Everything is on the line in the sold-out ‘Battle of Brisbane’ on Saturday as the NRL’s biggest new rivalry fight it out with a finals spot on the line.

It’s a fascinating coaching match-up between a master and his former apprentice, with a potential finals berth and bragging rights over whose ‘house’ Suncorp Stadium really is on the line.

It’s a chance for Kevin Walters to show the man who sensationally sacked him as an assistant coach 19 years ago that he is indeed up for the job as head coach of the Broncos.

The only place to watch the Battle for Brisbane — at 5.30pm AEST this Saturday — is exclusively on Fox Sports available on Kayo. Start your free Kayo trial today >

Bulldogs forward Max King joins the Fox League podcast to go inside the Bulldogs’ remarkable 2024 revival and chat about the impact of coach Cameron Ciraldo, captain Stephen Crichton and the club’s renowned defensive system

And it’s a chance for Bennett to get one over the club that sensationally sacked him via a voice message amid his lingering “resentment”.

Kevvie breaks big news on Payne Haas | 00:44

BENNETT VS WALTERS

Walters won five premierships playing under Bennett during the Broncos’ golden era and then joined his coaching staff after retiring in 2001.

But Bennett famously oversaw a coaching cleanout at the end of 2005 and one of Red Hill’s favourite sons, Walters, was shown the door.

Time heals all wounds in rugby league and Walters returned to the club in 2015 as the Broncos charged to their first grand final since 2006.

But when the Broncos started interviewing in 2017 for Bennett’s replacement, Walters didn’t exactly get the reference he was looking for from his long-time mentor. .

“I didn’t want Kevin… I didn’t think he was up for the job,” Bennett told The Sydney Morning Herald.

While much of the pre-game attention will turn on the rivalry between Bennett and the Broncos, that won’t distract from the pressure on both Walters and Bennett.

“Both coaches are under pressure. Kevvie’s been under pressure all year… but I can’t exclude the fact Wayne is under huge pressure going into this game,” Paul Crawley said on NRL360 this week.

“For him it would be personal.”

THE ‘BITTER DIVORCE’ THAT STILL HAUNTS BENNETT

Back in 2018, Wayne Bennett was sacked by the Brisbane Broncos over voicemail one year before his contract was due to expire.

Bennett had signed a contract to join the Rabbitohs as their head coach in 2020, but Brisbane terminated his contract early which accelerated the move south and saw the veteran coach arrive at Redfern 12 months early in a swap deal with Anthony Seibold.

Under Seibold’s guidance, the Broncos scraped into the top eight in 2019 before being trounced 58-0 by the Eels in the first week, and collected their first ever wooden spoon in 2020 a month after Seibold was sacked.

The following year, Walters’ first in charge, Brisbane improved their position, slightly, to finish 14th.

South Sydney on the other hand finished third, sixth and third during Bennett’s time at the club, never exiting the finals earlier than the preliminary final stage – including finishing as runners up in 2021.

And while nearly six years have past since Bennett’s unceremonious exit from the club he guided to six premiership wins, that does not mean the hatchet has been buried.