RedVDave
First Grade
- Messages
- 5,672
I was right on Wayne's deal, says Doust
Steve Mascord
February 23, 2011
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA chief executive Peter Doust has reacted to an intensified scramble for Wayne Bennett's signature by insisting he has few regrets about turning down the coach's original request for a five-year deal.
Brisbane sacked Ivan Henjak on Monday, immediately adding the Broncos to a list of Bennett suitors which is also said to include South Sydney, Newcastle, a second Brisbane franchise, Central Queensland and even North Queensland. As he watched the Dragons train in London Doust said that the Henjak development did not affect his own talks to retain Bennett - and that his decision to offer Bennett only three years at the joint venture was the right call at the time.
"He said he wanted five and I said, 'No, five's too long'," Doust said of talks that took place in 2008. "I don't know if it's about that, to be honest with you. You form a relationship with someone like Wayne and it's a mutual relationship. If he, no matter how many years he signed for, wanted to do something different or we wanted to do something different, it wouldn't be a problem.
"Terms of contracts aren't important to people like him. 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's signed for 50 years."
Bennett on Monday cancelled a planned video interview with the Rugby Football League - which was to be syndicated to British media - in the wake of the Henjak news. But although he also dodged other media requests, he appeared cheerful and sociable as he put his side through its first paces on UK soil.
"I've got nothing to say - it's got nothing to do with me," he said when asked about the demise of his former assistant.
It's understood Bennett's other suitors are more nervous than the Dragons about the entry of the Broncos to the equation. While a Brisbane consortium has again named Bennett as a coaching preference, there is a growing feeling that there will be no expansion until 2015.
But Doust reckoned: "They've [Broncos] obviously got their reasons and there's been some pressure on Ivan up there since he took the job. I don't know that this changes the landscape too much.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...on-waynes-deal-says-doust-20110222-1b44l.html
Steve Mascord
February 23, 2011
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA chief executive Peter Doust has reacted to an intensified scramble for Wayne Bennett's signature by insisting he has few regrets about turning down the coach's original request for a five-year deal.
Brisbane sacked Ivan Henjak on Monday, immediately adding the Broncos to a list of Bennett suitors which is also said to include South Sydney, Newcastle, a second Brisbane franchise, Central Queensland and even North Queensland. As he watched the Dragons train in London Doust said that the Henjak development did not affect his own talks to retain Bennett - and that his decision to offer Bennett only three years at the joint venture was the right call at the time.
"He said he wanted five and I said, 'No, five's too long'," Doust said of talks that took place in 2008. "I don't know if it's about that, to be honest with you. You form a relationship with someone like Wayne and it's a mutual relationship. If he, no matter how many years he signed for, wanted to do something different or we wanted to do something different, it wouldn't be a problem.
"Terms of contracts aren't important to people like him. 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's signed for 50 years."
Bennett on Monday cancelled a planned video interview with the Rugby Football League - which was to be syndicated to British media - in the wake of the Henjak news. But although he also dodged other media requests, he appeared cheerful and sociable as he put his side through its first paces on UK soil.
"I've got nothing to say - it's got nothing to do with me," he said when asked about the demise of his former assistant.
It's understood Bennett's other suitors are more nervous than the Dragons about the entry of the Broncos to the equation. While a Brisbane consortium has again named Bennett as a coaching preference, there is a growing feeling that there will be no expansion until 2015.
But Doust reckoned: "They've [Broncos] obviously got their reasons and there's been some pressure on Ivan up there since he took the job. I don't know that this changes the landscape too much.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...on-waynes-deal-says-doust-20110222-1b44l.html
