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Bellamy at top of Dragons' hit list to take over from Bennett
CRAIG BELLAMY has emerged as St George Illawarra's No.1 target to replace Wayne Bennett should the seven-time premiership-winning mentor return to Brisbane next season, as most in the game expect.
With up to five clubs waiting for Bennett to announce a decision on his future, Bellamy is believed to be the second choice for at least three of them - the Dragons, Broncos and South Sydney.
The Rabbitohs had initially been favourites to snare Bennett from St George Illawarra but the Herald has been told that South Sydney officials consider themselves an ''outside chance at best'' of securing him to replace John Lang.
Newcastle and North Queensland are the other two clubs vying for Bennett's services, with prospective Knights buyer Nathan Tinkler making no secret of his desire to lure the master coach to the club.
Bennett has an association with Tinkler Sports Group chairman Ken Edwards, whose brother Shane was CEO of the Broncos for a large part of his 21-year tenure at the club, and the fact he could catch a direct flight between Newcastle and Brisbane would be an obvious attraction.
However, many influential people in the game are convinced Bennett's return to the Broncos is a done deal.
It is believed Bennett discussed the move with Brisbane football manager Andrew Gee while they were in camp together with the NRL All Stars team on the Gold Coast earlier this month. However, the Dragons have not given up hope of retaining Bennett for next season, and his return to Brisbane would fly in the face of his desire to become the first coach to win a premiership at three different clubs.
Whether he believes the Broncos would be capable of doing so soon is unclear but Bennett did steer Brisbane to the 2006 premiership. He would also enjoy the opportunity to reunite with Darren Lockyer before the champion playmaker retires and possibly oversee his transition to coaching.
Should Bennett announce when the Dragons return from a stopover in Hong Kong after Sunday night's World Club Challenge match against Wigan that he is leaving the famous club, it is understood St George Illawarra officials have decided to make Bellamy their priority.
The Storm coach yesterday tried to quash any speculation about him leaving by telling Melbourne radio station SEN: ''I've got three years left to go on my contract. I'm here for the long haul.'' But the Herald has been told that News Ltd, which owns the Broncos and Storm, would consider his move to Brisbane as an internal company transfer.
St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust also left little doubt in yesterday's Herald of the value of contracts when defending his decision to turn down Bennett's initial request for a five-year deal in 2008. ''Terms of contracts aren't important to people like him,'' Doust said. ''I don't think the Dragons take a lot out of it either. You're never going to keep a coach that's not happy to stay - it doesn't matter if he is signed for 50 years.''
As pointed out by Broncos caretaker coach Anthony Griffin - who took over after Ivan Henjak's sacking on Monday - Bennett's achievement in last year guiding St George Illawarra to the joint venture's inaugural premiership and the Dragons' first since 1979 virtually means he can choose where he wants to ply his trade and the rest of the competition has to work around him.
After steering the Storm to four consecutive grand finals and two premierships between 2006 and 2009, Bellamy is considered the next best coach in the game and he will be eagerly sought by clubs that miss out on Bennett. Wigan's Michael Maguire, a former understudy of Bellamy's in Melbourne, is considered a ready-made replacement should he leave the Storm. Also waiting in the wings for a NRL club are NSW mentor Ricky Stuart, his Queensland counterpart Mal Meninga, Brian McClennan and Daniel Anderson.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...to-take-over-from-bennett-20110223-1b5ll.html
CRAIG BELLAMY has emerged as St George Illawarra's No.1 target to replace Wayne Bennett should the seven-time premiership-winning mentor return to Brisbane next season, as most in the game expect.
With up to five clubs waiting for Bennett to announce a decision on his future, Bellamy is believed to be the second choice for at least three of them - the Dragons, Broncos and South Sydney.
The Rabbitohs had initially been favourites to snare Bennett from St George Illawarra but the Herald has been told that South Sydney officials consider themselves an ''outside chance at best'' of securing him to replace John Lang.
Newcastle and North Queensland are the other two clubs vying for Bennett's services, with prospective Knights buyer Nathan Tinkler making no secret of his desire to lure the master coach to the club.
Bennett has an association with Tinkler Sports Group chairman Ken Edwards, whose brother Shane was CEO of the Broncos for a large part of his 21-year tenure at the club, and the fact he could catch a direct flight between Newcastle and Brisbane would be an obvious attraction.
However, many influential people in the game are convinced Bennett's return to the Broncos is a done deal.
It is believed Bennett discussed the move with Brisbane football manager Andrew Gee while they were in camp together with the NRL All Stars team on the Gold Coast earlier this month. However, the Dragons have not given up hope of retaining Bennett for next season, and his return to Brisbane would fly in the face of his desire to become the first coach to win a premiership at three different clubs.
Whether he believes the Broncos would be capable of doing so soon is unclear but Bennett did steer Brisbane to the 2006 premiership. He would also enjoy the opportunity to reunite with Darren Lockyer before the champion playmaker retires and possibly oversee his transition to coaching.
Should Bennett announce when the Dragons return from a stopover in Hong Kong after Sunday night's World Club Challenge match against Wigan that he is leaving the famous club, it is understood St George Illawarra officials have decided to make Bellamy their priority.
The Storm coach yesterday tried to quash any speculation about him leaving by telling Melbourne radio station SEN: ''I've got three years left to go on my contract. I'm here for the long haul.'' But the Herald has been told that News Ltd, which owns the Broncos and Storm, would consider his move to Brisbane as an internal company transfer.
St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust also left little doubt in yesterday's Herald of the value of contracts when defending his decision to turn down Bennett's initial request for a five-year deal in 2008. ''Terms of contracts aren't important to people like him,'' Doust said. ''I don't think the Dragons take a lot out of it either. You're never going to keep a coach that's not happy to stay - it doesn't matter if he is signed for 50 years.''
As pointed out by Broncos caretaker coach Anthony Griffin - who took over after Ivan Henjak's sacking on Monday - Bennett's achievement in last year guiding St George Illawarra to the joint venture's inaugural premiership and the Dragons' first since 1979 virtually means he can choose where he wants to ply his trade and the rest of the competition has to work around him.
After steering the Storm to four consecutive grand finals and two premierships between 2006 and 2009, Bellamy is considered the next best coach in the game and he will be eagerly sought by clubs that miss out on Bennett. Wigan's Michael Maguire, a former understudy of Bellamy's in Melbourne, is considered a ready-made replacement should he leave the Storm. Also waiting in the wings for a NRL club are NSW mentor Ricky Stuart, his Queensland counterpart Mal Meninga, Brian McClennan and Daniel Anderson.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...to-take-over-from-bennett-20110223-1b5ll.html
if you ask me.
