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Wayne Bennett reveals how his plan for Craig Bellamy to take over the Broncos failed
September 21, 2017
WAYNE Bennett has revealed how his coaching succession plan for Brisbane unravelled, claiming club bosses sensationally botched high-level talks to bring Craig Bellamy back to the Broncos.
On the eve of tonight’s Broncos-Storm grand-final qualifier at AAMI Park, Bennett opened up about his 20-year relationship with Bellamy amid speculation there is bad blood between the pair.
Bellamy has enjoyed a remarkable 14-year reign in Melbourne, cultivating an NRL dynasty in AFL heartland.
But if Bennett had his way, the Storm super coach would have succeeded him at Red Hill.
Bennett first hired Bellamy as his assistant in 1998, grooming his apprentice to one day take charge of the Broncos.
When Bennett left to join the Dragons for the 2009 season, he hoped Bellamy would be installed as his successor when the Storm coach held secret talks with Broncos hierarchy.
But Bellamy’s planned return fell apart when he was offended in negotiations by Brisbane’s perceived arrogance that they were a superior club to the Storm.
Bellamy inked a $2.5 million, five-year extension with a Storm club that has since become the powerhouse of the NRL, with Bennett admitting his former right-hand man has turned his back on Brisbane.
“I always thought Craig should have coached the Broncos,” Bennett said. “It just won’t happen now. Craig will never coach the Broncos.
“To be honest, he should have coached them after I left, but the Broncos blew that one.
“I would have liked to have seen Craig coach the Broncos after me and he would have been a long-term success, but he’s made his mark in Melbourne now.
“When I left in 2008, it (Bellamy taking over) was a real chance of happening and it should have happened. Craig was apparently keen to come back, but unfortunately the interview never went that great and he moved on.”
Bennett and Bellamy’s friendship reached breaking point three years ago when Alex McKinnon, playing for Bennett’s Newcastle side, suffered a career-ending broken neck against the Storm.
Bennett has been a long-time critic of Melbourne’s wrestling tactics, with each public barb viewed as an erosion of his ties with Bellamy.
The Broncos coach insists there is no toxic rift — they caught up at a 50th birthday party for Broncos trainer Alex Corvo earlier this year — but Bennett says he won’t be gagged on Melbourne’s defensive tactics.
“There’s no feud between us,” he said. “Look, I will say this — we are highly competitive people. I respect what he has done and I’m sure he feels the same about me.
“When it comes to game time, he wants to win and I want to win. There is that rivalry, but I can honestly say we don’t have a problem.
“Are we highly competitive? Absolutely we are. I’d call it competitive tension. But I actually saw Craig two months ago and it was good to see him, it was like the old days when we were together at the Broncos.
“People talk about our relationship because of the wrestle but I’m entitled to my opinion on that. I know Craig would have the shits over what I’ve said, but that’s OK, that’s the way I feel. I’m honest.
“But outside the competitive environment of the NRL, we still have a strong relationship. Craig has done a wonderful job down there. He made a good choice going to Melbourne.”
Source: Courier Mail
