Wayne Bennett COVID-19 breach: NRL orders Rabbitohs coach into isolation
The NRL has ordered Wayne Bennett into a 14-day “COVID hold” after he was sprung breaking the code’s beefed-up COVID rules preventing players, coaches and officials attending pubs and restaurants.
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Super coach Wayne Bennett has been banned from Friday night’s clash against the Broncos and sidelined for two weeks after breaching the NRL’s strict biosecurity rules.
The NRL has ordered Bennett and Dragons star Paul Vaughan into a 14-day “COVID hold” following separate incidents.
Bennett confirmed he had lunch on Wednesday at the popular Leichhardt Italian restaurant Grappa with a woman, believed to be his partner.
“We are living in extraordinary times and we must do everything in our power to ensure the health and safety of our players, staff and the general community,’’ NRL acting chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“This is a regrettable decision but today’s actions will operate as an important reminder to our players and staff about the importance of strict adherence to the protocols.”
Both Bennett and Vaughan must isolate from their squads for two weeks and then test negative to COVID-19 before returning.
A fresh twist in Bennett’s costly bite to eat has emerged with the revelation that NSW Health covid-19 inspectors spotted the supercoach seated at Grappa.
In charge of performing routine inspections of cafes and restaurants in the area and aware Bennett is bound by bubble restrictions, the two health officers were alarmed to see the Souths coach, making a point of questioning his presence to Grappa management.
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South Sydney coach Bennett was supposed to involved in Friday massive night’s grudge match against his old club the Brisbane Broncos and the man who replaced him — Anthony Seibold — but he has been sidelined.
That means Bennett’s assistant, Jason Demetriou, will take the reins, leaving the 70-year-old to watch the clash from his living room.
Bennett said Demetriou is up to the task of coaching the Rabbitohs if he receives formal notification from the NRL later today.
“Of course he is, he will be the head coach in 12 months, so he is ready for the moment,” Bennett said.
Making it even more embarrassing for the NRL is the fact that Bennett was on the Project Apollo committee that formulated the biosecurity laws for coaches, players and staff in the bubble.
A patron at the restaurant contacted News Corp to reveal Bennett was there.
Bennett said confusion over the code’s recent changes to COVID guidelines left him in breach of the protocols.
“I went to lunch at Grappa,” he said.
“There wasn’t many people there at all. I was isolated, I had something to eat there with my partner and we were away from everybody, we had lunch and I left.
“If it was a breach, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Asked if he had heard from the NRL, Bennett said: “No idea, I have come in from training, I heard some news reports but my hands are with the NRL and the people running the COVID quarantine.
“If that’s what has to happen (Bennett being ordered into 14 days of self-isolation), it’s their call.
“The rules have changed so many times and I didn’t think I was breaking rules. I wasn’t with a group. We were self-isolating.
“It has been hard to keep up with. You are looking at TV and news programs and people live in different parts of Syney and there is the border stuff. I have family in Queensland. We are totally confused about what we can and can’t do.
“I go shopping, I go to different places to get meals, it was just me and my partner, she was with me and on this occasion I went somewhere for lunch at lunchtime.”
Asked if he or NRL players regularly breaches the rules without realising it, he said: “Being candid with you, I’m sure we haven’t been perfect, but we do comply across the board. To think we are perfect, it wouldn’t be the fact.
“There have been other times (he has gone out), I don’t live in restaurants, I went (to Grappa yesterday) with someone I live with.
“I have gone to the kebab shop to get a kebab so we are getting a bit small-minded.
“I wouldn’t have done it if I thought I did something wrong.”
Canterbury front-rower Aiden Tolman was stood down for two weeks earlier in the season because one of his children attended a primary school where a teacher had tested positive.
Newcastle Knights star Bradman Best was stood down for a week after visiting his parents.
It is likely the NRL will force Bennett to undergo a test and spend two weeks in isolation.
It is a huge test for the NRL’s leadership because Bennett is extremely close to independent commission chairman V’landys.
Under the strict COVID-19 restrictions players, coaches or staff members inside the bubble are prohibited from public places including restaurants and cafes.
Bennett was in hot water with the NRL earlier in the season for failing to report an off-season incident when his five-eighth Cody Walker was involved in a street brawl at Casino.
The club was fined $10,000.
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Originally published as Wayne Bennett COVID-19 breach: NRL orders Rabbitohs coach into isolation