I know Mary wasn't there in the Bennett era however, you'd think both Hornby and Young would have learnt a thing or two about defensive patterns, line speed in defence, ownership of defensive space and 'working for each other'.
The hallmark of Bennett teams has been consistency, as it was with Jack Gibson teams, whose sometimes average players played consistently beyond their known potential. These were the 2 standout coaches of the last 50 years. Gibson regularly brought an unknown reserve grader up for a specific match and he'd turn in a blinder & play out of his skin. He continually RENEWED his teams. He was the great INNOVATOR of the game.
Listening Mary?
HOW did they do it?
Look at what they consistently did:
1. Recruited players who put in, week in week out, consistently! I remember both coaches often saying "they"ll never let me down" and "they'll put in regularly". Wonder why Lafai, McCrone, Sims & MacDonald were let go & why Bennett axed Barba? You could draw up a long list of such players. The majority of juniors who don't make NRL fail largely because of their lack of consistency, along with their often "not turning up" syndrome.
It's both a talent & a mental thing.
Footy smarts and KNOWING a good player when you see one
And sadly mental fortitude is not as much a part of Australian culture as it used to be; we aren't bush dwellers now; soft city folk; life's easy now; kids sooking over million dollar pay cheques; no dying in the trenches for these boys ( Dugan excepted - he's like a guy out of Russell Crowe's ' The Water Diviner' - my 90 yr old mum loves him)
2. Developed & maintained a disciplined team culture and pride in their jersey- one of their common sayings: " they're playing for each other". Respect for each other; the jumper
3. Rarely could the phrase "which team will turn up today" be levelled at their teams - and they are rarely beaten by much because of their consistency
4. Achieved mental toughness in their players through extreme fitness & self belief in their potential - along with an extreme WILL TO WIN and fear of losing, which is the pivotal motivator in All Black culture. It's never a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park or " going through the motions" for them!! It's extraordinary shutdown relentless LINESPEED and a willingness to bleed & dare I say die for the team.
5. Their players understood absolutely their role in the GAME plan. "He did his job" & " did what he was asked to do" were other Gibson favourites.
6. Gibson always said " defend the MIDDLE of the park and you win the game"
WOW
How SIMPLE guys??
Something clear & pure & uncomplicated
-to have in your head as you run down that tunnel Sunday
Yet our default position at the end of most sets is defending our line!
Strange days. ....
And the Dragons will get found out soon enough