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Message: [QUOTE="FaithinHook, post: 2988614, member: 8300"] [SIZE=6][B]Wayne Bennett puts Bunnies in a state of shock[/B][/SIZE] [URL]https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/wayne-bennett-puts-bunnies-in-a-state-of-shock/news-story/defc1201e521d68d89f9c0249fed98c8[/URL] It was another day to strain the sanity. A day when Wayne Bennett once again kept everyone on the edge of their seat before delivering a sledgehammer blow to two clubs. Brisbane and South Sydney were confident yesterday morning they had finally convinced Bennett to up stumps and move to Sydney a year ahead of schedule. The phones had seemingly been sufficiently hammered. Rabbitohs head of football Shane Richardson and chief executive Blake Solly had worked tirelessly to alleviate Bennett's concerns around staffing and family issues. The Rabbitohs were confident without being cocky. The Broncos were quietly optimistic. They were even told Souths would pick up the tab if Brisbane decided the only way forward was to sack the seven-time premiership winning coach. The sense was it wouldn't come to that. Both sides believed Bennett had seen that the only sensible solution meant an immediate move to South Sydney. Assistant coach Jason Demetriou had prepared his family for the shift, his children in tears as he told them his future was aligned to Bennett. Souths were ready to accommodate Demetriou to make the move happen. Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold, who will join the Broncos in 2020, happened to be in Brisbane to speak at a function for his old school St Brendan’s College. Tentative plans were made for Seibold to front the media later in the day at Brisbane headquarters to trumpet his move to the Broncos. Everything appeared to be going swimmingly. The one wildcard was Bennett. The previous night Brisbane officials had lamented that even though talks appeared on course, Bennett had the ability to send the conversation careering in another direction. Their concerns were ultimately well placed, their fears gaining credence yesterday morning when Bennett called senior officials at News Corp; the majority owner of the Broncos to inform them he planned to see out the final year of his deal. Bennett bypassed chairman Karl Morris and chief executive Paul White, his relationship with the two most powerful figures at the club strained to the point where they no longer talk. At the end of training, he informed club officials he was going to hold a press conference. The club set up a backdrop and the wait began. Bennett shut the door of his office, made some calls and emerged at 11am to tell club officials that he was staying. Those calls included Solly and Richardson, in which he told them he was sorry but he couldn't move in 2019. He had to protect his integrity. He had to honour his commitment to the players and the fans. More than one official at rival clubs will tell you Bennett also stayed because he believes Brisbane are closer to winning a premiership than Souths. Another 12 months at the Broncos will also give him time to work on Tevita Pangai Junior and Corey Oates, who are both off contract but only expected to sign deals to stay at Brisbane for 2019 and no longer. When he arrives at Souths in 2020, their new Centre of Excellence will be completed. There was another reason as well. From day one, Bennett insisted he would see out his deal. He wasn't prepared to back away from that position, leaving the Broncos and Souths in an invidious position as they ponder a future that seems untenable. Souths now appear the more vulnerable. Seibold has been told to prepare for the distinct possibility that he will see out his deal at the Rabbitohs. Should he decide to walk away, Souths would have no obvious interim replacement until Bennett arrives. That isn't Bennett's problem. [/QUOTE]

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