Didn't know about this one, missed opportunity I think
https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/rug...-back-wayne-bennett/ar-BB19RRri?ocid=msedgntp
Why Parramatta knocked back Wayne Bennett
Adrian Proszenko
23 hrs ago
Parramatta rejected an approach that could have resulted in Wayne Bennett coaching the Eels instead of the Rabbitohs in Saturday night's finals clash at Bankwest Stadium.
An intermediary acting for Bennett approached Eels chairman Sean McElduff just as the latter was stepping in to replace predecessor Max Donnelly late in the 2018 season. At that point Bennett's job at Brisbane was on shaky ground, despite having a further season remaining on his contract.
At the same time, Brad Arthur was also a man under pressure. The Eels were expected to go to another level in 2018 after finishing in the top-four the previous season. However, Arthur's side never got out of the blocks, failing to recover after losing their opening six matches. They finished the season with the wooden spoon, prompting an all-encompassing review which some predicted could cost Arthur his job.
It was in this environment that a meeting was brokered in which a Bennett associate put forward the veteran coach's desire to coach Parramatta. While countless managers have purported to represent the 70-year-old without his knowledge or consent, the Eels were satisfied this approach was genuine.
The third party expressed Bennett's desire to work at a major Sydney club and pointed to his unmatched record of seven premierships as proof that he could turn the blue and golds into a genuine contender.
However McElduff, in his first big decision as chairman, had already identified the man he believed would lead Parramatta to grand final glory.
"We believed Brad Arthur could do better than what the results of 2018 reflected," McElduff told the
Herald. "We had faith in him and we showed that faith. He has repaid it."
Indeed, the Eels finished the 2019 season in fifth spot and improved to third this year. Bennett, meanwhile, was sacked by Brisbane at about the time the Eels declined the advance and joined South Sydney. Now Bennett stands between Parramatta and a chance to progress to the penultimate game of the season, adding an intriguing subplot to Saturday's elimination encounter.
The Rabbitohs belted Parramatta 38-0 during their previous clash in round 16, with the Eels missing strike wingers Maiko Sivo and Blake Ferguson for the rematch. Sivo suffered an MCL tear, while Ferguson was ruled out with a knee injury of his own on Friday night when the Eels trimmed their squad back to 19.
"We need 17 fit players against a very good Rabbitohs team. We've got to trust our medical guys," Arthur said earlier on Friday during his pre-game press conference.
Parramatta's current campaign has echoes of their 2017 post-season. That year they ran into a white-hot Cowboys side that made an unlikely run to the decider. This year Souths are shaping as the form team after scoring 106 points in wins over the Roosters and Newcastle.
"It is very similar," Arthur said. "But I think going into that Cowboys game we got caught out not respecting them enough because they had quite a few players out.
"We might have been [short-priced] favourites to win that game. Souths are favourites for this game and in a lot of people's eyes probably deserve to be, but that doesn't really concern us.
"We've got a different approach, a different mentality, a different team to what we were in ???17.
"Hopefully we have learned a few of those lessons. We've had to play Melbourne three or four times in our five or six [finals] games or whatever.
"They've taught us a few good lessons."
