Tallis slams Bennett over Blair promotion

Gorden Tallis has launched a stinging attack on Wayne Bennett for his negativity over NRL scheduling and golden point while also claiming he appointed Adam Blair as Brisbane captain just to rile him.

Bennett coached Tallis for the majority of his career at Brisbane, but the pair have spectacularly fallen out since the former Broncos captain’s retirement.

Their latest feud is currently simmering around Brisbane forward Blair, who Tallis recently claimed was one of the dirtiest player in the game following a chicken wing tackle on Brisbane teammate Sam Thaiday in the Test between Australia and New Zealand.

Tallis said Blair’s style of play was completely at odds with Bennett’s fair-game philosophies during his time at the club between 1997 and 2004, and was surprised the experienced coach had allowed it.

In the absence of a number of Origin stars, Blair has been named captain for Friday night’s game against the Wests Tigers, and Tallis believes his selection is an attempt by Bennett to get under his skin.

“Wayne is deliberately trying to get to me,” Tallis told News Corp Australia on Friday.

“I voted against giving him the job at the Cowboys when I was on the board there. This Blair appointment is another way for him to have a crack at me.”

However Tallis saved his biggest crack at Bennett for the experienced mentor’s complaints about golden point in finals and the scheduling through the Origin period.

“Nothing is ever good enough for him,” Tallis said.

“He didn’t whinge when he had the Knights and the Dragons during Origin but now he thinks the schedule is the end of the world.

“He hated drawn games and extra time, then tried to wreck the Cowboys great moment and an incredible grand final win by bagging the golden point.

“Why can’t he just let the game shine?”

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