‘Whoever is saying that has never worked with Wayne’: Dolphins slam Bennett talk before Broncos battle

Speculation that Wayne Bennett’s return to South Sydney next year might have distracted from the Dolphins’ push for a maiden finals campaign has been shut down emphatically.

Dolphins CEO Terry Reader has rejected any suggestion the coach’s focus has been split since he inked a fresh three-year deal with the Rabbitohs, an announcement that coincided with the new club’s slide out of the top four.

Saturday’s Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium is a must-win for the Dolphins, whose recent injury toll has left Bennett scrambling to field a team for the sold-out clash with the Broncos.

The Dolphins have lost nine of their 12 matches since Bennett’s return to South Sydney was announced.

The Rabbitohs, however, won five games straight after securing his signature, fuelling speculation the 74-year-old was the brains behind two rosters.

But Reader was having none of it.

“To be honest, whoever is saying that or doing it [the reports] is obviously a bit out of touch or has never worked with Wayne,” he said.

“Let’s have a look at the teams we’ve lost to: apart from the weekend against the Storm when we lost two key players in the opening 10 minutes, we’ve gone down to Penrith in golden point, and we lost to Melbourne here by a try at the end.

“We’ve been in games, and they’ve gone down to the wire, so to say Wayne’s not interested or has switched off, I can assure you now there’s nothing bigger [than Saturday].”

Reader said the club didn’t need reassurance from Bennett, either. “In football, things get reviewed every day, every week – it’s a brutal sport and like no other business.

“Let’s just take on how professional sport works. You can sign a contract a year out in advance as a player and still turn up and perform for your current team – it’s no different.

“Do we think players are not bothered about winning, or a coach doesn’t want to win? Anyone who thinks that obviously doesn’t know Wayne.”

The clash on Saturday looms as the most crucial game of the year for both teams, with both needing to win to keep their finals hopes alive.

Dolphins prop Mark Nicholls dismissed the notion that Bennett’s eyes were not on the prize.

Nicholls said every player knew assistant coach Kristian Woolf would take the reins from 2025, making discussions about Bennett’s intent irrelevant.

“I haven’t noticed any change in Wayne,” Nicholls said.

“From day dot Woolfy signed to be the head coach so for us – if anyone’s playing bad it’s a bit silly.

“You’re not going to have a spot if Woolfy realises you’re not committed to training or playing this year, so I don’t read too much into that.”