to grand finals in five consecutive decades.

Former premiership-winning coach Phil Gould took to Twitter to post: “Incredible effort by the long skinny coach Wayne Bennett. What a career. Now he has the Rabbits in the Big Show.”

Cross code star Karmichael Hunt simply posted a goat (Greatest Of All Time) emoji when discussing Bennett.

After former premiership-winning forward Martin Lang was succinct, simply saying: “Wayne Bennett is the master.”

Originally published as Wayne Bennett v Broncos: Brisbane board member breaks silence on coach’s 2018 sacking