Opinion: Broncos barbecue revelations the final straw in club saga

THE revelation that coach Wayne Bennett and captain Darius Boyd refused to attend an annual team luncheon hosted by CEO Paul White is the final straw in a terribly sad and sorry saga for the proud club, writes Peter Badel.

Coach Wayne Bennett and Darius Boyd were both absent from the CEO’s barbecue. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

WHAT a mess. What a disgrace.

Revelations that coach Wayne Bennett and captain Darius Boyd refused to attend an annual team luncheon hosted by CEO Paul White is the final straw in a terribly sad and sorry saga for the proud club.

The Broncos are built on mateship, loyalty and tight bonds. Their famous motto is: “We are only as strong as our weakest”.

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Today, their leaders should be embarrassed.

Weak leadership is bringing down the Broncos.

The time has come for ­action.

Brisbane’s players, fighting to stay in the finals race against Souths tomorrow night, need clarity and certainty, and can do without the political mess of Bennett’s grim future at the Broncos.

Chief executive White and chairman Karl Morris’ handling of Bennett’s succession plan has been pathetic, but the reality is only one faction can survive this public-relations disaster and it won’t be the coach.

Bennett is a dead man walking at Red Hill.

The coach suspects he won’t be at Red Hill in 2020, so White and Morris should act now and make a definitive call on Bennett for the sake of the entire club.

They should also confront Boyd. As Broncos skipper, he has responsibilities. His no-show at a goodwill function is a damning message to his teammates and Brisbane fans.

Can you imagine the great Darren Lockyer thumbing his nose at Brisbane hierarchy by snubbing a team function?

It wouldn’t happen.

After delivering six premierships, Bennett deserved to exit on his terms.

But now, in Wayne’s World, it will only end in tears.