Wayne Bennett to finish up at St George

[InThatNumber]

I think the Bulldogs could very well be the smokey ,i see him there far more than at the rabbitohs . I know that Bennett has very high praise for the canterbury club ,its always been one of his favorites i heard him say once . It was directly because of Bennett that Hannant,Stagg and Eastwood went there .

Good point. Bennett has said in the past that he would only coach a team that has a realistic shot at winning. No turnaround jobs. So that rules a few clubs out. Canterbury could definitely be in with a shot should he decide to leave his football nirvana down at the Gong. But he has to go back to back first... and then who knows? Might be tempted for a hat trick? Hasn't been done for a long time. Parra if I recall correctly...

 

[Nemesis]

Comes back to my point about depth which you just don't seem to understand. How is that being a hater when I'm discussing depth issues at your club
You might be better off sticking to following AFL.

I guess that cavernous void between your ears does make you the resident expert on depth.:lol:

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Good point. Bennett has said in the past that he would only coach a team that has a realistic shot at winning. No turnaround jobs. So that rules a few clubs out. Canterbury could definitely be in with a shot should he decide to leave his football nirvana down at the Gong. But he has to go back to back first... and then who knows? Might be tempted for a hat trick? Hasn't been done for a long time. Parra if I recall correctly...

Honestly, I didn't think Saints had a "premiership" roster in 2009 when he walked in. There is no team in the NRL that I dont think Wayne could win the comp with.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

We'll have to get the builders in to create an extension to our trophy room...

Souths trophy room? Pre dates history. No one can remember where the fugger is.

 

[InThatNumber]

Honestly, I didn't think Saints had a "premiership" roster in 2009 when he walked in. There is no team in the NRL that I dont think Wayne could win the comp with.

To be honest, I don't think many people did... even now you look at that roster and there isn't one player that you could pull out of that team, place in a lowly squad and turn that team around... you could probably do that with a Lockyer, Johns, Fittler perhaps, but certainly no one in the current Saints roster.. what made them champions was that they were the best team... they played for each other and it just goes to show that you don't have to have the most talent to win. But you must have depth.

Wayne could probably turn any team around and should he leave Saints after his 3rd season, no Dragons fan could ask for more from him. He has cemented his place in our hearts and we will be forever thankful. But I want Saints to annihilate his team when we meet on the field. That's just the way it is. But who knows? He might stay.. Hasn't said he is leaving yet.. That's just hack journos...

 

[BunniesMan]

Bennett will be a Rabbitoh in 2012. Trust me. He might even announce it before the season starts.

Doust's comments came amid more backroom talk that Bennett had already made up his mind, with sources saying he could announce his intention to leave after the Dragons' visit to England for the World Club Challenge

Speculation has been rife for weeks that Bennett's primary suitors, South Sydney, have already locked in the seven-time premiership winning coach to take over from the departing John Lang next year.
Among the Dragons faithful some are resigned to the fact he is on the way out, with St George legend Johnny Raper yesterday discussing a successor. ''The players themselves with their ability would enable another coach to be reasonably successful,'' Raper told AAP.

A switch to the Rabbitohs would give Bennett the opportunity to make history by winning premierships with three different clubs, and in the process end the long droughts of the competition's two most famous clubs.
Having steered the Dragons to their first title in 31 years, overseeing a first win since 1971 for South Sydney would leave Bennett with effectively nothing more to achieve in a game on which he has stamped an indelible mark for two decades

The Rabbitohs are believed to have courted Bennett for months, having known since before the close of last year's campaign that Lang would not continue in the top job beyond this year.

Crowe also deflected the question of whether he had held discussions with Bennett about the job.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...o-hope-of-bennett-staying-20110206-1aigh.html

 

[Quidgybo]

He needs a real challenge, come West my good man!

Building a new club is a huge commitment. Significantly more than walking into a settled, established team. You basically know you're in it for at least five years before having something to show for it with a realistic premiership shot. His age would count against him making that sort of commitment (again).

Would be great for the game if he went to Warriors and delivered NZ a premiership

That would, in my opinion, be the perfect outcome for the game. For a team that should've have been the next Broncos, they have been massive under achievers from day one. And to win a Premiership there would be enough of a different challenge from winning in Brisbane and Sydney to add significantly to an already great reputation. But I still think it's a massive longshot.

Les Catalans? Bigger longshot but perhaps even more important to the game long term that they become a powerhouse.

Leigh.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Bennett will be a Rabbitoh in 2012. Trust me. He might even announce it before the season starts.









http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...o-hope-of-bennett-staying-20110206-1aigh.html

So the SMH are the "sources" you have and have been hearing? lol

 

[Gaba]

I think the Bulldogs could very well be the smokey ,i see him there far more than at the rabbitohs . I know that Bennett has very high praise for the canterbury club ,its always been one of his favorites i heard him say once . It was directly because of Bennett that Hannant,Stagg and Eastwood went there .

Bennett told them the dogs had more room under the salary cap , i think kevin moore is still contracted at the dogs next year .

 

[2010Dragons]

I just don't see him going there. It'll either be a Sydney team with cash, Brisbane, or Newcastle as an outside shot.

BunniesMan,
I know....Wayne Bennett will NOT be coaching at the bunnies in 2012...or the Dragons....that is all I will say right now.

 

[thommo4pm]

I guess that cavernous void between your ears does make you the resident expert on depth.:lol:

Wow quality comment, well done. :roll:

 

[Noname36]

I think the Bulldogs could very well be the smokey ,i see him there far more than at the rabbitohs . I know that Bennett has very high praise for the canterbury club ,its always been one of his favorites i heard him say once . It was directly because of Bennett that Hannant,Stagg and Eastwood went there .

That's really good point, and it's one of the reasons why I'm so confused Bunnies fans believe that Souths would be the only club he'd go to. He likes the Bulldogs, and I think he almost went there instead of the Dragons...he's mentioned numerous times that he really likes the Knights, and Costigan said that Bennett apparently told him and Beau Heny to sign with the Knights straight away because it was a good club, and not bother with any other offers they had...moving to back to Brisbane or NQ would put him near his family...it goes on. There's so many reasons why he'd go to one of the clubs listed above, I don't see why Souths would be his only choice if he were to leave the Dragons.

 

[SoftSydney]

I cant see Wayne at Souths, I dont see him working with crowe because he wants to fully run everything his own way uninterrupted and I cant see crowe containing himself.

I think Wayne is going back to QLD, prob back to the broncs.

 

[hellteam]

Can't see him coming back to the Broncos at all

 

[Noname36]

Of those clubs mentioned in the bullsh*t article, the one I can most likely see him going to is the Cowboys. I think everyone can see that they've been massive underachievers for years now, and with Thurston they'd be a chance at a premiership. He'd also be closer to his family than he is now;

Then:

Stay at the Dragons - I actually think he might stay. Especially with all the rumors flying around, I could see him announcing that he'll be staying soon, just to shut the media up.

Bulldogs - Have the cash, he likes the club, they've recruited well, and I think he could see a premiership there providing their young halves perform (and Bennett would be the one to bring the best out in them).

Broncos - Enough said, I just have a feeling he wont want to go back there now though.

Newcastle - unlikely. He likes the club, I think he'd be a very good fit, have the cash, he'd be away from the Sydney media. The only reason I don't think he would is because I think he's after a premiership straightaway, and I think he's past the stage of wanting to bring through, and look after a bunch of kids. He'd probably opt for a club that's ready to win the comp next year, not one that may need a year or two to develop young players.

Souths - I just cant see that being a good fit at all. He may go there to finally bring them a premiership, but with their halves I can't even see Bennett getting them one (and I think even Bennett probably knows that).

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Has anyone considered that Bennett might just retire altogether?

61 years of age, achieved everything in the game, a family man and financially secure. Retirement would appear to be a reasonable possibility.

 

[Noname36]

Has anyone considered that Bennett might just retire altogether?

61 years of age, achieved everything in the game, a family man and financially secure. Retirement would appear to be a reasonable possibility.

For sure. Or, I could also see him taking up a directors type role, overseeing a young coach like Kevin Moore. Like what he did for NZ.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

Has anyone considered that Bennett might just retire altogether?

61 years of age, achieved everything in the game, a family man and financially secure. Retirement would appear to be a reasonable possibility.

I think that's the most likely possibility. The guy lives 1000km away from his family, has done so for over 2 years now, and he has a son with a disability that would make it extremely difficult to handle that distance apart. He's already done the job he set out to do in 3 years after 2. I could see him moving back to QLD and coaching up there, but it's probably unlikely that he'd stay in Sydney I imagine. With that said, who knows what motivates the man.

 

[Dragon Dave]

No-one knows what he'll do. I genuinely believe he doesn't even know yet.

 

[Vic Mackey]

If Bennett goes he takes Boyd with him and the dragons are a fringe 8 team!