Broncs signal the end of Sam

WAYNE Bennett has made one of the toughest calls of his 40-year coaching career by telling club legend Sam Thaiday he will not be re-signed by the Broncos.

Thaiday – one of Brisbane’s greatest servants – will be forced into retirement at the end of next year unless he opts to continue his 15-year NRL career with another club.

It is not the first agonising decision for Bennett. Almost three decades ago, the super coach famously axed Wally Lewis as Brisbane captain in a move that eventually led to the Queensland Origin icon signing with the Gold Coast.

Now Bennett has made another gut-wrenching call by privately advising Thaiday that the 32-year-old will not be retained when his contract expires at the end of next year.

The Brisbane coach has enormous respect for Thaiday’s contribution to the Broncos and is working on postfootball employment for the 269-game forward warhorse.

“Next year will be the end for Sam with us, he knows that,” Bennett said.

“Sam has a long-term future at the Broncos beyond football and I still want him to be part of the club in some way.

“He has such great credibility in the game. We are involved in a lot of indigenous

programs where we can use guys like Sam and Justin Hodges, so there is a role for him at the Broncos.

“I guess it’s up to him if he wants to retire next year, but I just know we won’t be re-signing Sam and I’ve told him.”

Bennett’s revelation caps a turbulent period for Thaiday. Just three weeks ago, the veteran enforcer was axed by Queensland coach Kevin Walters, leaving him one Origin shy of joining the elite 30game Statesmen’s Club.

Thaiday, 33 next June, has not spoken of NRL retirement.

Thaiday summoned all his experience to haul Brisbane out of trouble on Saturday, setting up two tries in their 34-22 defeat of Newcastle.

Bennett handed Thaiday his debut at 18 in 2003 and has cut his game time to maximise his impact in his twilight years.

Bennett said Thaiday, who helped the Broncos to a premiership in 2006 and has played 34 Tests for Australia, would have been stung by his Origin axing.