So much for the ceasefire between embattled coach Wayne Bennett and the Brisbane Broncos board.
After agreeing to stop publicly discussing the uncertainty over his coaching future until the end of the NRL season three weeks ago, the veteran coach publicly lashed Broncos management at his weekly press conference.
The 68-year-old’s contract expires at the end of 2019 but speculation he will be punted after the current campaign grows louder by the day.
As he was forced to explain his snub of a barbecue at club CEO Paul White’s house, Bennett reiterated his frustrations at having to answer repeated questions over his job security while management remains silent.
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And the seven-time premiership-winning coach made it clear White, who Bennett has recently fallen out with, and the board will have to push him if they want his second stint at the club to end prematurely.
“The last time I left (the Broncos in 2008) I left for similar reasons but I made the decision to leave so this wouldn’t happen,” Bennett said of the endless speculation and drama surrounding the club.
“But this time I haven’t made the decision to leave – it’s up to the board now and the CEO to make their decisions.
“I’m not making it for them this time, I made it easy last time. I’m not doing it this time.”
Bennett, who was last week linked with a move to Penrith amid reports on Wednesday St George Illawarra could make a bid for his services next season, says he expects to see out the remaining year of his contract.
“I haven’t been told otherwise, that’s my intention to be here, I want to be here,” he said.
“This is the club I want to be at, I haven’t been told otherwise and as far as I know I’ll be here next year.”
Bennett suggested the recent drama surrounding the club have damaged the Broncos brand he helped build as the club’s foundation coach.
“This is my 25th year here and I’ve protected this club more than anybody else in that period of time,” he said.
“I’ve always protected it from the things that I believe are happening now.
“So yeah, I’m disappointed about that enormously … we’re a better club than that.
“It was important for me in the early years with the directors that I had, and they drove it with me as well, about how we were perceived by the public and how we conducted our business.”
