The bloodletting at Brisbane has continued with Wayne Bennett’s assistant, Jason Demetriou, today sacked by the Broncos.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Demetriou had his contract torn-up this morning, leaving Bennett’s right-hand man at Brisbane without a job just three weeks before Christmas.
And more heads are set to roll, with high-performance chief Jeremy Hickmans and Bennett’s chief analyst Scott Barker expected to follow Demetriou out of Red Hill in the next 24 hours.
Demetriou was summoned to a meeting with Broncos CEO Paul White today where he was advised he was surplus to requirements.
Demetriou was contracted to the Broncos until the end of next year but has been offered an immediate payout as Bennett’s replacement Anthony Seibold ushers in a new era at Red Hill.
Seibold presided over Broncos training this morning with a team of new assistants including Peter Gentle, Ben Cross and high-performance manager Paul Devlin, with whom he worked at former club South Sydney.
Demetriou was expected to follow Bennett to Redfern, but it is understood that won’t happen, with South Sydney committed to contracts with their existing staff.
The sacking of Demetriou has capped a turbulent period for Bennett’s assistants.
Demetriou, Hickmans, Barker and trainer Tannath Scott were advised to stay away from Broncos HQ for a week while Seibold’s squadron settled in. They had their emails shut down immediately and their contents packed in boxes ready for collection.
Bennett has been savaged over the past week but he was reluctant to leave Brisbane until he received assurances his staff would be taken care of.
Eventually, Bennett was sacked, a scenario that was always going to put his assistants in the firing line.
The fallout is a real blow for Hickmans, who received a job offer from the Gold Coast Titans two months ago, only to stay loyal, believing Brisbane would honour Bennett’s deal for 2019.
In July, Bennett tabled a proposal for Demetriou to succeed him as Brisbane’s head coach in 2021, but that blueprint was rejected by the Broncos board.
Demetriou was popular with Brisbane players and played a key role in their attacking structures over the past two seasons. It is unknown whether he will remain in Queensland as he attempts to chase his NRL coaching ambitions.
- - - Updated - - -
We should be talking to all theses boys.
Just what are the broncos thinking?
I think players with ties to the coaching team have little to no incentive on staying now that they don’t have the coaches they are familiar with.
Hopefully we're all over it. Would be handy pickups coming from such a professional organisation.
Give the club a ring and reception will update you on their schedule ... it varies quite a bit at this time of year.
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
Are we doing the player position polls this time around or am I too early?
Fullback, Wingers, centres, 5/8, 2nd row & bench utility should provide for some good discussion...
ON THE PROWL FOR YOUNG GUN
WHICH Gold Coast rugby teen prodigy caught the eye of Penrith Panthers supremo Gus Gould this year?
The Ball and All team were told Gus would pull out all the stops to get this whiz-kid in Panthers colours.
We will see if something transpires. Penrith have already this year poached two up-and-coming league talents from the Coast in the form of brothers Brayden and Glenn McGrady.
It better not be Dion Samuela who is unbelievable and a Ponga clone. I specifically mentioned him to Brennan who wrote his name down. Will be interesting who it is
MDREW-where art thou?
Is Shannon Boyd carrying a long term debilitating injury?
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
Anybody who wants to see this special talent just type in “Dion Samuela highlights” and just marvel at his talents. Apparently use to be in the Titans junior system but don’t know what happen there. Here is a junior that you need to tie up quick smart and Brennan had been advised
It is Deon Samuela Penrith are after but rest assured the Titans development staff are doing outstanding work.