Bennett

[Fire]

Ooooooh, watch your back JM, Ivan Drago believes The Dragons had a roster choc full of NSW, QLD and Australian reps when Bennett signed and he need only write out a team sheet for them to win their long overdue comp.

I'm trying to think back to Round 1 against the Storm in 2009 (where we lost by one point).

We did have a lot of representative players, I think his job is a lot harder with you guys, which is why I hope he succeeds.

Off the top of my head we had

Darius Boyd - QLD/AUS
Brett Morris - NSW/AUS
Matt Cooper - NSW/AUS
Jason Nightingale - NZ
Ben Hornby - NSW
Nathan Fien - NZ
Ben Creagh - NSW/AUS
Jeremy Smith - NZ
Neville Costigan - QLD

So he had a lot of talent to work with (Mark Gasnier - NSW/AUS came back, too).

He then turned the following players into rep players

Beau Scott - NSW/AUS
Michael Weyman - NSW/AUS
Dean Young - NSW/AUS
Trent Merrin - NSW
Jamie Soward - NSW

 

[Spot On]

I'm trying to think back to Round 1 against the Storm in 2009 (where we lost by one point).

We did have a lot of representative players, I think his job is a lot harder with you guys, which is why I hope he succeeds.

Off the top of my head we had

Darius Boyd - QLD/AUS bought
Brett Morris - NSW/AUS Debut the year Bennett arrives.
Matt Cooper - NSW/AUS Continually broken down
Jason Nightingale - NZ Freak.
Ben Hornby - NSW Please. Ordinary
Nathan Fien - NZ bought
Ben Creagh - NSW/AUS A fail at rep level. Ordinary.
Jeremy Smith - NZ bought Solid.
Neville Costigan - QLD bought Very ordinary.

So he had a lot of talent to work with (Mark Gasnier - NSW/AUS came back, too). Thief.

He then turned the following players into rep players

Beau Scott - NSW/AUS
Michael Weyman - NSW/AUS
Dean Young - NSW/AUS
Trent Merrin - NSW
Jamie Soward - NSW[/QUOTE]

He brought good quality rep players and turned some ordinary players into rep players who I might add no longer have their rep jersey (with the exception of Merrin who is a very good player) six months after Bennett has left.

 

[Fire]

True. Everyone is 3-4 years older now too. Very frustrating.

 

[drago brelli]

Thanks for helping me out, Spot on. As I tried to explain to you earlier that Dragons team was ready to win a comp. The team had some highly decent and intelligent young men to work with. No discipline problems. Bennett really enjoyed coaching them and the anonyimity of Wollongong. Plenty of rep players there, Spot On. I think Dean Young may have played one origin match off the bench prior to 2009.

 

[Spot On]

Any time. As I said Bennett turned some average players into good ones. He then leaves and they go backwards. He did a brilliant job with that lot. No doubt about it.

How Dean Young got a jersey is any one's guess. I suppose that may be the reason he only got one or two? The magic of Bennett again!

 

[drago brelli]

Ha, Spot On. Spot On nothing. Try checking some fact for the first time in your life.

 

[Spot On]

What do you need checked Ivan? I'm happy to help.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

We did have a lot of representative players, I think his job is a lot harder with you guys, which is why I hope he succeeds.

Off the top of my head we had

Darius Boyd - QLD/AUS
Brett Morris - NSW/AUS
Matt Cooper - NSW/AUS
Jason Nightingale - NZ
Ben Hornby - NSW
Nathan Fien - NZ
Ben Creagh - NSW/AUS
Jeremy Smith - NZ
Neville Costigan - QLD

Compared to (some are former reps):
Boyd - Qld/Aus
Uate - NSW/Aus
MacManus - NSW
Gidley - NSW/Aus
Mullen - NSW (well 1 game)
Buderus - NSW/Aus
Costigan - Qld
Tahu - NSW/Aus?
Mason - NSW/Aus
Wes - Fiji
Snowden - NSW/Aus
Sau - NZ

 

[TooheysNew]

Yeah about half of those actually count.

 

[Fire]

Compared to (some are former reps):
Boyd - Qld/Aus
Uate - NSW/Aus
MacManus - NSW
Gidley - NSW/Aus
Mullen - NSW (well 1 game)
Buderus - NSW/Aus
Costigan - Qld
Tahu - NSW/Aus?
Mason - NSW/Aus
Wes - Fiji
Snowden - NSW/Aus
Sau - NZ

Cheers. I was going to try and find this information but you did it for me, thanks!

Hmmm, there is a lot of talent there. Bennett has his work cut out. I think this is his biggest challenge yet. I hope Tinkler gives him time.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Cheers. I was going to try and find this information but you did it for me, thanks!

Hmmm, there is a lot of talent there. Bennett has his work cut out. I think this is his biggest challenge yet. I hope Tinkler gives him time.

There's a lot of experience there that really should be lifting.

 

[Fire]

There's a lot of experience there that really should be lifting.

Agreed. And it doesn't get any easier for you guys coming up against the Broncs this week.

The funny thing is it seems to be a confidence thing, and Bennett didn't really get us out of our confidence slump in his final six months (we turned up for the semi against thr Broncs, but that doesn't count as everyone turns up in semi's). It will be interesting to see what he does. I hope you guys succeed.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

It would be nice if we could entice Rick Stone away from Newcastle and send Price up to you guys to keep working with Bennett.

Stone is, and always has been, a very underrated coach. To get you guys into the finals twice in three years with the roster you had was a super bit of coaching.

Bennett will produce for you. The Knights have a culture and they don't like outsiders. It will take time, but he's got it.

 

[Serc]

For anyone interested in some of Bennett's current thoughts, the press conference after the game on Sat night has some insights: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/039back-to-square-one039/video-e6frf3ou-1226367896335

 

[Yosh]

For anyone interested in some of Bennett's current thoughts, the press conference after the game on Sat night has some insights: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/039back-to-square-one039/video-e6frf3ou-1226367896335

Can someone summarize the main points fir me? I'm in South Korea and can't watch it... Cheers in advanced.

 

[perverse]

It would be nice if we could entice Rick Stone away from Newcastle and send Price up to you guys to keep working with Bennett.

Stone is, and always has been, a very underrated coach. To get you guys into the finals twice in three years with the roster you had was a super bit of coaching.

Bennett will produce for you. The Knights have a culture and they don't like outsiders. It will take time, but he's got it.

good luck getting many to agree with you. not many around here appreciated Stones work. very good coach, i agree. was able to get blood from a stone.

 

[perverse]

Can someone summarize the main points fir me? I'm in South Korea and can't watch it... Cheers in advanced.

He's disappointed in the players. Feels like they keep taking him back to square one over and over again. Has been here before in his career, knows what he's doing and where he's going. Feels as though no-one is stepping up and demanding to be selected, is struggling to pick the team each week. Says when people are putting their hands up, the team picks itself. He has to pick the team at the moment, which has him as frustrated as anyone.

I'm starting to get the feeling that he's lost the support of at least a portion of the playing group. If i had to speculate, I reckon there is discontent in the playing group. We've rarely seemed like a bunch of blokes that wants to play together.

 

[Wato]

He's disappointed in the players. Feels like they keep taking him back to square one over and over again. Has been here before in his career, knows what he's doing and where he's going. Feels as though no-one is stepping up and demanding to be selected, is struggling to pick the team each week. Says when people are putting their hands up, the team picks itself. He has to pick the team at the moment, which has him as frustrated as anyone.

I'm starting to get the feeling that he's lost the support of at least a portion of the playing group. If i had to speculate, I reckon there is discontent in the playing group. We've rarely seemed like a bunch of blokes that wants to play together.

Yea am getting the same feeling similar to when Smith left for the Roosters and when went from a top 6 side to not even in the 8 in just a month. Our playing group is vary fickle and when Taufua,Pato and De Gois were shown the door and Bennett blamed for it I think he lost a fair chunk of the playing group.

 

[Big Tim]

He's disappointed in the players. Feels like they keep taking him back to square one over and over again. Has been here before in his career, knows what he's doing and where he's going. Feels as though no-one is stepping up and demanding to be selected, is struggling to pick the team each week. Says when people are putting their hands up, the team picks itself. He has to pick the team at the moment, which has him as frustrated as anyone.

I'm starting to get the feeling that he's lost the support of at least a portion of the playing group. If i had to speculate, I reckon there is discontent in the playing group. We've rarely seemed like a bunch of blokes that wants to play together.

Add to that the NSW cup players complaining about a lack of opportunity, but not doing anything to demand being picked.

I would definately point to club culture being a massive issue.

Lock them in the stadium, supply them free booze and let the unity and mateship return/form.

 

[Jobdog]

Add to that the NSW cup players complaining about a lack of opportunity, but not doing anything to demand being picked.

I would definately point to club culture being a massive issue.

Lock them in the stadium, supply them free booze and let the unity and mateship return/form.

Just on the whole "no-one is demanding to be picked" issue, the NSW Cup side trailed 26-0 and lost 37-36 in the 80th minute. So one of two things happened there, either the 'Dogs put the cue in the rack, or someone sparked the comeback.