Bucking Broncos in coach call plea
BRONCOS veteran Andrew McCullough has appealed for Brisbane bosses to end the coaching circus at Red Hill by making a swift determination on Wayne Bennett’s future.
McCullough yesterday became the first Broncos player to speak candidly about the Bennett- Anthony Seibold saga, urging Brisbane hierarchy to provide clarity for the sake of their 2019 title ambitions.
Underlining the growing tension and uncertainty at Red Hill, Bennett’s first day at Broncos training yesterday descended into farce.
Wary of prying media, the veteran coach refused to appear on the playing field, instead watching his troops from the sanctuary of his office in Brisbane’s $ 27 million high- performance facility.
Bennett could be forced to clear out his office within days, with the seven- time premiership- winning coach due to meet Broncos chairman Karl Morris by the weekend.
While McCullough has enormous respect for, and loyalty to, Bennett, the 236- game Broncos stalwart concedes it’s time for Brisbane and Souths powerbrokers to consider a straight swap.
Asked if he wants the coaching saga resolved urgently, McCullough said: “Yes. Everyone just needs to move forward in the right direction, one way or another.
“I will leave it to the bosses, for the time being Wayne is here. I can’t help how things are dealt. Even our most experienced guys like Darius Boyd, our captain, can’t give a clear answer ( on the coaching situation).
“There’s some media scrutiny but we’ve said ‘ Let’s get on with it’ and Wayne can deal with the bosses upstairs.”
Bennett, 68, won’t depart easily. His contract with the Broncos next season is worth $ 900,000 and he has every right under employment law to see out the final 12 months of his deal.
The Broncos will likely attempt to broker a compensation package, but Bennett won’t accept a cut- price payout. If Brisbane want to bring Seibold to Red Hill, Bennett will demand every cent he is owed.
McCullough says Broncos players would have no issue accepting Seibold. Brisbane are under pressure to break the club’s 13- year title drought after last season’s finals debacle against the Dragons and McCullough believes certainty and stability is vital.
“This is not ideal,” he said. “It happens in the NRL ... we have to get on with it as a group.
“As players, it’s the unknown. There’s plenty of big guys ( Broncos management) upstairs who make the big calls. We have a big year ahead, we lost some experience this year.”
THERE’S SOME MEDIA SCRUTINY BUT WE’VE SAID ‘ LET’S GET ON WITH IT’ AND WAYNE CAN DEAL WITH THE BOSSES UPSTAIRS. ANDREW MCCULLOGH