Shock Wally Lewis call that ruined Queensland legends’ friendship

Wally Lewis has opened up on the football decision which ruined The King’s friendship with his best mate for nearly 30 years.

Thirty-four years and a broken friendship on, Wayne Bennett has admitted he has "no regrets” about the decision that drove a wedge between best mates Wally Lewis and Gene Miles.

The duo are two of Queensland’s greatest ever players and played State of Origin for the Maroons as well as representing Australia together.

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The pair even came to Sydney and negotiated deals with media mogul Kerry Packer to join the Manly Sea Eagles, only to stay in Queensland before the Brisbane Broncos joined the NSWRL in 1988.

The pair were both foundation players for the Broncos in 1988, with Lewis captain and five-eighth and Miles playing centre.

Speaking on Channel 9 documentary Wally Lewis — The King on Tuesday night, Bennett said it was imperative for the new club to sign the Origin players.

“We had to have him there, we couldn’t have a team without Wally playing for it — it’s as simple as that,” Bennett said on the documentary.

“He was captain of Origin, and Gene Miles was in that category. All those players we signed that were Origin players. Wal was No. 1, Gene was would have been No. 2.”

Wally Lewis and Gene Miles were the big names for the Broncos. Photo: Channel 9

But after finishing seventh in 1988 and losing the playoff for fifth in 1989, coach Bennett felt he needed to make a change.

“(Bennett) stared at me for about two or three minutes... (he said) ‘I’m taking captaincy off you’,” Lewis said.

Bennett, who has seldom spoken about the decision in the 34 years since, wouldn’t go into detail about what was said.

“Wally was distracted and we needed a new captain. Simple as that,” Bennett said.

“I’ve never spoken publicly about it, and I promise you today I’m not going to speak publicly about the conversation and why it was done.”

Lewis said Bennett wanted the Broncos’ club captain to focus on club football, a sacrifice The King wasn’t willing to make.

“He wanted whoever was the captain to not be available for representative football. That wasn’t my plan for the future,” Lewis said.

“He didn’t beat around the bush, Wayne. He told me the areas of my game as a captain which he thought were disappointing.”

Wayne Bennett has no regrets. Photo: Channel 9

The Broncos failed to make the finals in the club's first two seasons. Photo: Channel 9

But when Miles went to Lewis and revealed he had been offered the captaincy, he didn’t get the answer he was expecting from his great mate.

I said, ‘OK... so do you think I was a s**t captain?’,” Lewis revealed, adding he stormed off “like a spoiled schoolkid.

Miles quipped: “That’s 33 years ago... he’s nearly over it.

“If anybody was going to take the captaincy it’s somebody that he would respect, and would just go along with it.

“Holy Jesus... was I wrong. That just didn’t happen.

“That shattered the friendship. We have mended the fences since then.”

Miles believed Lewis would get behind him as captain – he was wrong. Photo: Channel 9

Gene Miles. Photo: Channel 9

In hindsight, Lewis said he had come to accept the decision.

“I was a little bit angry, more so at Wayne I think, and I unfairly took it out on Gene,” Lewis said. “Wayne was right to make the decision he thought was best for the Broncos’ future.”

And Bennett agreed, saying he has “no regrets at all”.

But it appeared to fracture not only the relationship with Miles but also the relationship with the Broncos.

Lewis played just nine more games for the Broncos before leaving the club and moving to the Gold Coast Seagulls in 1991 where he played out the final two seasons of his career.