Wayne Bennett has re-ignited his bitter feud with Brisbane Broncos management after reportedly sending a legal letter to his former club seeking $400,000 in compensation.
The 68-year-old was sensationally sacked on December 1 after the Broncos claimed he had violated the terms of his contract by allegedly contacting South Sydney players.
Bennett joined the Rabbitohs on a three-year deal less than 48 hours after the Broncos’ decision to punt him and declared he was ‘happy’ to be sacked at the time.
But as first reported by The Courier Mail’s Paul Malone, the seven-time premiership-winning coach fired off the request for the hefty payment from the Broncos through his lawyers in writing last Friday.
Bennett, who had already agreed to a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs from 2020 before he was let go, did not receive any of his estimated $1million Broncos contract for 2019.
The veteran coach had been widely accused of holding the Broncos to ransom in a bid to extract a full payout from the club after refusing to agree to an immediate swap deal with new Brisbane boss Anthony Seibold.
Bennett denied those claims, publicly stating, ‘I don’t want any payout’, prior to his dismissal.
He also repeatedly declared his decision to hold firm and attempt to see out the final season of his contract at Red Hill was motivated by ‘loyalty’ to his Broncos players.
But Bennett, who will earn a reported $800,000 a season from his Rabbitohs deal, will now attempt to recoup money from his former club in what will likely be an ugly and drawn-out legal battle.
