Wayne Bennett is not giving up hope of retaining Joseph Suaalii after the 17-year-old's demands of a new five-year deal with a get-out clause was knocked back by South Sydney | sarah_keoghan
Rather than accept Souths original offer – reportedly $1.7 million over three years – the Suaalii camp countered with a request for a lucrative five-year deal that included get-out clauses in the teenager's favour. The Rabbitohs rejected the proposal, which would have allowed Suaalii to extricate himself from the deal and switch to rugby in seasons 2023, 2024 or 2025.
Suaalii is currently on scholarship at the prestigious King's school but isn't playing in their rugby team while he agonises over his future. Sources close to Suaalii believe he will make a call in the school holidays, with the last day of term scheduled for September 25."I don't think either party has closed the door but certainly, at this point in time, he is not coming here," Bennett said.
In terms of his own contract, Bennett revealed he had a "quick phone call" with Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher about potentially taking over for Kevin Walters as Maroons coach for the 2020 Origin series.Walters is the front runner to become head coach at the Broncos, with the responsibility of an Origin series at the same time as starting at a new club considered worrying for Queensland.
"In my opinion that's been one of the biggest mistakes they've made in rep football over a long period of time you want the best players in the team and you want the best coaches available coaching and if the best coaches are available that's what you want," he said. "That [hiring a separate coach] was a path they went down a long time ago that's their decision and I don't necessarily agree with that point of view.
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