LOYAL DRAGON
First Grade
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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/a-war-on-wayne/story-e6frexnr-1225901339858
THEY remember it as the day Wayne Bennett went on the attack. Preparing the NRL All-stars for their exhibition game in February, Bennett gathered his top players inside the Holiday Inn at Surfer's Paradise and slapped them with a licence to thrill.
"There was an option to sacrifice the conversion and go for another try if you scored, and Wayne wanted us to do that every chance we got," a source close to the meeting said. "He encouraged us to play flamboyant, to entertain the crowd at all costs.
"It was definitely all about our attack and showcasing our skills."
Fast forward six months and Bennett is now being portrayed as a modern-day Warren Ryan.
As his Dragons threaten another finals fade-out, the title favourites have been criticised for showing less imagination than a North Korean town planner.
Although still clinging to the ladder's top rung, St George Illawarra have now slumped to 11th in offence after a barren month that's delivered just 40 points in four games.
This week they face the NRL's new rainmakers, the smoking Sydney Roosters, now the competition's most lethal attacking unit with 146 points during the same period.
And in his 600th game as coach, Bennett faces the man responsible for turning last year's wooden spooners from spatchcocks to prized bantams - his old sparring partner Brian Smith.
Bennett and Smith might now be wearing different hats, but anyone who was around during their previous reigns at Brisbane and Parramatta respectively understand how willing their rivalry could get.
Unlike Bennett - who has more premiership rings than children - Smith has never won a title.
But after losing consecutive grand finals to Bennett while at St George, Smith turned the tables with a more-often-than-not unfancied Eels side to become a silent thorn in Brisbane's side.
During that period, both coaches developed some tremendous attacking sides. Bennett's Broncos were renowned for their disdain of penalty shots and drop goals, while the Eels of 2001 became the highest pointscoring team on record under Smith.
But despite coaching a combined 1143 games over more than two decades, Bennett and Smith have only shared seven players: Ivan Henjak, Anthony Mundine, Gorden Tallis, Paul Green, Casey McGuire, PJ Marsh and Stu Kelly.
According to Kelly - who played five seasons under each at Parramatta then Brisbane - their philosophies differ greatly.
"Brian is a great technical coach who prepares the team for different contingencies and situations in games," Kelly recalled. "Wayne is more a man manager. His strength is getting the best out of you as an individual. He doesn't concentrate on the opposition as much. He gives you a job to do and takes an interest in your life outside football.
"I got on very well with Brian in that respect as well, but Wayne probably takes more of an interest in his players."
Kelly confirmed that Smith would train the Eels hard ahead of Brisbane games.
"Brisbane and Newcastle - those were the two games he really used to get us up for," Kelly said.
"I don't know if it had anything to do with Wayne Bennett, or maybe just the fact they were two of the best sides in the 1990s."
And as for Bennett this week? Kelly doubted he'd be panicking.
"Wayne was more likely to get angry when we were playing well and then put in an ordinary half of footy," the former Maroons centre said. "If he can see you're going through a tough patch and still trying hard, he understands.
"That's what the Dragons are going through now."
THEY remember it as the day Wayne Bennett went on the attack. Preparing the NRL All-stars for their exhibition game in February, Bennett gathered his top players inside the Holiday Inn at Surfer's Paradise and slapped them with a licence to thrill.
"There was an option to sacrifice the conversion and go for another try if you scored, and Wayne wanted us to do that every chance we got," a source close to the meeting said. "He encouraged us to play flamboyant, to entertain the crowd at all costs.
"It was definitely all about our attack and showcasing our skills."
Fast forward six months and Bennett is now being portrayed as a modern-day Warren Ryan.
As his Dragons threaten another finals fade-out, the title favourites have been criticised for showing less imagination than a North Korean town planner.
Although still clinging to the ladder's top rung, St George Illawarra have now slumped to 11th in offence after a barren month that's delivered just 40 points in four games.
This week they face the NRL's new rainmakers, the smoking Sydney Roosters, now the competition's most lethal attacking unit with 146 points during the same period.
And in his 600th game as coach, Bennett faces the man responsible for turning last year's wooden spooners from spatchcocks to prized bantams - his old sparring partner Brian Smith.
Bennett and Smith might now be wearing different hats, but anyone who was around during their previous reigns at Brisbane and Parramatta respectively understand how willing their rivalry could get.
Unlike Bennett - who has more premiership rings than children - Smith has never won a title.
But after losing consecutive grand finals to Bennett while at St George, Smith turned the tables with a more-often-than-not unfancied Eels side to become a silent thorn in Brisbane's side.
During that period, both coaches developed some tremendous attacking sides. Bennett's Broncos were renowned for their disdain of penalty shots and drop goals, while the Eels of 2001 became the highest pointscoring team on record under Smith.
But despite coaching a combined 1143 games over more than two decades, Bennett and Smith have only shared seven players: Ivan Henjak, Anthony Mundine, Gorden Tallis, Paul Green, Casey McGuire, PJ Marsh and Stu Kelly.
According to Kelly - who played five seasons under each at Parramatta then Brisbane - their philosophies differ greatly.
"Brian is a great technical coach who prepares the team for different contingencies and situations in games," Kelly recalled. "Wayne is more a man manager. His strength is getting the best out of you as an individual. He doesn't concentrate on the opposition as much. He gives you a job to do and takes an interest in your life outside football.
"I got on very well with Brian in that respect as well, but Wayne probably takes more of an interest in his players."
Kelly confirmed that Smith would train the Eels hard ahead of Brisbane games.
"Brisbane and Newcastle - those were the two games he really used to get us up for," Kelly said.
"I don't know if it had anything to do with Wayne Bennett, or maybe just the fact they were two of the best sides in the 1990s."
And as for Bennett this week? Kelly doubted he'd be panicking.
"Wayne was more likely to get angry when we were playing well and then put in an ordinary half of footy," the former Maroons centre said. "If he can see you're going through a tough patch and still trying hard, he understands.
"That's what the Dragons are going through now."
