LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Panthers and Storm coaches found themselves in a sticky situation during NRL grand final week, thanks to the Brisbane Broncos pulling a sneaky move that diverted attention away from the upcoming decider.
Ivan Cleary and Craig Bellamy stood in front of the media, fielding questions about coaching positions and State of Origin rumors when they should have been focusing on preparing their teams for battle.
Instead of waiting until after the grand final to announce Michael Maguire as their new head coach, the Broncos decided to steal the spotlight by making the announcement earlier in the week.
This tactical move overshadowed the lead-up to the big game and left Cleary and Bellamy dealing with distractions they shouldn't have had to face.
It's a classic case of the Broncos throwing a spanner in the works and causing a stir in the rugby league community.
In the midst of grand final fever, the last thing anyone needed was for a club to create unnecessary drama and take the focus away from the pinnacle of the rugby league season.
But such is the nature of sport, where unexpected curveballs can often disrupt the best-laid plans.