Wayne Bennett-Anthony Seibold swap finally confirmed

Wayne Bennett’s 25-year association with the Broncos ended after the seven-time NRL premiership coach was sacked by voicemail, ending the most tumultuous period in the club’s history.

Wayne Bennett is on his way to Redfern.

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Wayne Bennett’s 25-year association with the Broncos ended after the seven-time NRL premiership coach was sacked by voicemail, ending the most tumultuous period in the club’s history.

Bennett, the mastermind behind Brisbane’s six premierships, has coached his 631st and final game for the Broncos and will swap jobs with South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold immediately. Seibold, 44, will take charge of Broncos training at Red Hill on Monday.

Bennett, 68, will not receive the $1 million salary he was set to earn in 2019 and it is understood he is not planning to pursue legal action against the Broncos. The Broncos believe Bennett breached his contract in dealings with South Sydney, giving them grounds to sack him without a full payout.

Chief executive Paul White could not reach Bennett, prompting the Broncos boss to sack him by voicemail and email.

The Courier-Mail photographed Bennett lunching in South Bank as his axing was made public.

Wayne Bennett pictured having lunch on the day of his axing.

Wayne Bennett, seen Sunday having lunch at South Bank, will now link up with the Rabbitohs.

Bennett was Brisbane’s foundation coach in 1988 and grew to become arguably the game’s greatest mentor. He resisted the moves of Broncos powerbrokers to transition him into an administrative role, insisting he wasn’t ready to give up coaching.

Bennett signed with South Sydney from 2020 after the Broncos poached Seibold, prompting the clubs to try to broker an immediate swap. The deal was expected to be ­finalised last Friday before Bennett sensationally backflipped at the 11th hour, blindsiding White and Broncos chairman Karl Morris by declaring he wanted to remain at Brisbane.

Bennett’s tenure at the Broncos became untenable on Sunday after Seibold alleged in a Sunday Mail exclusive that Bennett had been planning South Sydney’s 2019 season while contracted to Brisbane.

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“Due to the events of recent weeks, some of which have been made public, and others which shall not be, Wayne Bennett is now not the best person to lead our club as coach,” White said.

“Once Wayne had accepted the role at South Sydney, there was a possibility, some would say a common-sense solution, that this (swap) may happen. We expected that to happen on Friday.

Brisbane Broncos CEO Paul White speaks to the media after the sacking of Wayne Bennett.

“We were unaware Wayne was going to attend training that day.

“We were certainly unaware there was going to be a press conference held that day, where it would be held or what the details were.

“Our game is based on teamwork and we were certainly disappointed with the way that played out.

“Wayne reinforced he wanted to be with us in 2019. We took some time to consider our total position and on that basis arrived at the decision we have now. We no longer had faith we could give ourselves the best chance of performing in 2019 if we continued along the path we were.”

Anthony Seibold will leave the Rabbitohs a year early. Picture: Brett Costello

Bennett coached the Broncos to 402 wins, seven grand final appearances and six premierships. He left the Broncos in 2009 to spend six years at St George Illawarra and Newcastle before returning in 2015 and immediately piloting Brisbane to a heartbreaking grand final loss against North Queensland.

White and Morris rejected Bennett’s proposal for him to end his coaching career at the club in 2020, prompting an ugly falling out which escalated over six months.

“It was unfortunate the relationship between Wayne Bennett and this club came to this,” White said.

“We always held Wayne in the highest regard. We wanted Wayne to be a long-term figure at this club following the 2019 season. We offered him a long-term deal to remain with us. The relationship between the Broncos and Wayne has changed to the point it is no longer workable.

“I made multiple phone calls and unfortunately I had to communicate the decision over voice message and email. You might ask was that disappointing? Yes it was. But such was the nature of this whole issue, it was important we had it resolved, particularly before the players return (to training).”

Wayne Bennett is on his way to Redfern.

Bennett was defiant to the end, returning The Courier-Mail’s calls at 12.08pm on Sunday, two hours before he was sacked, to respond to Seibold’s allegations.

In a statement later issued by the Rabbitohs, Bennett declared he couldn’t wait to join South Sydney. “I’m really pleased it’s all resolved and that I can join this great club with a free mind, knowing I did the right thing by the fans, staff and players,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to being at South Sydney and working with the players, staff, board and all of the members. It’s a wonderful club, South Sydney, and I feel privileged to have the chance to coach this team.”

Bennett will join his new club in the coming days, setting up a dramatic clash between the Broncos and Rabbitohs in Sydney on May 2.

Despite months of turbulence amid the most toxic coaching saga in Brisbane’s 30-year history, Bennett did not see his sacking coming.

Incredibly, he learnt of his termination via social media.

Convinced there would be no bombshell developments yesterday, Bennett left his mobile phone at home as he headed to Southbank to spend the day with his disabled son Justin.

Wayne Bennett with family prior to his axing.

While Bennett was lunching with his family, his phone went unanswered as Brisbane chief executive Paul White — whom he has known for 34 years — made several attempts to ring the super coach, finally leaving a voice message.

Bennett arrived home around 4pm — still unaware of his sacking and an impending press conference involving White and chairman Karl Morris to publicly announce his departure.

Upon walking in the door, Bennett’s partner, Dale Cage, checked social media and informed the 68-year-old of breaking news reports of his sacking.

By 6pm, Bennett was in pyjamas and in a deflated but pragmatic mood, admitting on Friday there was a possibility he could be sacked after he called a press conference to declare he was staying at Red Hill.

After six months of explosive claims and counter-claims, Bennett will leave quietly. He will not take legal action against the Broncos, determined to close the door on a bitter final chapter to focus on what shapes as his final NRL contract with the Rabbitohs.

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Originally published as Wayne Bennett-Anthony Seibold swap finally confirmed