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'P***es me off': Wayne Bennett erupts over 'outright lie'

chris young
Sports Reporter
·2-min read
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett is pictured during a training session in 2020.
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has angrily refuted reports he and Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis have ended their decade-long feud. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

An angry Wayne Bennett has hit back at reports he and Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis have ended their long-running feud, labelling the rumour ‘an outright lie’.

Reports emerged in Channel 9-owned newspapers earlier in the week that the pair had buried the hatchet as the NRL attempts to figure out a method of restarting their season.

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Bennett and Politis had a falling out after the now South Sydney coach reneged on a deal to join the Roosters in 2006, after the deal was made public.

Veteran league columnist Roy Masters penned the report, which suggested Bennet’s involvement in the league’s ‘innovations committee’ which has been tasked with coming up with solutions to the NRL’s coronavirus problem.

Speaking to Fox Sports, Bennett was adamant he and Politis were not on speaking terms.

“That is an outright lie. I haven’t spoken to Nick Politis since 2006,” Bennett told Fox Sports.

“I am familiar with Zoom, I speak to my players using it all the time.

“Roy (Masters) never rang me so I’m not sure who’s fed him that.

“I’m not into conspiracy theories but I do care about the game.

“It pisses me off. We’re all shooting off the hip about self-interest.

“Let’s get our heads out of the sand and focus on how we can best get the competition up and running again.”

NRL boss smacks down controversial Roosters points request

Rumours of the pair burying the hatchet have emerged as clubs squabble over the allocation of points from the first two rounds.

Peter V'landys has been forced to confirm NRL teams will not be stripped of competition points earned in the first two rounds despite a stunning push from Roosters boss Politis.

The Australian Rugby League Commission chairman has again confirmed the NRL is not considering taking away competition points as it considers ways to restart the competition next month.

“The points will stand,” V'landys told The Daily Telegraph on Monday.

“There is no way we are taking anyone's points away. It isn't even on the table.”