LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Wayne Bennett continued his years-long playful feud with Brad Fittler by snubbing a fist-bump from the Channel 9 commentator before the Rabbitohs' game on Friday night.
This snub was just the latest in a series of handshake refusals dating back to 2019 when Bennett first declined to shake hands with Fittler.
Despite the ongoing feud, Bennett showed his class after the game by making a brilliant gesture for the Dolphins players, highlighting his sportsmanship.
The reason behind Bennett's consistent snubs towards Fittler seems to stem from their State of Origin rivalry, as Bennett, a proud Queenslander, likely took offense to Fittler's "go the Blues" comment in one interview.
Fittler jokingly questioned what he had done wrong when Channel 9 aired a montage of their handshake snubs, showing the lighthearted nature of their feud.
Johnathan Thurston previously pointed out that Bennett was upset with Fittler's comment supporting NSW, which led to the initial handshake snub.
Fittler admitted that Bennett was "filthy" on him for the comment and hasn't shaken hands with him in the six years since.
Despite the ongoing feud through handshake refusals, both Bennett and Fittler have maintained a sense of humor about the situation, with Fittler playfully questioning his actions that led to the snubs.
Overall, while Bennett may not be a fan of shaking hands with Fittler, his gesture towards the Dolphins players after the game showed that he is able to set aside personal rivalries and display good sportsmanship when it matters.