NRL 2020: Wayne Bennett welcome back at Brisbane Broncos, chairman Karl Morris says
Wayne Bennett broke his silence to address rumours linking him with an incredible return to the Broncos. He’s done little but fan the flame.
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Wayne Bennett has spoken of his “pain” at the collapse of the Broncos empire and has not ruled out a return to Red Hill to help rebuild the glamour club following the demise of Anthony Seibold.
As he prepares for Thursday night’s clash against the Tigers, Bennett broke his silence to address speculation he could quit Souths 12 months early to embark on a rescue mission at the Broncos as coaching director.
Broncos chairman Karl Morris revealed on Tuesday he held no grudge towards Bennett following their bitter bust-up two years ago, saying he would take any proposal for the super coach’s return to the Brisbane board for consideration.
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Bennett is contracted to Souths until the end of next year, but it is understood the Rabbitohs would not stand in his way if the coaching icon could secure a longer-term position at another club.
The 70-year-old would consider returning to the Broncos as a coaching director, either in 2021 or beyond pending his contractual commitments.
If Brisbane hire Kevin Walters as Seibold’s successor next season, Bennett believes he could be a sounding board for the Queensland Origin coach and take the pressure off him in what would be his maiden season as an NRL mentor.
Bennett is mindful of his role with South Sydney as they head into the finals, but in response to Morris’ revelations, the veteran coach said he could bury the hatchet with the Broncos bosses who sacked him two years ago.
“I’m humbled by the fact we might all be big enough to move on from where we were two years ago,” he said.
“I am happy at Souths, it’s a wonderful club and I’ve enjoyed my time here.
“Things with the Broncos are speculative at this stage. Right now, I’m happy where I am and I enjoy coaching the team at South Sydney.”
The man who has delivered all six of Brisbane’s premierships admits he has been deeply saddened by the Broncos’ slide into the NRL cellar.
“I have felt the Broncos’ pain because of my 25 years there and my great love for the club,” he said.
“I value the wonderful men and women that I worked with at the Broncos for a long period of time, whether it was players or staff.
“We all made a contribution to that club in our time there, not just me.
“Many directors were outstanding to work with.
“I appreciate what has been said about me (from Morris), but I’ll get on with my job at South Sydney and see what happens.”
Broncos chairman Morris told News Corp Brisbane hierarchy will take a “holistic” view of their search for a new coach. That entails the Broncos providing more support for Seibold’s successor with a solid team of assistant coaches next season.
Bennett said Walters, his assistant when Brisbane made the 2015 grand final, should have the right to choose his own staff if given his big break by the Broncos.
“I would suggest the club stay out of that (choosing a coaching team),” Bennett said.
“They haven’t got a great history of getting that right.
“We are all judged on our performances and our performances are at our best when we have good people around us, whether it’s coaching staff or players and I believe Kevin knows what people he can work with.
“The club doesn’t know what he can work with and what he can’t. He shouldn’t accept a position if they want to tell him who is on his coaching staff.”
Bennett was tight-lipped about suggestions he could return as Queensland Origin coach next year if Walters walks away from the Maroons to take charge of the Broncos.
“I’m not interested while Kevin has the (Queensland) job. I don’t want Kevin’s job,” he said.
“If that changes, we’ll see what happens. I haven’t sought Kevin’s job, he is the Queensland coach and as long as he is in that job, I’m not interested.
“It (talk of him coaching Queensland) hasn’t come from my end.”
Broncos open to master coach returning
Brisbane chairman Karl Morris has opened the door for Wayne Bennett to make a triumphant return to the Broncos – two years after the pair fell out during Red Hill‘s bitter civil war.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the prospect of a third Bennett reign at Brisbane is on the table with Morris saying the Broncos board will consider an application for the 70-year-old to return as a coaching director.
As revealed by The Courier-Mail a fortnight ago, Bennett has not ruled out a comeback to the Broncos, with the super coach open to the notion of taking on an overseer’s role to head up Brisbane’s football program next season.
There was a sentiment Bennett had burned his bridges with Broncos bosses for life following the toxic upheaval that led to his sacking in 2018 as part of a coaching swap with Anthony Seibold.
But as the Broncos launch a search for Seibold‘s successor, Morris revealed he has no lingering bad blood with Bennett and would not oppose the return of the foundation coach who delivered all six of Brisbane’s premierships.
“If the board decided they wanted Wayne back, it would be considered,” Morris said.
“Look, if there was a serious proposal put forward for Wayne Bennett to come back to the Broncos, I will put it to the board.
“At the end of the day, I don’t hold grudges.
“My job as chairman is to do the best thing by the Broncos first and foremost. The board is there to provide governance on what is in the best interests of the Broncos and we view matters through that lens.
“For me personalities are taken out. It‘s what’s in the best interests of the club moving forward.”
Bennett is off-contract at Souths coach at the end of next year, but the Rabbitohs would not stand in the way of the veteran mentor leaving 12 months earlier if he could secure longer-term employment elsewhere.
Ironically, it was Morris who offered Bennett a high-powered role at the Broncos in July 2018 before negotiations turned sour.
In a personal letter to Bennett, Morris outlined his plan for an “elegant transition” from coaching to administration and the chairman even offered for the seven-time premiership winner to define any new job.
At the time, Bennett was determined to be a head coach, but under his own succession plan, he was due to stand down as Broncos coach for the 2021 season.
Despite his painful exit from Red Hill, Bennett still cares about the Broncos and believes he could restore the club‘s glory days driving team culture. If the Broncos appoint Kevin Walters as head coach next season, Bennett could be a valuable sounding board for his former assistant.
Morris said Bennett returning for a third time had some obstacles, but confirmed he suggested a senior administrative position two years ago.
“To be honest, we had offered Wayne this sort of role (coaching directorship),” he said.
“I gave him a letter offering him a role at the club beyond coaching.
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“We will have a new CEO and a new coach in the coming months and they will also have a mature view of what they want on board.
“The Broncos are about progress. Naturally I would find it difficult for Wayne to come back because it would be his third stint at the club, but it‘s not for me alone to rule anyone out.”
Former Broncos skipper Justin Hodges has urged the club to bring Bennett home.
“I would love to see Wayne come back,” he said.
“To get the glory days back, I think Wayne is the perfect coaching director. He knows the culture of the club better than anyone.
“Having Wayne back will give the Broncos that authority again.
“He is the master of keeping players and making them happy.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Wayne Bennett welcome back at Brisbane Broncos, chairman Karl Morris says