The rift between Wayne Bennett and Brisbane is far from healed
Wayne Bennett threatened to sue Brisbane not long ago so it seems far-fetched to think he could land back at the Broncos.
Nothing like a good laugh, particularly in this COVID world. Wayne Bennett was threatening to sue the Brisbane Broncos barely 12 months ago over the manner of his departure from the club. Bennett was barely out the door before a legal letter landed at Red Hill outlining the source of his angst.
It was lawyers at 10 paces as the bitter fallout headed towards the courts. Afterwards, he adopted a scorched-earth approach to his former club. Snide comments were directed at chair Karl Morris and chief executive Paul White.
His relationship with director and club legend Darren Lockyer was said to be beyond repair. Let’s not mention the way he seemed to savour hurling a grenade the way of former Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold, making his job all the more difficult.
Now Bennett gives every indication he would be open to contemplating a return. All is forgiven it would seem. It begs the question why on earth would Brisbane want Bennett back, particularly given his relationship with some of the most powerful figures currently at the club? White may be departing in a few weeks but Morris and Lockyer will still be there. Bennett apparently can’t cop either and the feeling would largely seem reciprocated. Fear and loathing in Brisvegas? You bet.
Morris might have extended an olive branch this week, but he was painted into a corner. What was he supposed to say? Sorry Wayne, you are no longer welcome at the club you helped build.
Morris isn’t that silly. He has no desire to be painted as the villain. As a result, Bennett to Brisbane gains oxygen and leaves everyone breathless.
Bennett played dumb on Wednesday as he spoke on the eve of South Sydney’s game against the Wests Tigers. Had a game to win apparently. Not sure where all this jibber about a return came from. Got asked a question and answered it. Let’s leave it at that.
Let’s not. Let’s dig a little deeper into this. Bennett has told anyone who will listen that he wants to honour his deal with South Sydney and help the club win a premiership.
Yet, he talks about how humbled he is that he and the club might be able to move on from their previous spat. He bats his eyelids at the Broncos and expects them to swoon.
Make no mistake, the Rabbitohs are highly unlikely to stand in Bennett’s way if he wants to go. They have Jason Demetriou waiting in the wings and he showed that he is up to the job when Bennett was out of action for two weeks after visiting trendy inner-west Sydney eatery Grappa when he should have been adhering to strict biosecurity protocols.
In one way, Bennett’s departure a year ahead of schedule would make life easier for the Rabbitohs. They wouldn’t have to deal with the constant speculation over his next destination. No more game playing. No more puppeteering in the background.
Bennett’s theatrics would be someone else’s problem. If not Brisbane, who? Because at this stage of his long and illustrious career, Bennett seems in no rush to slip into retirement.
He’s not the first iconic coaching figure to stare down retirement. Legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough found retirement a challenge he struggled to master, having contemplated giving the game away a million times.
“But the temptation is always to hang on,” Clough said.
“To think you’ll have one more year and see how it goes.
“You saw the same thing happen with nearly all the great managers. We really know nowt about anything else. And you can’t turn someone into something they’re not. So when we quit as football managers, it means years of sitting in front of the TV, pruning the roses or taking the dog for a walk.”
Bennett appears in no rush to take the dog for a walk. But if he does keeps going, don’t bet on it being in Brisbane.
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