The on-again, off-again NRL coaching swap is off - again.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett admitted he felt for South Sydney but typically made no apologies after dropping the bombshell that he would refuse to step down from the Broncos.
In a classic Bennett curve ball, a mooted swap with the Rabbitohs' Anthony Seibold for 2019 stalled again when the Brisbane coach called players and staff into a Friday meeting and announced he would remain at Red Hill next year.
Months of speculation looked set to finally end with South Sydney reportedly thrashing out financial terms for a swap with Brisbane after aggressively seeking a 2019 release for Bennett.
In another twist, Seibold was reportedly set to be unveiled on Friday as Broncos coach for 2019 with a 1600 AEDT press conference apparently planned by Brisbane.
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But the wily Bennett had other ideas, calling a snap press conference of his own at Red Hill after Friday's meeting.
Bennett admitted he had no idea about the mooted Seibold press conference and almost offered an apology to the Rabbitohs for digging his heels in - almost.
"I am disappointed for them but at the same time they understand my position and I will be there in 2020 for them," Bennett said.
"I have been terribly consistent with it (staying at Brisbane) and nothing has changed today.
"I will honour my 2019 contract which was always my plan."
The only way South Sydney can now get their man in 2019 is if Brisbane sack Bennett - a fate the 68-year-old did not rule out.
If Bennett is shown the door, it is believed the call will come from Broncos owners News Corp, and not the Brisbane club's hierarchy.
"There is always a possibility. I am in that type of game - I don't know, ask them," Bennett said.
For the record, the Broncos stuck to their mantra that they would honour Bennett's 2019 contract.
The swap had been mooted for months since Bennett confirmed he would coach at South Sydney on a two-year deal from 2020 - the same year Seibold had agreed to mentor Brisbane on a four-season contract.
Asked why he was staying, Bennett said: "The players, staff I work with, the fans. I just felt I would be letting them down if I left a year before I should.
"The (2019) Souths move was never instigated by me.
"I did a contract with Souths for 2020 and 2021. We never talked about '19.
"It started when I was overseas (coaching England) and I got drawn into it (speculation)."
Asked if he ever considered walking away from Brisbane, Bennett said: "I can't say I really did".
Bennett had publicly criticised Broncos chairman Karl Morris and CEO Paul White over their handling of the club's coaching transition.
But the Broncos mentor claimed there was no longer any ill feeling.
"I don't think I have been critical of them publicly. I think I have said things the way they were," he said.
"But that's all behind us now, we are all moving on. We will be one.
"I am the Broncos coach for the next 10 months. I will do the best job I can."
