Forward thinking ... Gorden Tallis gives advice to Ben Lowe yesterday. Photograph: Gregg Porteous / The Daily Telegraph

In a strange twist to the annual slugfest, incoming Dragons coach Wayne Bennett confronts his former Broncos star player - new Souths forwards' coach Gorden Tallis.

Both publicly deny it, but there remains simmering drama between the pair dating back to 2005.

That was when Tallis vented his anger that Bennett sacked assistant coaches Kevin Walters, Glenn Lazarus and Gary Belcher.

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Bennett and Tallis were cordial when they last met but there will forever be tension between them.

The drama adds extra spice to the Charity Shield - regarded as the unofficial start to the NRL season.

TAB Sportsbet has the Dragons $1.45 favourites with Souths at $2.65.

Tallis admitted he strongly disagreed with Bennett's contentious decision in 2005.

"I was just sticking up for Kev Walters, 'Lazo' and 'Badge' (Belcher) a few years ago," Tallis said.

"Everyone said I was having a go at Wayne Bennett.

"People can make their own conclusions about whether Wayne was right or not. But at the time I thought he did the wrong thing.

"As I said, I was just sticking up for my teammates. I think people might have been misled about Wayne and I hating each other.

"There's not an issue - if there is I don't know about it.

"Ask me five years ago whether I would be confronting Wayne as part of the Souths coaching staff when he was at the Dragons and I would have sent you to the loony-bin.

"He's the benchmark of coaching and we know St George Illawarra will be super prepared."

Bennett would not comment yesterday with Lazarus claiming to be unaware his sacking from the Broncos coaching staff caused the fallout.

Tallis said the Charity Shield will be tough, gruelling and fast.

"I played in four Charity Shields for the Dragons. You know it's only a trial but those games are always high intensity," he said.

"It has always been the unofficial start to the season."

Asked about Tallis' contribution, Souths coach Jason Taylor said: "Gordie's been superb.

"No doubt he learned a lot off Wayne and he is sharing that with the boys.

"He has great experience - Gordie has played in so many big games. There's been plenty of hype about the Dragons' pre-season games."

Tallis this week told of his desire to instill a mental toughness in the Rabbitohs this season.

"If you're up against one of his sides you have to make sure you're super mentally tough," he said.

"He gets his players to believe in themselves and each other and that's why his sides have been so successful.

"But things couldn't be better at Souths. I'm enjoying my coaching responsibilities with Jason and I can't fault the players attitude so far.

"We're just making sure they're doing things right on the training paddock and hopefully they'll get into the right habits in a game situation. I can't wait for Saturday."

Charity Shield

South Sydney v St George Illawarra

Tomorrow, 8pm at ANZ Stadium

Live on Fuel TV