Bennett does a runner
December 1, 2005
IF only the Kangaroos had the sidestep Australia rugby league coach Wayne Bennett displayed at the Brisbane International Airport today.
Bennett was at his wily best as he pulled off the biggest coup of the Kangaroos' disastrous Tri-Nations campaign giving the waiting media pack the slip.
Taking an option a Brisbane airport official said was usually only utilised by rock stars and royalty, Bennett took an elevator from customs to an underground car park and was seen far too late by exasperated media walking at pace to his vehicle with wife Trish in tow.
It was a display of speed and guile that Australia certainly lacked when Bennett's Kangaroos were thrashed 24-0 by New Zealand in England last Sunday, marking their first series loss in 27 years.
But ARL chief executive Geoff Carr didn't see a problem with Bennett's runner.
"The team split up. Some players went to America and Mexico, some stayed in Europe so team management made a decision to break camp in Manchester," he said.
"So as a result the players and coach came back as private individuals and they felt their commitments were over.
"It was a decision of team management. Once they break camp everyone is entitled to a holiday and Wayne was obviously of the view that his commitments were finished.
"I haven't spoken to Wayne but that's how I understand it."
Carr's explanation contradicted an ARL release which invited media to speak to Bennett and Queensland-based internationals Luke O'Donnell and Petero Civoniceva today. The release even gave their flight number and time of arrival.
Asked if he would have preferred Bennett to have spoken about Australia's first series loss to the Kiwis since 1953, Carr said: "If they break camp, they break camp it's a decision made by team management.
"The fact they weren't travelling as a team and that they had split up to all points of the compass they thought the tour was over it finished at Manchester."
Not that any of that information was shared on the ARL media alert issued yesterday.
And so a massive pack hovered for the 9.35am (AEST) arrival, covering both exits to the international terminal in a bid to speak to Bennett for the first time in Australia about the Tri-Nations disappointment.
Forty minutes later O'Donnell, team manager Steve Walters and assistant coach Craig Bellamy hit the ground running as they finally emerged from customs.
No need to panic, Bennett was still to come or so the media thought.
Alarm bells rang as Walters approached Bennett's wife Trish in the terminal and the pair headed for the downstairs carpark.
But it was too late moments later a TV crew came sprinting into the terminal yelling "Bennett's gone".
Only Civoniceva stopped to talk.
Before he could embrace his wife Bonnie and two infant children, armed with a lovingly created green and gold "Welcome Home Dad" sign, the big Brisbane prop faced the music.
"As a group we will take the blame. There were 17 players who went out there and our job was to get it right on the night, and we didn't," he said.
"Our preparation was fantastic. Our form leading into that indicated bigger things.
"But on the night we got it wrong and the New Zealand team was fantastic."
Asked if he wanted Bennett to stay on as national coach, he said: "For sure. I know all the players like to work under him.
"We were heading in the right direction but on the night the 17 guys got it wrong.
"We can only look forward to making amends next year."
Of the criticism levelled at him since the Tri-Nations disaster, Civoniceva said: "As a player all I can do is make sure my form is good enough and if I get the chance again I will take it with both hands."
It was a well worn cliche, but at least he answered questions.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17427304-23214,00.html
