Kevin Walters, who lost the Broncos job last year, says the way Payne Haas's exit unfolded has left him bewildered.
Haas will leave Brisbane after 2026 to join South Sydney, bringing an end to a standout nine-year run with the club.
Walters, who coached Haas from 2020 to 2024, called the decision puzzling and insisted he would not have allowed the 26-year-old to walk away.
He believes that had he remained at the helm he could have kept Haas in Brisbane and avoided the fallout now playing out.
"If you have Payne Haas in your stable, you do not lose Payne Haas," Walters said on the Inside Ball podcast.
The former coach argued that elite forwards of Haas's calibre are central to a club's identity and on-field prospects.
"If I was coaching in the NRL, he would be one of the first players I would target, so hats off to Wayne Bennett.
Walters also praised Bennett's recruitment reputation and acknowledged the signing is a coup for Souths.
"He has fallen in his hands, it's great for the Souths fans."
The comments have fuelled debate among Broncos followers about retention, leadership and the club's direction.
For rivals and neutrals alike, the saga highlights how fragile long-term player loyalties can be in the modern game.