Sam Thaiday can see the lighter side of Mal Meninga’s feud with Wayne Bennett

AUSTRALIAN forward Sam Thaiday can’t see the problem with Mal Meninga giving stick to Wayne Bennett. Sam says he does it all the time.

Sam Thaiday and Wayne Bennett at Brisbane Broncos training. Pic Darren England.

THE war of words between Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga could make things a little awkward for Sam Thaiday but the Kangaroos veteran seems to be enjoying the banter as the rivalry between his two coach’s heats up.

Thaiday’s Test coach Meninga unloaded on Bennett in an exclusive Daily Telegraph column on Friday, declaring that Thaiday’s club coach was “undermining” Meninga.

Meninga also reiterated his view of Bennett wanting his Kangaroos job.

“That’s good,” Thaiday smiled when told of Meninga’s comments following Australia’s opening Four-Nations win against Scotland.

“It stirs things up for a couple of weeks times.

“Hopefully we come away with the lollies. Wayne knows me. I’ve been giving Wayne stick for many, many years. Nothing will change.”

The comments set up an explosive showdown when the Kangaroos face Bennett’s England for the first time in the final pool game of the Four-Nations tournament.

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Thaiday took the time to poke fun at Bennett who infamously escaped via a back door at Brisbane airport after the Kangaroos lost the Four Nations final to New Zealand in 2005.

It would be the last time he coached an international side.

“Hopefully we can send Wayne back to Brisbane with his tail between his legs,” Thaiday said.

“He might sneak out the back door again, who knows?”

Upon arriving in England last week, Thaiday promised to incite Bennett with a tirade of text messages. However, Thaiday is having little luck getting in contact with his long-time coach.

“He has changed his number over here,” Thaiday said. “He has an English phone. I need to try and find out what the number is.”

And when asked if would offer any expert insight into how to get under Bennett’s skin for Meninga, Thaiday replied; “I don’t want to let too much out. We’ll face it when it comes.”