Bennett’s fresh demand reignites feud with Broncos

Broncos CEO Paul White yesterday confirmed the letter had been sent by Bennett’s legal representatives on December 14.

The Broncos were given a deadline of yesterday to respond to the letter, but White said his club’s lawyers had asked for a month in which to formulate a reply.

White refused to comment on the content of Bennett’s legal letter.

On top of his fresh claim for more than $400,000, Bennett was paid $385,000 earlier this month for his image rights in response to his contract termination for the 2019 season.

Despite being sacked, Bennett walked straight into a three-year, $800,000-a-year contract with the Rabbitohs.

In an unusual twist, even by the standards of Bennett’s battle of wits with Broncos management, Bennett will effectively be suing his new employer, South Sydney, which has undertaken to pay 50 per cent of any award the Broncos are forced to pay towards his 2019 salary.

In the immediate fallout to his sad and bitter exit from the Broncos, Bennett said had no intention of suing Brisbane.

It was reported at the time that he was reluctant to go through the mental anguish of a protracted legal battle with the Broncos club he served for 25 seasons.

In a scathing December 2 termination letter, Bennett was given his marching orders for alleged breaches, including leaking to the media and dealing with South Sydney regarding player rostering and preseason planning.

Bennett’s continuous claims that he was unaware of a possible coaching swap with the Rabbitohs for 2019 have also been called into question.

A letter of offer from Souths was sent to Bennett on October 25. The letter stated that if Bennett and the Rabbitohs were in a position for him to start work in the 2019 season, his contract would be amended to cover the 2019-21 seasons.

Bennett held on to the Souths contract, containing the 2019 clause, for 31 days before signing it on November 25, seven days before he was sacked by the Broncos.

It is understood that, during the talks between Souths and Brisbane, before the termination of Bennett’s Broncos contract on December 2, Souths agreed to contribute 50 per cent of any award the Broncos were to ordered to pay towards Bennett’s former 2019 contract. It is not suggested Bennett knew of this undertaking by Souths.

“I’m really pleased it’s all resolved and that I can join this great club with a free mind, knowing I did the right thing by the fans, staff and players,” he said in a Souths statement on December 2.