Cullen slams poaching attempt on Bennett

Fuming Brisbane Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen has slammed the Sydney Roosters' efforts to poach coach Wayne Bennett as "disgraceful".

Cullen has returned fire on the Roosters after their former coach and prominent TV commentator Phil Gould used his Sydney newspaper column to give his version of the Bondi Junction club's efforts to sign Bennett to a reported $2.4 million deal to replace Ricky Stuart.

Gould revealed that it was his idea to approach Bennett, and said he'd recommended that Stuart should only be sacked if the veteran Brisbane mentor was his replacement. Cullen says he can't challenge Gould's version of events but stressed he remains comfortable with his relationship with Bennett.