Biggest sport feuds of 2022: Wayne Bennett and Ben Ikin bury hatchet; journos in firing line
While Wayne Bennett buried the hatchet with Broncos boss and son-in-law, Ben Ikin, the super coach ended Queensland’s greatest romance. See who won’t be exchanging Christmas cards this year.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Many will wonder why old supercoach Wayne Bennett and his son-in-law Ben Ikin have not made the Christmas card list after several years without talking to each other.
We can reveal the pair are now on speaking terms. They kissed an made up on the quiet mid-year. A lovely story going into Christmas.
The pair do find themselves on opposite sides of a different battle in Brisbane this year. Ikin is the head of football of the Broncos, while Bennett makes his return to the NRL coaching ranks with the Dolphins following a year out of the game.
And fans don’t have long to wait. The first battle of Brisbane takes place at Suncorp Stadium in Round 4, Friday March 24 in what’s sure to be a sell-out clash.
While all is calm and bright for Ikin and Bennett, the same can’t be said for the following people, whose feuds will stretch into the holiday period and beyond, with some showing signs of never ending.
Those who won’t exchange Christmas cards
Paul Kent and Anthony Maroon
Maroon walked out on, and then ultimately quit, Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin show after an on-air blow-up with co-hosts James Hooper, Gorden Tallis and The Daily Telegraph’s own Paul Kent. It came after some banter aimed at Maroon about him taking cash jobs to avoid paying tax. Kent then quit the show after refusing to apologise.
Ricky Stuart and Jaeman Salmon
The Canberra coach absolutely savaged Penrith’s fill-in five-eighth in an extraordinary post-game spray after Salmon appeared to kick out with his boot at Canberra hooker Tom Starling. It emerged Stuart’s anger stemmed from an incident dating back almost a decade, and resulted with Stuart being suspended for one game and fined $25,000 for calling Salmon a “weak-gutted dog”.
Justin Langer and Pat Cummins
The former national coach and Test captain may have cleared the air over Langer’s explosive podcast comments in December following his sacking in February, but don’t expect things to be any more cordial between the pair.
Tim Sheens and Michael Maguire
No surprise here. Maguire’s fate largely rested in the hands of head of football Tim Sheens, who was charged with making a recommendation on the club’s coaching direction. Maguire was sacked in June and Sheens then took his job, as part of the Benji Marshall succession plan.
Peter V’landys and Blake Solly
The NRL’s previous CBA expired on October 31 and the governing body and clubs still haven’t agreed on a new one as negotiations drag on. Safe to say the relationship between V’landys and Solly will be worse off once all is said and done.
Robbie Slater and Mark Bosnich
The former close friends and colleagues have spectacularly fallen out, with their differing views on Socceroos coach Graham Arnold and their pursuit for qualification for this year’s World Cup, a large part of it. This one has been especially sad to watch.
Payne Haas and Gavin and Chris Orr
The pair sued each other and traded claims and counter claims in court in what was a disruptive period for the star Broncos prop
Payne Haas and Albert Kelly
The Broncos were rocked by another off-field scandal in April with club bosses investigating an alleged drunken incident that threatened to explode when Brisbane five-eighth Albert Kelly stepped on the clean, white shoes of star prop Payne Haas. Yes, you read that correctly. Haas and Kelly were each suspended for a game and fined $10,000 and $5000 respectively.
Dennis ‘Bullfrog’ Ritchie and Andre Ponga
After 35 years of covering rugby league, the great Dean “Bulldog” Ritchie got a new nickname, courtesy of Kalyn Ponga’s father, Andre, who referred to him as “Dennis ‘Bullfrog’ Ritchie” at a Knights presser in April following the Dog’s coverage of Kalyn’s contract saga.
Brent Read and Hayden Knowles
The long-time NRL trainer wasn’t a fan of Read’s coverage of his on-field clash with then Newcastle prop David Klemmer back in August.
Ray Hadley and Tony Mestrov
Mestrov, the recently appointed Manly CEO, found himself in Hadley’s sights after he oversaw the departures of coach Des Hasler and head of pathways Kristie Fulton, the daughter of Hadley’s long-time close friend, the late Bob Fulton.
George Kambosos Jr and Ben Damon
The Aussie fighter and the public face of Main Event’s pay-per-view television boxing coverage had an ugly fallout that made things very awkward in 2022.
Ray Hadley and Brad Arthur
The veteran broadcaster never holds back, and has been vocal in his criticism of the Eels coach, who defied the critics to take Parramatta to the 2022 grand final. Who knows where the feud began. Hadley would only offer a “no comment” when approached, while Arthur fired back without naming the shock jock, declaring “someone’s got an agenda but they’re not going to break this group. Even a chance grand final week encounter wasn’t enough to ease the tensions.
Des Hasler and Scott Penn
The Manly owner brought Hasler back to save the club, only to sack him earlier this year. Hasler is going for the jugular, with his lawyer firing off a legal letter to Manly demanding the embattled club compensate his client $1 million in damages. This could get ugly.
Wayne Bennett and Cameron Munster
The supercoach launched a stinging attack on Munster after the Queensland Origin star rejected an NRL record $1.4 million-a-season offer from the Dolphins to remain at the Storm. Bennett described not getting a call from Munster “pretty ordinary stuff” and urged him to “be a man”. Mark down May 20 in your diaries for the first Dolphins v Storm clash.
Brad Fittler and Josh Addo-Carr
Freddy axed the Fox from this year’s Origin series, which the Blues again lost as favourites, saying “I’ve been in contact with Fox, we are both aware of the situation and we are cool … well, I think we are.” Addo-Carr responded by being the Kangaroos’ best player at the Rugby League World Cup. When asked recently should he have picked him, Fittler said, “Origin was 5 months ago and Origin 2023 is seven months away.”
Nick Politis and Scott Barlow
The bitter dispute between two of Sydney’s wealthiest and most powerful sporting officials erupted over a $150 Bunnings tarpaulin covering up the “home of the Sydney Roosters” sign at the new Allianz Stadium. The Roosters paid $12.5 million to build their own centre of excellence and football offices at the venue, and have their sign adorn the side of the stadium. Recent attempts to quell the feud have failed.
Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams
Bad blood between the pair has become personal and the ongoing animosity is likely to require intervention from Channel 9 executives, after Gallen retired from boxing following victory over Justin Hodges in his final bout. They will now meet in the commentary box, rather than the boxing ring.
Richard and Michael Freedman
They were training partners before an ugly split earlier this year. Now the brothers from one of Australia’s most famous racing families are no longer on speaking terms.
Andrew Abdo and Clint Newton
It’s the pay war that threatens to tear apart the game. The NRL says it’s the biggest wage deal in history, the players disagree. Both say they have the game’s interests at heart. And these two men are at the forefront.
Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett
It’s a rugby league rivalry 36 years in the making and it resumes when Bennett rejoins the NRL coaching ranks with the Dolphins next season. 2023 could be Bellamy’s final year as a head coach, so we should enjoy this show while it last.
Greg Alexander and Cameron Smith
This one came out of nowhere when an explosive radio war between the league legends broke out following Brandy’s accusations Melbourne Storm pioneered all of the NRL’s controversial tackles.
Peter Moody and Blaike McDougall
Champion trainer Moody apologised for derogatory comments made about McDougall in a leaked audio message to the owners of the horse Amalgamation. The jockey said he was keen to move on from the saga, but there will certainly be no love lost.
Greg Norman and Rory McIlroy
McIlroy said Norman would have to go if there is any chance of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf coming to the table and ending their acrimonious battle. Norman said LIV critics like McIlroy and Tiger Woods “should be thanking LIV” for being the catalysts of prizemoney increases. Pass the popcorn.
Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas accused Aussie Nick of being a bully and possessing an “evil side” after they clashed on the court during Kyrgios’s victory at Wimbledon. Interestingly, the pair’s rollercoaster relationship took another turn, teaming up for a double event in December.
James Graham and Peter FitzSimons
The NRL great was left “astonished” by newspaper columnist FitzSimons’s decision to use an event to support athletes and families suffering the aftershocks of concussion to instead repeatedly challenge the ex-St George player over his evolving views.
Your columnist and Michael Clarke
The former Test captain and I have repeatedly butted heads on our regular segment together on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast Show on Monday mornings. The latest instalment came when Pup revealed he wouldn’t have attended the prestigious Allan Border Medal night if he was given the option.
Sports star of the year
Ash Barty becomes the first Aussie woman to win the Australian Open singles women’s title in 44 years, downing American Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 – and promptly retires from tennis. What a champion.
Male team of the year
Graham Arnold’s Socceroos make it to the last 16 at the World Cup for only the second time, rallying the nation like no other sporting team has for years. To beat Tunisia and Denmark after a first-up loss to France shows Aussie grit at its best. Argentina ended our tournament with a 2-1 victory.
Female team of the year
The mighty Jillaroos winning rugby league’s World Cup final, destroying New Zealand, 54-4, at Old Trafford.
Gold rush
Our wonderful swimmers brought home 65 medals – 25 gold, 21 silver and 19 bronze – from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
International moment of the year
The stunning breakaway goal by Mathew Leckie to beat Denmark and book our place in the World Cup knockout stages will live in history as one of our great sporting moments.
Local moment of the year
Lance Franklin kicks his 1000th goal against Geelong at the SCG, leading fans to storm the ground and delay the game for 30 minutes. He finishes the year in fifth place on the AFL all-time goal kicking list (1047 goals).
We will never forget them
It is a heartbreaking year for Australian cricket and Australian sport as we lose legends Rod Marsh, Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds in the space of two months. It’s still hard to comprehend.
A heavy heart
Paul Green’s loss rocks the rugby league world. He was a classy player and great character, and will always be remembered for coaching the Cowboys to their first premiership in 2015. Champion bloke.
Pot, kettle, black
Tigers skipper James Tamou is sent off for telling referee Ben Cummins “you are f---ing incompetent”. The Tigers lose the match 72-6 to the Roosters at the SCG, so we wonder what he says to his own players.
Collective arguing
Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo fall out with the players and the clubs in a furious row over the salary cap and club funding. It broke friendships that may never be repaired.
Magnificent Mal
How anyone can bring together players who disliked each other so intensely from the Roosters and the Rabbitohs and the Maroons and the Blues to win the World Cup is great rugby league coaching. Kudos, Mal Meninga.
Best comeback
Winger Josh Addo-Carr, snubbed by Freddy and Brandy for the Blues’ Origin team, has a sensational World Cup. The Fox was the Kangaroos’ best player on tour.
We fight them on the beaches
Steph Gilmore wins her eighth world surfing title in California, surpassing Layne Beachley’s record and putting our surfers back on top of the world.
On the prowl
The Penrith Panthers cement their legacy with back-to-back premierships. Dylan Edwards is supreme in the grand final against arch-rivals Parramatta.
Solo try of the year
NSW fullback Jada Taylor burns Queensland in the Under-19s women’s Origin game, scoring a 109-metre classic at Leichhardt Oval.
Coach killer
Tyson Gamble declares Adam Reynolds the mastermind at the Broncos, not coach Kevin Walters, as they fall in a heap to miss the finals. Gamble’s end-of-season report card: “Needs to work on his support play”.
No shows
In a shocking snub, only three players turn up to St George Illawarra’s presentation night.
Blue Cheese
Storm forward Brandon Smith is sin-binned for calling referee Adam Gee a “cheating bastard” in the Storm’s loss to the Sharks.
Where there’s smoke, there’s ire
Gold Coast Titans sack captain Kevin Proctor after he is caught vaping during a game against the Bulldogs.
Chunder Down Under
Garth Tander is left to carry the can in a live TV interview after main driver Shane van Gisbergen exits stage left to vomit after a night celebrating their Bathurst 1000 win.
Swan dive
Oh dear. Sydney Swans are destroyed by Geelong, going down by 81 points in the GF.
Strokes of genius
Alyssa Healy breaks the record for top score in a cricket World Cup final – man or woman – smashing 170 versus England off 138 balls. Follows her 129 in the semi against the West Indies.
Homecoming king
Opening batsman Usman Khawaja returns to the country of his birth, scoring 97, 160, 91 and 104 in the three-Test series against Pakistan.
Soft-shoe scuffle
Broncos pair Payne Haas and Albert Kelly have a stoush outside the team hotel after a win against the Bulldogs. A tired and emotional Kelly decides it’s a good idea to dirty up Payne’s shiny new shoes.
Eyes on the tries
It’s a historic year for Rabbitohs flyer Alex Johnston, who becomes the first man to score 30-plus tries in consecutive seasons and breaks Nathan Merritt’s all-time mark for the foundation club.
Royal flush
Newcastle’s $5 million man Kalyn Ponga and teammate Kurt Mann are caught in a cubicle at a local pub. They escape sanction, but eyebrows were certainly raised about what’s happening at the Knights.
Play of the year
Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi throws a pass from what seems like the first row of Suncorp Stadium for Scott Drinkwater to score against Wests Tigers. He was being driven metres touch in-goal by Jackson Hastings and is about to hit the ground but flung the ball back in play. Did we mention it was Magic Round?
Advantage ScoMo
Then PM Scott Morrison aces Novak Djokovic, who has his visa cancelled and is deported before the Australian Open over the Covid vaccine.
Game, set and match
Djokovic gets his revenge on Australia when he ends Nick Kyrgios’ fairytale run at the Wimbledon final, the Serb winning 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6.
Gould-plated guarantee
Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould declares Trent Barrett will be the Dogs coach long after he’s left Belmore … two weeks later, Barrett quits – or is sacked.
Heir of the Dog
Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo signs a five-year deal to take over as Bulldogs head coach. Cue the five-year plan, Gus.
Ashes to Ashes
Not even a stunning Test series victory against the Poms is enough to save cricket coach Justin Langer, who exits after rumours persist that he is too intense.
Greek Tragedy in two parts
Our Spartan warrior George Kambosos Jr loses his world lightweight title to American Devin Haney and comes up short in the rematch.
All class
Jai Opetaia inflicts only the second defeat on superstar Mairis Briedis to win the IBF cruiserweight title. He did it after breaking his jaw in the second round and continuing to absorb huge punches from the Latvian.
All ass
A magistrate delivers a straight right to Opetaia after he is aggressive towards police and urinates in his cell following his arrest for refusing to leave Darling Harbour following a run-in with security.
The ex-files
A mid-season review results in premiership-winning coach Michael Maguire getting dumped by the Tigers.
Old fellas
Tigers delve into the past to find their future, bringing back 72-year-old Tim Sheens as coach and Benji Marshall as his apprentice.
Best in snow
Jakara Anthony becomes the sixth Aussie to win a Winter Olympic gold medal after her stunning victory in the women’s moguls.
Red handed
Blues squad member Victor Radley is caught simulating a lewd act on teammate Joseph Suaalii in the NSW dressing room. New twist on Victor the Inflictor.
French tries
Former Eels flyer Bevan French sets the Super League record for most tries in game with seven meat pies for Wigan against Hull.
Pride before the fall
Manly players Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley refuse to wear the rainbow pride jersey and sit
out the round 20 game against the Roosters – they lose 20-10 and fail to win another game.
Edge of Destruction
Manly terminate coach Des Hasler – a club legend – at the end of the season, bringing in Anthony Seibold for 2023.
Raider Rage
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart stuns the NRL when he calls Penrith Panthers utility Jaeman Salmon “a weak-gutted dog” during his post-match press conference for kicking out at Canberra hooker Tom Starling.
Game – or shame – of the year
The extra-time final between the Cowboys and Sharks is a beauty, featuring brilliant attacking footy and a thrilling finish, with Valentine Holmes’ 45-metre field goal in golden point to seal a 32-30 win for North Queensland.
Shame of the year
The final between bitter rivals Souths and the Roosters is an embarrassment for rugby league, with a record seven sin-bins – Taane Milne twice. Souths win 30-14, despite being down to 11 men on two separate occasions.
Worst post-try celebration
Saints centre Zac Lomax jumps on Knights backrower Tyson Frizell after Jack Bird scores for the Dragons.
Time bandit
Wallabies find another way to lose a Bledisloe Test to the All Blacks. French referee Mathieu Raynal overturns a penalty to Australia because Bernard Foley is time wasting with Australia leading 37-34. The All Blacks get a scrum and Jordie Barrett scores for a heartbreaking 39-37 win.
Mic drop
The legend Ray ‘Rabbits’ Warren officially retires from commentary, ending 45 years as the voice of rugby league. He finishes with 45 grand final calls, 99 Origins and a million tales. Onya, Rabs.
Join the conversation
The need for speed: What it’s like to train with NRL’s fastest
Already one of the fastest men in the NRL, Dom Young knows he can move even faster. Watch the exclusive video as the Roosters flyer invites you into the training sessions to reveal how he trains for speed.
Read more
Dolphins scouting report: Best 17, breaking the ‘Bennett Curse’
The Dolphins head into their third season with a rookie NRL coach and one of rugby league’s most enduring hoodoos. TRAVIS MEYN answers the burning questions facing the club in 2025.
Read more