Crowe, Bennett bristle over Souths coaching role talk

[Newcastlerabbit]

Saturday, 29 January 2011 09:40

Pictures Courtesy of hunkymalestars.com
STEVE CHRISTO/Sydney Morning Herald
The Roar

As speculation mounts that Wayne Bennett will coach the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the 2012 NRL season, both parties attempted to distance themselves from discussions.
South Sydney owner Russell Crowe was quick to throw his support behind coach John Lang, who like Bennett will be off contract at the end of 2011.
“Currently the thing that you’ve got to be sensitive to and aware of is that John Lang is the coach of South Sydney,” Crowe said.
“He’s the only man that has the opportunity to win South Sydney their 21st premiership right now.
“And the club’s energy and the players’ energy is focused on putting in place for John everything he needs to help that to happen.
“What I think we need to do with this is not worry about that question. We very clearly understand who our coach is right now and that’s where our energy’s going.
“I don’t want to talk about any of the possibilities that are out there, Mal Reilly, Brian Noble, because it’s a pointless conversation.
“I just think it’s disrespectful and disruptive to have these conversations when we know who our coach is and we know what we’ve got to do this year.”
Bennett remains guarded about his future beyond this season, with the rumours linking him to South Sydney growing stronger by the day.
But the seven-time premiership winner has also garnered interest from both North Queensland, his former club Brisbane, while the possibility remains that he could stick with the Dragons beyond this year.
But the mastercoach bristled when asked on Friday whether his indecision could become a distraction for the Dragons, who are hoping to become the first team since Bennett’s Broncos in 1992-93 to win back-to-back premierships.
“It’s not a distraction for me, I know what I’m doing, I’m coaching St George Illawarra, I’m not distracted,” he explained.
When asked directly if he had signed a contract with South Sydney, Bennett fired back: “Have you missed the point today? I told you when I’ve done something I’ll tell you. I have no more to add to it.”
It was a difficult day for Crowe, who also had to defend the club’s decision to announce casino Star City as their front-of-jersey sponsor for 2011.
The multi-million dollar deal was announced as debate rages over the NRL’s ever-growing association with gambling.
Souths’ new commercial arrangements represent a huge backflip from Crowe and co-owner Peter Holmes a Court, who in 2007 tried to remove poker machines from Souths Leagues Club, saying that taking profit from poker machines was at odds with the club’s program.
“The football club is a completely different organisation from the leagues club,” Crowe said on Friday.
“We don’t have any control over what the leagues club do, they run their own game.”
Crowe admitted that his own personal opinions were at loggerheads with the deal and recognised that problem gamblers, who account for 40 per cent of gambling revenue, was an issue of concern.
“I don’t like them (poker machines), I’m not a fan of them I’ve made that clear in the past.
“But in life I am a gambler. The fact that I took on South Sydney underlines that.”


http://theburrow.net.au/current-new...ennett-bristle-over-souths-coaching-role-talk

 

[BunniesMan]

Won't surprise me at all if Bennett is our coach in 2012. The money we can give him and the opportunity to win premierships with 3 different clubs (another never to be beaten record for Wayne) will be too much to knock back.

 

[liquor box]

I would rather chase Belamy as he will be around longer than 2-3 years.

I think Brett Kimorley could be a great option, it sounds strange but he was very good at playing with a monster set of forwards who give go forward for a flat passing backline.

 

[boo_boo]

Head Coach - Mark Ellison - Assistant Head Coach - Jim Dymock.
That will do me as old rabbitohs never die they just keep looking after their own.

 

[monkey1]

Head Coach - Mark Ellison - Assistant Head Coach - Jim Dymock.
That will do me as old rabbitohs never die they just keep looking after their own.

rookie coach back to the old days, hell no

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

Wayne Bennett yes

 

[boo_boo]

rookie coach back to the old days, hell no

You need to start from somewhere monkey1.
Signing Jason Taylor was a big mistake just a knee-jerk reaction to Souths becoming privatised & we all know how that ended up.
However i think that Rhino would be a lot better as he has had a senior administration role at Souths for several years now, he has the club's management's respect & support plus he knows how to deal with the players having previously coached the lower grades.

 

[Honkiest_Honky]

I wouldn't use Ellison because I have a feeling he would be Rusty's bitch. You need a coach that can stand up to Crowe's out of control ego. Brian Smith would be the best, I don't think that guy cares who he pisses off he just gets on with the job. I dont think it would be an easy job for anyone with Russell calling the shots.

 

[boo_boo]

Well that's been proven in the past hasn't it HH.
Dont mess with Rusty he knows everything.
Just ask Mad Dog he'll tell ya.

 

[rabbs]

Definately Bennett if available

 

[boo_boo]

Bennett would make a massive difference around the place Rabbs that's for sure but he wont get pushed around so if the management can see the benefits of leaving him alone to do his job then it could be a working relationship worth pursuing.

 

[rabbs]

Thats why we need him.

 

[rabbs]

Thats why we need him

 

[BigBadWilly]

What worries me is that Bennant hates having people talk about him in the media and that could end up costing us and I really hope that isn't the case.

I think we are in with a 50/50 chance with Brisbane I have a feeling they want him back and have the $$ with the thoroughturds to do it.

 

[slipperykinchela]

You have interviewed Bellamy already and my mail is he will be your coach in 2012.

 

[boo_boo]

Heard that myself.
This year will see if Bellamy can / will live up to the hype that surrounds him.
No Inglis, no Kearney, no NSW.

 

[BunniesMan]

I wouldn't use Ellison because I have a feeling he would be Rusty's bitch. You need a coach that can stand up to Crowe's out of control ego. Brian Smith would be the best, I don't think that guy cares who he pisses off he just gets on with the job. I dont think it would be an easy job for anyone with Russell calling the shots.

Brian Smith has never won anything. We're after premierships. So in other words, Bennett.

You have interviewed Bellamy already and my mail is he will be your coach in 2012.

First we need to see if he can have success with a legal roster.

What worries me is that Bennant hates having people talk about him in the media and that could end up costing us and I really hope that isn't the case.

I think we are in with a 50/50 chance with Brisbane I have a feeling they want him back and have the $$ with the thoroughturds to do it.

Brisbane is a case of "been there done that". With us he can go for another never to be beaten record, premierships with 3 different clubs. That along with his total number of premierships would probably solidify him in most people's minds as the greatest coach ever. And we can offer whatever the Broncos offer, so money won't be the reason we miss out on him.

I'm confident Bennett will be our coach in 2012, the way he's answered media questions in the last few days just made me more confident of that. He might even sign the contract the night we eliminate the Dragons in the finals....wouldn't that be a sweet story to rub in their faces if it got out.

 

[monkey1]

You need to start from somewhere monkey1.
Signing Jason Taylor was a big mistake just a knee-jerk reaction to Souths becoming privatised & we all know how that ended up.
However i think that Rhino would be a lot better as he has had a senior administration role at Souths for several years now, he has the club's management's respect & support plus he knows how to deal with the players having previously coached the lower grades.

no he is a massive backwards step, nil experience and back to the bad old days and backwards thinking. Too many inexperienced and poor coaches through 90's and since. Just because you are souths jnrs doesn't make you good look at the 90's as a prime example

 

[boo_boo]

And just because we have an endless supply of cash, resources & sponsors it doesn't mean we are going to win a premiership either.
Let's see how Rusty's theory of buying the best available to try & bring success to the club as opposed to developing a winning culture over time goes.

 

[hunters]

You need to start from somewhere monkey1.
Signing Jason Taylor was a big mistake just a knee-jerk reaction to Souths becoming privatised & we all know how that ended up.
However i think that Rhino would be a lot better as he has had a senior administration role at Souths for several years now, he has the club's management's respect & support plus he knows how to deal with the players having previously coached the lower grades.

You make the point yourself. Jason Taylor was the start! (and certainly not some absurd knee jerk reaction). We will aim for the best and go to the next option if we don't get our man. Mark Ellison will be a long way down the list.