Wayne Bennett was so convinced he was heading to South Sydney next year he had phoned several Rabbitohs players during the week to confirm the move was on.

Fairfax Media has learnt the swap deal with Anthony Seibold and Bennett was given the green light on two separate occasions this week, only for Bennett to catch everybody by surprise on Friday and declare he would remain at Red Hill for one more season.

Mixed messages: Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett. Credit:AAP

Bennett said he felt he owed it to the players and fans to see out his original deal – but that did not stop the seven-times premiership winner speaking excitedly to Souths players about the season ahead.

Seibold was at Brisbane's famous Caxton Hotel on Friday night to help with a fundraiser for his former school before he trotted down the road to Suncorp Stadium to watch the Anthony Mundine-Jeff Horn fight.